Nigel Tracy
02-08-2009, 10:03 PM
Hi everyone,
I'm writing because I've been intrigued by a set of lathe chisels that came with a recent lathe purchase (couldn't resist the classified listing--I shouldn't tell you how little I paid for everything in the picture...). The chisels can be seen in the picture below and appear to be a complete original set by James Swan, with "James Swan" and a neat swan logo on each chisel blade.
A bit of googling has revealed that the James Swan Co. produced chisels in the late 1800s and early 1900s and their cabinetmaking tools are held in fairly high regard--right up there with vintage Stanleys.
Given their vintage I don't believe this set could possibly be HSS.
I don't really need the lathe chisels as I already have an assortment of "users" but I just wondered if anyone else has come across or used any of the James Swan turning chisels and what your experiences or thoughts might be.
Thanks :)
I'm writing because I've been intrigued by a set of lathe chisels that came with a recent lathe purchase (couldn't resist the classified listing--I shouldn't tell you how little I paid for everything in the picture...). The chisels can be seen in the picture below and appear to be a complete original set by James Swan, with "James Swan" and a neat swan logo on each chisel blade.
A bit of googling has revealed that the James Swan Co. produced chisels in the late 1800s and early 1900s and their cabinetmaking tools are held in fairly high regard--right up there with vintage Stanleys.
Given their vintage I don't believe this set could possibly be HSS.
I don't really need the lathe chisels as I already have an assortment of "users" but I just wondered if anyone else has come across or used any of the James Swan turning chisels and what your experiences or thoughts might be.
Thanks :)