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I just received some Robert Sorby wood chisels (not woodturning) in trade that seem very impressive. Haven't worked with them yet but I noticed they have a leather washer between the handle and blade that supposedly helps to cushion mallet strikes. I've never seen this on other chisels. How effective or necessary are these washers?
Congrats on the score. Re: the little leather washer doodad - I would hope the darned things are an affectation and lack any effectiveness, as the reason why I am whacking away at the chisel probably has something to do with my desire to transfer some of that force from the mallet to the cutting edge.
Hi Steve,
Not sure why the new Robert Sorby chisels have those washers, I noticed them too. The old pigstickers (English Mortice Chisels) often had washers under the bolster, but that was to take up any unevenness/imperfections in the bolster itself. A new modern chisel should not really need a washer to mate perfectly with the handle.