Peg shapers: Alberti v Herdim

[Julian Cossmann Cooke]

If you already had a set of Herdims (violin and cello), would you say goodbye to them and buy Albertis?  Is there that big a difference or is it about "the latest and the greatest" syndrome?

[barnesviolins]

There is a BIG difference.  No Doubt. No chatter.  Very fine cut.  Easy to adjust. I have used about every shaver available (including antique ones) and nothing compares.

 

I am NOT a paid spokesperson for Windstone Editions.

[Jeffrey Holmes]

37 minutes ago, Julian Cossmann Cooke said:

If you already had a set of Herdims (violin and cello), would you say goodbye to them and buy Albertis?  Is there that big a difference or is it about "the latest and the greatest" syndrome?

My answer....  Hahahahaha!  (Sorry... it really was my reaction to the question)

No comparison.  Alberti shapers are expensive, but worth every penny.

[JohnCockburn]

I worry a little about the "improved" carbide blades. The idea, I gather, is that they'll never need sharpening, but, well, y'know.....

[barnesviolins]

What I understand is that you just send them in to be replaced.

AND I would like to be able to sharpen at my whim...

[David Burgess]

With enough work and dinking around, I've gotten Herdim to work pretty well.

Alberti, if you can get 'em. We should have some at Oberin, if you want to bring some extra pegs to try them.

[Bill Yacey]

That's what irks me about so many of these peg shavers, the fact that it takes a lot of trial and error to get them cutting properly.

Like avoiding the plague, I avoid taking the blade out to sharpen because I know it'll be a long process to get the thing set up close to where I had it before.  I guess the biggest issue is setting the blade up with any repeatability.

[JacksonMaberry]

I'd love to try the albertis sometime. I coughed up for the berbuer and like them a lot, but one always wonders how that grass on the other side of the fence tastes...

[Julian Cossmann Cooke]

17 minutes ago, JacksonMaberry said:

I'd love to try the albertis sometime. I coughed up for the berbuer and like them a lot, but one always wonders how that grass on the other side of the fence tastes...

Cud be great, JM.

[Zen Master]

I am also a huge fan of the Albertis.   In my experience,  pegs cut with Herdim shapers do not match holes cut with their reamers.  Pegs shaved with the Alberti  do  match holes cut with my Herdim Spiral reamer. 

[Don Noon]

I'll stick with my lathe, though.  Seems like the best tool for the job.

[Jeffrey Holmes]

19 minutes ago, William Stapp said:

I am also a huge fan of the Albertis.   In my experience,  pegs cut with Herdim shapers do not match holes cut with their reamers.  Pegs shaved with the Alberti  do  match holes cut with my Herdim Spiral reamer. 

You know you can adjust the taper a little bit on either brand of shaver, right?  I find Alberti is easier to adjust, however.

[Jeffrey Holmes]

3 hours ago, David Burgess said:

With enough work and dinking around, I've gotten Herdim to work pretty well.

Alberti, if you can get 'em. We should have some at Oberin, if you want to bring some extra pegs to try them.

Yup... I still have mine, and use the steep tapered Herdim from time to time. 

[Zen Master]

28 minutes ago, Jeffrey Holmes said:

You know you can adjust the taper a little bit on either brand of shaver, right?  I find Alberti is easier to adjust, however.

Yes.  My sense is that the Alberti enables you match the correct taper with ease of cut.  I feel like the design is more accurate.

Edited June 22, 2018 by William Stapp

[MarkBouquet]

Are Herdim users sticking with the stock non-resharpenable blades, or have you switched to resharpenable ones?

[arglebargle]

By the way, I just received my order, so they are up and running.

[Brad H]

54 minutes ago, MarkBouquet clearsky said:

Are Herdim users sticking with the stock non-resharpenable blades, or have you switched to resharpenable ones?

It would be nice to know which Herdim shaper folks are talking about - the 4-hole standard shaper (non adjustable) or the adjustable Herdim shaper that is a bit more spendy (bottom pic).

 

I have purchased the non-stock, sharpenable blades for the standard shaper and, yes, sometimes I go longer than I should without resharpening because of the hassle of realigning the blade.

[Julian Cossmann Cooke]

4 hours ago, William Stapp said:

I am also a huge fan of the Albertis.   In my experience,  pegs cut with Herdim shapers do not match holes cut with their reamers.  Pegs shaved with the Alberti  do  match holes cut with my Herdim Spiral reamer. 

I have the standard nonadjustable Herdims and have had no trouble with the pegs matching up with the holes reamed with my Herdim straight cut reamers.

[PASEWICZ]

The fact is, the Alberti’s do a better job, quicker.  It is irresponsible to use the Herdim’s, because every peg costs you money in time that you do not need to spend (this is how I justify every one of my Alberti tools).

[Brad Dorsey]

9 hours ago, Jeffrey Holmes said:

...No comparison.  Alberti shapers are expensive, but worth every penny.

You seem to be saying that the Albertis are much better than the Dicks.  That is a comparison.

[JacksonMaberry]

1 minute ago, Brad Dorsey said:

You seem to be saying that the Albertis are much better than the Dicks.  That is a comparison.

And that is pedantry.

[Brad Dorsey]

I know.  I'm just amused that people usually use the phrase "no comparison" when they're making a comparison.

[Julian Cossmann Cooke]

2 hours ago, Jerry Pasewicz said:

The fact is, the Alberti’s do a better job, quicker.  It is irresponsible to use the Herdim’s, because every peg costs you money in time that you do not need to spend (this is how I justify every one of my Alberti tools).

I like the way your mind works, Jerry.  May I quote you when I am explaining the outlay to my wife?  

[nathan slobodkin]

22 hours ago, David Burgess said:

With enough work and dinking around, I've gotten Herdim to work pretty well.

Alberti, if you can get 'em. We should have some at Oberin, if you want to bring some extra pegs to try them.

Yup, I agree. My Herdims can be made to work very well but the Alberti's are pre dinked and are a joy to use. One caution is that some of the older reamers don't match the Alberti tapers and it's probably easier to buy  reamers to match their shapers rather than trying to adjust the shaper ( i.e. less dinking required)

[Michael_Molnar]

I make only 4/4 violins and just paid for another Alberti Peg Shaper - #5/6. Hopefully, this and my 3/4 will do all I need. I do have the Herdim 4 hole and know how to finesse it to work well, but it has cut my thumb too many times.