Anyone Use Ashley Iles Tool?

Ruth

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Feb 1, 2003, 6:04:37 AM2/1/03

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Hi Everyone,

I'm just curious. When tools are mentioned or compared, Ashley Iles
are very seldom among them. Any reason?
How long have they been around? Are they comparable to Henry Taylor?
Glazier? Sorby? Are they more popular in Europe than in the US/Canada?

Thanks
Ruth

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My shop and Turnings at
http://www.torne-lignum.com

Dan Bollinger

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Feb 1, 2003, 9:03:37 AM2/1/03

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I've not used them. I am considering their ring tool, though. Dan

http://turningtools.co.uk/ashleyiles/index.html

"Ruth" <rfn...@webtv.net> wrote in message
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Jane & David

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Feb 1, 2003, 9:30:56 AM2/1/03

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I've been using Ashley Iles tools for carving if that counts (I've done
very little turning). Most of my carving tools are Henry Taylor and
Ashley Iles, plus Stubai, and Dastra - they all hold a great edge. I
have studied carving with a few formally trained instructors, and they
typically answwer the what-are-the-best-tools-you-can-get question with
Henry Taylor and/or Ashley Iles. Now, one of these instructors sold
Ashley Iles at the time, but not the others. So I don't know about
turning tools, but the Ashley Iles are probably well made and of
excellent steel.

David

Lyn J. Mangiameli

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Feb 1, 2003, 1:33:57 PM2/1/03

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Hi Ruth,
I've used two Ashley Iles tools, but both were carving tools. My
understanding, and this may be corrected by our UK members (Brian
Clifford uses them I believe), is that in Europe Ashley Iles is seen as
comparable to Sorby and Henry Taylor, though with not as long a history
(AI is a post WWII company) but perhaps a more traditionalist approach.
They are of "Sheffield steel" and certainly aren't in the league with
Glaser, but then hardly anything is.

They make a hollowing tool that is much like an unguarded version of the
early Rollo Munro tools (which in turn use the cutter developed by
Teknatool), as well as a fairly full range of traditional turning tools.

I think the issue is really more the strength of North American
distributorship than anything related to quality. Right now, Jesada is
one of a relatively few that have been offering the Ashley Iles tools,
and since Jesada is mostly involved with manufacturing router bits, they
haven't done much to bring the tools to the attention of turners.
Rockler and "The Best Things" have also carried them (mostly the carving
tools), but they are both more focused on general woodworking.

For what it's worth, Ray Iles, which I believe is a relative to Ashley
Iles (who was male BTW) is a maker of exceptional infill planes and
plane blades.

Lyn

Merrett Jonathan

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Feb 1, 2003, 2:03:52 PM2/1/03

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Most of my turning tools are Ashley Isles. I began with a starter set and
have added, gradually, others. I think they are better known in the Uk than
the States.

I find them to be good - otherwise why would I have carried on buying them ?

Ruth

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Feb 1, 2003, 4:00:24 PM2/1/03

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From all the replies, it sounds like they are good quality tools just
don't have a high or good distribution outside of UK. From what I
gathered perusing Brian Clifford's site as best as webtv would allow;
it reads like they're well-made tools and shipping is quite reasonable
(no more than zone 1 to zone 8 in US). I'm in need of a new 5/8" bowl
gouge (I'm down to about 4" of steel) and am considering the Ashley Iles
but am also considering my purse. Plus I want the best quality I can
afford; don't we all!

I'll have to ponder this while I medicate my rooster.

David A. Frantz

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Feb 1, 2003, 11:31:46 PM2/1/03

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Hope your rooster feels better.

On Sat, 01 Feb 2003 16:00:24 -0500, Ruth wrote:

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Kevin Cowley

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Feb 2, 2003, 5:02:57 AM2/2/03

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In article <23330-3E...@storefull-2318.public.lawson.webtv.net>,

rfn...@webtv.net (Ruth) wrote:
>
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> I'm just curious. When tools are mentioned or compared, Ashley Iles
> are very seldom among them. Any reason?
> How long have they been around? Are they comparable to Henry Taylor?
> Glazier? Sorby? Are they more popular in Europe than in the US/Canada?
>

They are as good as Sorby or Henry Taylor. One advantage they have in the UK
is that you can buy them un-handled. I have a number of them including their
ring tool, which I've not yet used as I haven't got around to handling it
yet.

Dan Bollinger

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Feb 2, 2003, 10:48:34 AM2/2/03

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> They [Ashley Isles] are as good as Sorby or Henry Taylor. One advantage

they have in the UK
> is that you can buy them un-handled. I have a number of them including
their
> ring tool, which I've not yet used as I haven't got around to handling it
> yet.

You call it an 'advantage' and yet your post illustrates the 'disadvantage'
of buying unhandled tools. ;) Dan

Darrell Feltmate

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Feb 2, 2003, 12:39:08 PM2/2/03

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Kevin

Amazing is it not, how long it takes to get around to making a handle? I
think the last handle took about five minutes turning and a week to do
it. I made a shaft for a scraper a week ago and cut wood for tool
handles. One of these days I have to make that handle.

Ruth

I checked the rack and a couple of my gouges are Ashley Iles. Nice
stuff.

God bless and safe turning
Darrell Feltmate
Truro, NS, Canada
http://users.eastlink.ca/~darrellfeltmate

Richard Hatton

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Feb 2, 2003, 12:11:25 PM2/2/03

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I have a few AI tools, also purchased unhandled. This saved me enough to
allow me to purchase more tools than I could have done otherwise. Being a
relative newbie at the time, I then ran into problems sharpening one of my
bowl gouges.

I rang AI for advice and found them extremely helpful. They also offered to
regrind back to initial profile for a nominal £1. Further, they (I cannot
remember the particular person's name) offered to spend a while running
through the sharpening process for all of my tools (AI or otherwise) for a
very nominal sum, although I cannot remember exactly how much and I am now
passed the point where I need that help. Most days, that is!!

I purchased these tools a couple of years back at the annual WW exhibition
at Alexandra Palace (London). I found the guys on the AI stall there also
extremely helpful.

--
Richard Hatton
Hertfordshire, UK

(remove "nojunk" from address if responding by email)

"Kevin Cowley" <ke...@argonet.co.uk> wrote in message
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Reg. Sherwin.

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Feb 2, 2003, 3:20:44 PM2/2/03

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Hi everyone.
I use Ashley Iles tools, and have been doing so for about fifteen of
my 30+years of pro turning.
Ashley, now no longer with us, had three sons, they being Roy, Tony
and Barry.
Roy has his own business and does some machining for the company. Tony
and Barry run the company and can usually be seen at the various trade
shows here in the U.K.
They make and sell some of my own design turning tools as well as all
of their own.
Why they are not as well known in the U.S.A. is not for me to say, but
I am sure that Tony would be happy to talk to anyone Stateside
regarding possible outlets over there.
I got involved with the design of their two ring tools and the tools
are usually sold complete with an instruction booklet which covers
both use and sharpening. The booklet was a precis of two of my
articles in 'Woodturning' a few years ago.
I sell their unhandled tools to my students, their first project then
often being the making of a handle to fit onto the blade.
Their website can be visited on www.ashleyiles.co.uk and they can be e
mailed at sa...@ashleyiles.co.uk
Reg. U.K.

Dan Bollinger

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Feb 2, 2003, 6:08:18 PM2/2/03

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Thanks for the history, Reg!
"Reg. Sherwin." <regsh...@woodturneruk.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1144dbc6.03020...@posting.google.com...