Robert Sorby Excelsior - The Gold Standard

[Jamie Copeland]

Hi folks

Robert Sorby describe the Excelsior range of tools as "The breakthrough bonded coating provides extraordinary life to any cutting edge and reduces surface friction for a smoother more refined cut. When coated on flawless, triple tempered HSS, cutting edge hardness is increased to a Rockwell equivalent of between 85-90. The result is a tool that sharpens easily and has a durability and cutting edge that outperforms even tungsten carbide."

With these tools being roughly £10 more expensive than their counterpart I'm interested in finding our your opinion/views on them. Do they really perform as the description would have us believe and are they worth the extra money?

Cheers

Jamie

 

[gregmcateer]

This may be of use;

http://www.woodworkersinstitute.com/page.asp?p=2539

 

[Jamie Copeland]

This may be of use;

http://www.woodworkersinstitute.com/page.asp?p=2539

Thanks for that. They reviewer gives it the thumbs up, albeit a luke warm one!

Have you used these yourself?

Jamie

 

[paulm]

Paul H who did that review posts on here so might pop up with any further thoughts if he has been using them for a while ?

Cheers, Paul

 

[CHJ]

They're shiny, have not used them myself but have used twist drills etc. similarly coated and not perceived any great benefit from the coating regarding edge retention, certainly none that overrides the variations in the substrate being worked, maybe freer swarf flow if used without lubricant.

Suspect relief angle of cutting edge (bevel) and variations in material being worked has far more influence than the average turner will notice.

Would like to try one against some Cascamite squeeze out to test the claim that they better tungsten carbide.

 

[Jamie Copeland]

Oops. I've gone and bought one. Purely in the interests of consumer testing, of course!

Hopefully it arrives when SWMBO is at work so I can sneak it into the workshop unnoticed!

 

[Spindle]

Hi

Like you I bought one example, for 'research', - I think the fact that I've never bought another is indicative of my findings. Although very non scientific - I didn't notice an appreciable improvement over the standard gouge

Maybe a professional turner would benefit, but for my hobby utilisation it doesn't seem worth the extra.

Regards Mick

 

[woodpig]

I'm not sure I see the point of coated tools as its lost once you sharpen it. If you want something that lasts longer I think these got a good review.

http://www.hamletcrafttools.co.uk/aspindex.html

 

[duncanh]

This may be of use;

http://www.woodworkersinstitute.com/page.asp?p=2539

Thanks for that. They reviewer gives it the thumbs up, albeit a luke warm one!

Have you used these yourself?

Jamie

You'll very rarely see a negative review in any of the magazines, possibly because Sorby (or whoever the manufacture happens to be) are major advertisers and the magazines don't want to upset them. Or maybe I'd just too cynical!

Given all the variables (timber, sharpening angle etc) I suspect that the average hobbiest turner wouldn't notice any difference.

 

[Spindle]

I'm not sure I see the point of coated tools as its lost once you sharpen it.

Hi

Not true in all cases - yes, a skew or parting tool for example, which is ground on two sides will not benefit from surface coating - however a gouge or scraper which is only ground on one side will always present an edge composed of one coated and one ground side.

Regards Mick

 

[CHJ]

....You'll very rarely see a negative review in any of the magazines, possibly because Sorby (or whoever the manufacture happens to be) are major advertisers and the magazines don't want to upset them. Or maybe I'd just too cynical!
....

I have personally been told that an item I reviewed and critiqued may not be published because of the critique content.
A third item reviewed was edited to remove wording viewed as critique, reason given that the publisher could not afford to purchase the goods for review and relied on supplier offering them up for review.

Further reviews were turned down by me, not being prepared to submit anything other than an honest personal assessment based on technical findings and experience in use as I saw it.

I fully understand a publisher is perfectly entitled to have their own standards and may consider anything I say as not worthy of publishing or in total error, my views are mine and may well be in a consensus of one.

I can't however see the point of a review in a technical or practical publication if has to be couched in words that compliment the advertising, where is the integrity quotient.

My respect has gone out to a couple of reviewers that to me had obviously found themselves in the camp of withholding comment on an aspect rather than folding to the hype and managed to get the message across that they were doing so with better wording than I can express myself. I take more notice of their recommendations when seen in print or forum.

I'm afraid I too are of the cynical camp when I read many of the reviews and product announcements, I place them alongside the promotion of 'the best thing since sliced bread' proffered by someone who has just gained the franchise, funny how this recommend changes when the franchise deal ends.