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 old Ashley Iles
Wood Carving Tools made by Ashley Iles, England.
For information on new Ashley Iles Wood Carving Tools see the
new Ashley Iles Wood Carving Tools review.
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.
Until 1967 the tools were made in Sheffield, beyond this the business
moved to East Kirkby in Lincolnshire.
For more information on the history of Ashley Iles, there is a book
called "Memories of a Sheffield Toolmaker, Ashley Iles".
Ashley Iles are renowned for their extensive range of wood carving tools,
they also have made/make some wood turning tools, chisels and a few
other specialist traditional hand tools.
Ashley Iles wood carving tools are made to traditional standards using traditional
techniques.
The range is made to the London Pattern numbering system which is the same numbering
system Addis carving tools, Herring carving tools and many other traditional British
wood carving tool makers use/used, e.g. Sweep 1 is a double-bevelled chisel, Sweep 2
is a skew chisel....Sweep 39 is a Vee tool with a 60 degree angle.
The Ashley Iles wood carving tools generally have Beech handles.
The earlier ones I have seen have had Beech handles. Some of the earlier Ashley
Iles wood carving tools also have the name 'Ashley Iles' inscribed in the blade.
For a certain time some of the old Ashley wood carving tools are carving tools
with Bubinga handles (I am thinking probably 1980's-1990's, I'll confirm once I know)
although a slight caution on this, at the time of writing this Ashley Iles
make chisels with Bubinga handles today so they may possibly make wood carving tools
with Bubinga handles to request.
Another sign of the age of an Ashley Iles carving tool is an Ashley Iles gold sticker
found on the handles.
The gold stickers with 'Ashley Iles Ltd' with the name 'Iles' being bold and large
were an earlier sticker than the gold sticker with the old English swirly font
'Ashley Iles'.
The old English swirly font 'Ashley Iles' gold stickers on the Beech handles appeared on
the handles until about 2015. I am unsure when they were first used, cartainly from
2005, I suspect quite a bit before this.
* 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.
1949 - Today
- Ashley Iles Tools.
(i) This review/article may give warning(s) / advisory notes / cautions / guidelines given
in good faith, any such information should not be solely relied upon and seen
as the exhaustive list of warnings / advisory notes / cautions / guidelines. 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.
(ii) The details here are given in good faith, the details are constantly growing
and evolving including corrections, there is scope for error and shouldn't be fully relied upon,
please confirm any details for yourself by performing additional research from
reliable sources.
Enjoy viewing the encyclopedia of tools.
If you use info such as dates, sizes, details from FindMyTool.co.uk for certain online
auction sites, forums, video footage, websites and any other forms of media,
please kindly give credit to this site and spread the word so others know
where to find the information.
Please see our terms if using more than a few dates
or details.