Cutting Edge Technology
In PM58 we reviewed Mora woodcarving knives. Good as they are, there is also a need for smaller blades for fine detail work. Flexcut tools seemed to fulfil these requirements so I ordered some to review. This time I thought I would get to have a go myself but with time pressing I had to let them out to our onsite woodcarvers.
Raina and Peter tried a set of Flexcut KN100 Knives. This set consists of four wooden handled knives: a cutting knife, detail knife, pelican knife and a mini-pelican knife, all contained in a handy and almost pocket sized tool roll. These are our reviewers’ experiences:
“My partner and I tried the knives on our half-finished carvings, of a mouse and a stoat respectively. I have a little experience carving with chisels, but not with knives, but Peter has carved many items using Mora knives. I must admit that I am now a ‘knife convert’ after using this Flexicut set! They are very sharp, pleasant to handle and easy to control, especially when doing the finer details. I found I could get a much better finish straight away than I did using chisels. Peter liked the differing blade shapes within the set and thought, like me, that they were particularly helpful for doing finer work. He also liked the sturdy fabric case they came in, which keeps them all together and reduces the chance of them getting lost. Overall we consider them a handy addition, or indeed beginning, to anyone’s carving tool collection. Oh, and can we hang on to them until we’ve finished our carvings please?”
The KN100 knives proved so popular that I ordered a Flexcut KN150 Scorp Set to go with them. This consists of four ash handled, right angled gouges of different profiles in a tool roll. They are particularly useful for carving deep and narrow cavities, come with a profiled sharpening strop and should prove a valuable asset to any woodcarver.
Lighting Up The Festival Season
With the festival and camping season coming up I thought I would try to find a source of reliable dynamo LED lights for small tent camping and general festival use. What I came up with was the Power Plus Dynamo, Lantern, Flashlight and Headlight. The lantern has six super bright LEDs, is encased in a tough rubber shell and has a useful handle/hanging loop. One minute’s winding gives 25 minutes light. The flashlight, which I thought was particularly good, is rubber encased, waterproof to 5 metres, has 3 LED, 1 LED and flash functions. In addition to the dynamo charging it also has a solar panel built in so it can be solar charged. The headlight must be the smallest wind-up design possible but it works well and comes with a bicycle headlight holder, making it even more versatile. They are lightweight, well made and really work, so you should never be left in the dark again.
Small Tools For Small Gardens
In the last issue, PM59, we reviewed some of the Burgon and Ball world tools range. I was so impressed with them that I decided to try some more.
First the American Soil & Potting Scoop, this handtool looks and works like an oversize ice cream scoop. It has a strong curved stainless steel blade with saw teeth on the lower edges (top left). It can be used to cut a planting hole in the soil between existing plants whilst causing the least possible root disturbance. In my opinion this is an excellent handtool and a must for any permaculture gardener.
I also tried two other handtools, a Japanese Hand Hoe and a Japanese Mighty Pick, both of which are ideal cultivation tools for use in raised beds, etc. The Hand Hoe, easily chopped through the compacted soil I tried it on, while the Mighty Pick proved to be one of the most versatile gardening tools I have met. Try one – you won’t regret it.
John Adams
This review first appeared in Permaculture Magazine No60
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Flexcut KN150 Scorp Set
Power Plus Dynamo, Lantern, Flashlight and Headlight.
American Soil & Potting Scoop.
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