Stanley 720s showed up today

[RichMagnone]

Well, I received the 720s I won in an online auction recently. I promised a few pic, so here they are - BTW, the pictures do not even begin to do these things justice! I had believed I would make a set of "users" out of these, but after seeing them, they are just in prime shape and likely will be held or re-listed for sale as they will just sit in my shop and waste away - I'm not a collector (yet) of collection grade stuff.

Anyway, there are six chisels in all. Each is stamped 720. Each has zero pitting. One seems real banged up at the head although the chisel shows no real evidence of use. The finish on these guys is still clear and shiny. Each one has a "Stanley" decal in real good shape. One has the decal on the "back" side of the chisel, all others are right up front... Here's some pix:


Here is the box
http://www.illinois-attorney.com/IMG_5032.JPG

Here are the chisels in stanley plastic sleeve
http://www.illinois-attorney.com/IMG_5033.JPG

http://www.illinois-attorney.com/IMG_5034.JPG
more pix in next message in thread

[RichMagnone]

here's the smallest one
http://www.illinois-attorney.com/IMG_5035.JPG

Closeup decal
http://www.illinois-attorney.com/IMG_5036.JPG

Here's the decals on all six
http://www.illinois-attorney.com/IMG_5037.JPG

Here's the one that's beat up on the head
http://www.illinois-attorney.com/IMG_5039.JPG

[RichMagnone]

smooth steel
http://www.illinois-attorney.com/IMG_5040.JPG

Just a little crud (seems like adhesive from tape which should come right off
http://www.illinois-attorney.com/IMG_5041.JPG

clean stamping of "720"
http://www.illinois-attorney.com/IMG_5042.JPG

Here are all six blades. These things are LONG
http://www.illinois-attorney.com/IMG_5043.JPG

[RichMagnone]

layed out
http://www.illinois-attorney.com/IMG_5044.JPG

here are the heads. One roughed up, two worn a bit, three mint
http://www.illinois-attorney.com/IMG_5046.JPG

If anyone wants to see any more parts of these, let me know and I'll snap a few more shots. Now, what to do with them... I don't even want to sharpen them!

[James Mittlefehldt]

Rich those look fantastic, I should add this is my first post here and I couldn't resist posting on this thread. I was wondering are those paring chisels, if so ll you have to do is sharpen and just avoid using a mallet. they sure are pretty though.

[Marc Hills]

Welcome to the Creek, James. I'm all for putting old tools to use, but a matched set with original packaging? I don't know. If ever there was an imperative to leave old tools alone, this is it!

Rich, those are truly beautiful. Thanks for the closeup pictures; that's the closest I'll ever come to seeing a matched set. Man, looking at the care and precision that went into milling and finishing those handles and blades; kinda makes me sad to think about what passes for chisels under the Stanley label today. Thank god for Lie Neilon, Hirch/Two Cherries, Ashley Isles, Barr and their ilk!

I'm curious about the vinyl tool roll however. I guess Stanley might have been making good (or at least good-looking) chisels later than I thought. How old do you suppose that set is?

[John Dingman]

Rich,

Simply beautiful! I sent you a pm.

John

[Tom LaRussa]

Rich those look fantastic, I should add this is my first post here and I couldn't resist posting on this thread. I was wondering are those paring chisels, if so ll you have to do is sharpen and just avoid using a mallet. they sure are pretty though.
Hi James,

Welcome to the 'Creek! :)

Please stick around, it's a very friendly little place we've got here.

[Tom LaRussa]

Now, what to do with them... I don't even want to sharpen them!
Rich,

Those are gorgeous! Thanks for sharing your good fortune with the rest of us. :)

As for what to do with them?

Sharpen them and use them. :eek:

No, I'm not kidding, and I'm not nuts.

Here's the why:

I used to wonder, outside of the quality of the steel, what made a "good" chisel vs a mediocre one. Then I received a single Stanley #720 in a large lot of mostly trashed chisels I found on that auction site. (It's not nearly as nice as those, but lovely nonetheless.)

The first time I picked it up I had the answer to my question.

Pick one up and feel the balance. It makes you think of the description of fine Samurai swords. It seems to want you to spin it around your finger like a baton.

