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UJ Ramelson has been a trusted manufacturer of some of the best wood carving tools available for over half a century. Today, both beginner and advanced woodcarvers rely on Ramelson for all of their wood carving supplies, including carving knife blades for woodworking and woodturning.

When it comes to carving knife blades, Hock blades are among the most prized in the woodworking industry and Ramelson is proud to offer them to our customers. In this blog, we’ll take a look at what makes Hock Blades so great. 

The History of Hock Blades

Hock Tools started by making knives and doing the craft fair gigs in 1981. It wasn’t until owner Ron Hock was convinced to make plane irons for a college woodworking program that he realized there was a need for better-quality tools. One blade led to another and soon enough Hock was exclusively manufacturing carving knife blades and other woodworking tools. Today, Hock is still a renowned manufacturer of woodworking tools — many of their products are preferred by woodworking professionals.

The Benefits of Hock Blades

You will definitely be able to notice the difference in your woodworking tools that are equipped with a quality Hock blade. Some of the benefits that these blades offer compared to other carving knife blades include:

Excellent Hardness

In addition to the length, width, and shape of the blade, the quality and hardness of steel that is used for woodworking tools is an incredibly important factor. Blade hardness is measured on the Rockwell-C scale. With the Rockwell-C scale, the higher the number, the harder the blade steel is. Hardness, though, isn’t the only important quality of tool steel blades. If they are too hard they can sometimes be brittle. Many of the Hock blades you’ll find on Ramelson are fully hardened and tempered to Rc62 on the Rockwell scale. These are much harder than ordinary tools but not in the least brittle or delicate — they are the perfect balance between hardness and toughness. 

Great Rigidity 

Blade rigidity is another important factor to consider for your woodworking knives and tools. A blade that moves too much while carving, scribing, or whittling will result in poor-quality work. The more rigid the blade is, the more accurate the cuts tend to be. Carving knife blades with poor rigidity will noticeably move around its own axis. Hock Blades are incredibly rigid and retain their original shape better as you use it during your woodworking projects. 

Incredible Edge-Retention

The best woodworking knives and tools have incredible edge retention. This refers to how the blade will retain its sharpness when subject to periods of use. Hock blades are manufactured from ultra-fine grained high carbon steel which already has a better edge retention than other woodworking tool blades. For even more durability, Hock has A2 steel blades that are cryogenically treated — this gives the blades improved wear resistance without any increase in brittleness so a cryogenically treated blade will hold its edge longer.

Impressive Thickness

How thick a blade is will affect how strong it is, as well as how well the blade can cut. One of the biggest differences between Hock blades and other wood carving knife blades is the thickness. The extra thickness of Hock blades offers superior stability, precise adjustment, and easier honing. 

Simply put, Hock blades offer benefits that can help you take your woodworking and woodturning skills to the next level. 

If you are interested in buying Hock blades for your woodworking knives and tools, be sure to check out the available products Ramelson is offering. From violin knife blades to replacement plane blades for Stanley planers, you can find the quality Hock blades that you need.