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GF GrainforgeToolworks · South Carolina
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Questions We Actually Get

Arranged roughly by how often the phone rings about them.

Do chisels and plane irons arrive sharp?

Ground, not sharpened. Narex and most European makers ship a flat 25-degree factory grind that will cut but won't pare end grain cleanly. Ten minutes on a 1000 and 6000 waterstone and it's a genuinely excellent tool. Anyone who tells you a production chisel arrives shaving-sharp is selling you a story.

Millimeters or inches?

We list what the maker grinds. Czech and German chisels are metric widths (6, 12, 26mm) — there is no 1/2" Narex, and a 12mm is close enough that it does not matter for joinery. Router bit shanks are listed in inches because that's what your collet is.

Why is one 1/2" spiral bit $28 and another $61?

Carbide grain size, grind accuracy, and how many times you can resharpen it. The cheap one cuts fine for twenty feet of softwood. The expensive one holds its edge through plywood and can be reground twice. If you route occasionally, buy the cheap one and replace it. If you route daily, the expensive one is cheaper by month three.

Which chisel width should I buy first?

12mm if you're buying one. 6, 12, and 26mm if you're buying three — that covers most furniture joinery. Full seven-piece sets look wonderful in the rack and two of them will stay unused for years. We sell the sets anyway; we'd just rather you knew.

Is a $40 bowl gouge from an unknown brand fine?

Sometimes. The variable is the steel: M2 HSS is the honest floor, powdered metal holds an edge maybe three times longer. What you can't cheap out on is handle length and flute geometry, because those determine whether the tool catches. Call us and tell us your lathe's swing before spending $150.

Do you price match?

Against authorized US dealers, yes, on identical part numbers — call. Not against grey-market imports or marketplace listings shipping from overseas warehouses, since those often aren't the same tool and never carry the maker's warranty.

Can I pick up my order?

Yes. Choose local pickup at checkout and we'll email when it's on the will-call shelf, usually within an hour during business hours. Bring the order number.

Do you buy used tools?

No, but the Central Ohio Woodworkers group runs a tool swap twice a year in our parking lot and we bring the coffee. Ask us when it is.