Some of our most talented Neander-Fathers spent a great deal of time designing a chisel that would feel that good in the hand, and more of our most talanted Neander-Fathers took a great deal of care to make them live up to the design.

Why did they do this?

It was a job? Sure, it was a job. But if you compare these beauties to just about any other chisel made -- including most of the other old Stanleys -- I think you'll agree that somewhere along the line these particular tools took on more importance to somebody in that organization than just another tool.

No, these puppies were made to be used by craftsmen to make beautiful things. Sure, they were made to look pretty, but most of all they were made to be used. I know this because I have sharpened my one #720 very carefully and it will take a shaving across the end grain of hard maple that is almost like that of a well-tuned plane!

To put them away under glass, IMHO, is disrespectful to those gentlemen who made these fine tools.

So yes, I say use them.

Okay, I may be nuts, but I'm not stupid.

Here's what I would do:

[1] I would put the box and plastic roll away -- triple wrapped in ziplock baggies.

[2] I would build a special rack to hold the chisels. They should hang so that they do not rest on their tips, and there should be seperators between them so that the blades to not nick one another.

[3] I would never, never, never, use a hammer or mallet on them.

[4] I would clean the blades very gently with a mild cleaner and a soft cloth, then wax the blades with carnauba.

[5] Finally, I would sharpen them -- very carefully -- with no secondary bevel. I'd just scary sharp the entire primary bevel until it is mirror bright. You didn't post any pics of the backs, but I suspect they would need little if any flattening. If they do need it, I'd do so only very close to the edge, and polish that part until it is also mirror bright.

[Mark Singer]

Those are incredible!!!! They look like new LN's well almost! They look like a lot of $$$$.

[Kurt Loup]

Rich,

If it is not much trouble, I'd be interested in the factory grind angle. I hear them referred to as paring chisels. If they were meant to be paring chisels, I'd guess the angle will be between 20-25*. I have a couple, but I have not decided as to what bevel I will use. I have a set of paring chisels, so I will likely sharpen them to 30* like my 750 style Stanleys.

Kurt

http://www.loup-garou.net/sitebuilder/images/dovetail2-434x286.jpg

[RichMagnone]

I'll check on the bevel angle and I'll also post some pictures of the chisel backs tonight after work.

Also, does anyone have any thought on "fixing" the chisel that is a bit busted up on the head? Formby's refinisher, etc or just leave it alone? BTW, I'm not planning on taking any action (refinishing, keeping, selling, etc.) until I have some time to reflect on the best course of activity... not that this is brain surgery or anything!

[Shawn Swafford]

Wow! Those are nice chisels. Good find!!!

[Chris Thompson]

I'm with Tom on this one.

I don't put much confidence in the collector market, it makes no sense to me. These are tools, meant to be used. You're an obviously informed woodworker who isn't likely to be using one to open a paint can or break up the grout in a brick wall. The values placed by collectors on these things are, in my opinion, greatly inflated. Ever search that one auction site for plumb-bobs? It'll make you sick.

I'd guess that monetarily, these can't be worth much more than a new set of Lie-Nielsens, and probably much less. And nobody buys a set of LN to display.

I say that unless something is so rare that the chances of finding another are slim use it. I'm honestly jealous of those chisels.

[Louis Bois]

Lovely tools...meant to assist in the creation of beautiful things. Sharpen and go...treat them with respect and they'll return the favour tenfold!!!!...nuff said.

[Mark Singer]

Definitley...meant to use! I use my Lie Nielsen Chisels....and many fine tools my Father left me....they are more certainly dearer to me than anything I might buy.....still I feel they should be used...there is a special feeling and connection that is hard to explain...it is if his being pervades my workshop...and as always asks me for my best....and that is still eluding me

[Alan Turner]

Very nice indeed. Sharpen and go, as they were meant to be used, not collected.
Alan

[Shawn Swafford]

I would use them as well. As long as you take care of them they should hold their value. Not as much as if you didn't use them but you probably won't sell them anyway for a long time. By the time your heirs get them they will still be a valuable set of chisels and you will have enjoyed their use which is worth something as well.

[John Dingman]

Another vote for keeping and using them. That's what I would do if I owned them. Great find!

Best Wishes,
John