Ashley Iles Carving Tools Review By: I.Ball
Category: Carving Tools
Manufacturer: Ashley Iles Tools
Tool Type: Wood Carving Tools
Model No:
This Ashley Iles Wood Carving Tool review covers the tools made by
Ashley Iles (Edge Tools) Ltd, England.
Ashley Iles are renowned for their huge, extensive range of wood carving
tools all over the world which at the time of writing this review sits
at 1400 different wood carving tools.
Ashley Iles wood carving tools are made to traditional standards using
traditional techniques and craftmanship.
Each carving tool blade is forged, ground and tempered in the old way
that many of the classic old wood carving tools were made.
The blade is finished with a bright polish finish and marked with the
sweep number for easy identification.
The tool is finally fitted with a Beech carver pattern handle which
is finished off with a brass ferrule.
There are so many great things about these tools including their edge retention,
easy to resharpen, knowing the history, knowing the tool has been made in a long-used
traditional way.
The range is made to the London Pattern numbering system which is the same numbering
system which has been used for generations including old Addis carving tools,
old Herring carving tools and many other traditional British wood carving tool makers
use/used, e.g.
Sweep 1 is a - straight - double-bevelled chisel
Sweep 2 is a - straight - skew chisel
Sweep 3 is a - straight - very, very shallow gouge
Sweep 4 is a - straight - very shallow gouge
Sweep 5 is a - straight - shallow gouge
Sweep 6 is a - straight - medium shallow gouge
Sweep 7 is a - straight - medium gouge
Sweep 8 is a - straight - medium deep gouge
Sweep 9 is a - straight - deep gouge
Sweep 10 is a - straight - very deep gouge
Sweep 11 is a - straight - very, very deep gouge
....
Sweep 39 is a - straight - Vee tool - with a 60 degree angle
Sweep 41 is a - straight - Vee tool - with a 45 degree angle
Sweep 45 is a - straight - Vee tool - with a 90 degree angle
....
Sweep 51 is a dog leg carving tool
Sweep 52 is a dog leg carving tool
The Ashley Iles Wood Carving Tools are made in the following main carving types:
- Straight
- Curved
- Fishtail
- Spoon
- Back Bent
- Dog Leg
Within the above carving types there are the following profile types:
- Chisel
- Skew
- Gouge
- V / Vee / Parting
(some of these profile types are only available for some of the carving tool types)
Each of the wood carving tool styles/sweeps is available in many different sizes
from narrow to wide e.g. 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", 7/16", 1/2", ...
The size refers to the measurement from one edge of the cutting edge to the other
edge.
Most of the straight Ashley Iles wood carving tools are available in sizes up to
2". The sizes available above 1" (25mm) are 1 1/4" (32mm), 1 1/2" (38mm) and 2" (51mm).
The straight carving tools above 1" in size are made using the Allongee pattern.
The Allongee pattern is where the blade splays from the shoulder towards the cutting
edge.
Ashley Iles also make some other wood carving tool styles and speciality carving tools
not listed here.
Ashley Iles make a number of wood carving sets with the most famous being the
Ashley Iles York Carving Set
There is also the larger sets which contain the York set tools within them:
Ashley Iles Canterbury Carving Set,
and the
Ashley Iles Westminster Carving Set.
Ashley Iles also produce other woodcarving sets.
* Important: please refer to the 'disclaimer' at the foot of this review.
* Wearing safety clothing and eye protection is usually a good idea to help protect against injury.
- This tool has sharp parts, take suitable precautions when using/handling/storing the tool to prevent injury.
Ashley Iles Tools have been making tools for generations and still remains a family
run business today with Ashley Iles sons Tony and Barry running the show.
Ashley Iles Tools have been making wood carving tools since 1949, not long after
World War II, when pattern maker Ashley Iles decided to start making tools himself
and the Ashley Iles Tools began.
Until 1967 the tools were made in Sheffield, beyond this the business moved to East
Kirkby in Lincolnshire where it still remains today. For more information on the
history of Ashley Iles, there is a book called "Memories of a Sheffield Toolmaker,
Ashley Iles".
See the Old Ashley Iles Carving Tools review
for more details about old Ashley Iles Carving Tools.
1949 - Today
....
Do you have a question/answer or something to share about this tool?
Please Contact Us
- Ashley Iles Tools.
(i) Please always refer to and follow the manufacturer's instructions / guidelines /
safety notices / cautions and similar notices as the manufacturer's instructions
may contain important information on safety, personal safety and the good health of your tool,
something to which this review's scope does not guarantee to extend to.
(ii) This review may give warning(s) / advisory notes / cautions / guidelines given
in good faith however any such information should not be solely relied upon and should not be seen
as the exhaustive list of warnings / advisory notes / cautions / guidelines.
Refer to disclaimer note (i) for information on safety, as well as the
good health of your tool.
In addition refer to good safety practices for the safety of you and others. Refer to good practices
for the good health of your tool and property.
(iii) The details here are given in good faith, there is scope for error and shouldn't
be fully relied upon, please be aware the details may also become out of date due to manufacturer
changes to the product, please confirm any details for yourself by performing additional
research from reliable sources.
Enjoy viewing the encyclopedia of tools.
If you are inspired by our content or use info such as dates, sizes,
details from FindMyTool.co.uk
please kindly give credit where credit is due via giving a nod in a video
or a link to this website.
Please see our terms if using more than a few dates
or details.
"Just stumbled across your website and an absolute treasure trove of information.
I was recently given an old Stanley 110 block plane and wanted to know more about it.
Your website told me everything I needed to know.
But there is so much more to read. I forsee me spending a lot of time just reading
page after page. I can appreciate how much time this will have taken to put together.
I just wanted to let you know that your hard work is appreciated."