Dakota tools from Rutlands - are they any good?

[thedonutman]

Rutlands have a sale going on and I was thinking of getting their pen turning kit and a 3/4 roughing gouge. What do you guys think of the quality of their stuff?

https://www.rutlands.co.uk/machinery-&- ... ing-gouges

 

[Paul.J]

I've got the Rutlands pen mandrel with the 7mm bushings and it as been fine so far for what i have made,though i have bought the replacement bushings from Axminster when i've ordered from them.

 

[wizer]

Dakota is usually the stamp of very poor quality. Every Dakota branded product I've ever bought has broken or been unfit for use. That said, this tool might be ok... BUT you can get just as good, if not better elsewhere for the same but probably less.

So in short. I'd not bother.

 

[CHJ]

I would personally shop around a bit and go for one of the branded versions from Hamlet, Crown, sorby etc. maybe a £ dearer but better quality.

Although a Roughing Gouge seems to be a starter tool for working on spindles if you have a reasonable sized and stout Bowl gouge that will do for knocking the corners and rough bits off ready for the spindle gouge, my roughing gouge sits in the rack for weeks at a time.

 

[thedonutman]

What about the "Peform" stuff from Axminster?

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Perf ... -21761.htm

It's HSS but cheap, so is it also of questionable quality?

 

[Dalboy]

I got my pen turning kit from here They also do the kit with chisels
http://www.turnerstoolbox.com/product_r ... gory_id=21

 

[wizer]

I've used the Performs and they are ok. They come in cheaper than the Dakotas and my gut feeling (based on every other Dakota product) is that the Performs will be better.

 

[CHJ]

What about the "Peform" stuff from Axminster?

...

Nothing wrong with the steel in them, OK until you learn enough about tool use to know what you want different.

The Bowl Gouge is not the easiest shape to use as supplied, but it works, mine are still in use after some 4 yrs albeit in differing grind configurations now.

 

[studders]

What about the "Peform" stuff from Axminster?

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Perf ... -21761.htm

It's HSS but cheap, so is it also of questionable quality?

???

Buy them as seperates for £56.95 or buy the set for £60.50 ???

How does that work then? :?

 

[CHJ]

Buy them as seperates for £56.95 or buy the set for £60.50 ???

How does that work then? :?

Box?

 

[studders]

Buy them as seperates for £56.95 or buy the set for £60.50 ???

How does that work then? :?

Box?

Yep, I just sussed that.

 

[studders]

Buy them as seperates for £56.95 or buy the set for £60.50 ???

How does that work then? :?

Box?

Yep, I just sussed that.

Mind you, given that you are 'bulk buying' of a sort you'd think they would throw the box in fer nowt; they do on many other sets.