Andrew Teich
01-10-2012, 2:27 PM
I was setting up to sharpen all my chisels as I had gotten very lax finishing my last project and many of them were dull. I figured they all could use a touch up. I also just received my size 18 and 32 Narex chisels from Highland which completed my set from 3 to 32. I am a sucker for sets just like anybody but have used all my chisels on projects excepting the two I just received. I also had them all laid out in order as I was considering building a box to store them in the tool closet and then carry out to where I can use them.
The chisels have all arrived with some sort of lacquer or coating, I guess this is normal. In the past I had just ground through it on sandpaper on the initial flattening and sharpening. I had remembered my teacher at a class I took tell us that he had removed that stuff on his chisels (some other brand) with lacquer thinner. I decided that this would be much better than letting it gum up my nice new sheet of sandpaper.
I took them outside onto the patio and began to remove this stuff with a paper towel and some lacquer thinner. The 32 went just fine and I started in on the 18. About two swipes with the paper towel over the top and the size and brand markings were gone. Just bare metal with the even machine marks that the Narex chisels have on all their faces.
I'd like to hear opinions on what to do next. Should I just leave one chisel with no marks, should I try more lacquer thinner on the others to remove their markings. Should I attempt to remark them somehow or are unmarked chisels fine as my eye holding one up to the work will pick the right size. How would you remark a chisel? Wood burning on the handle? Buy a set of number stamps and have a go at the blades or handle?
219241
The chisels have all arrived with some sort of lacquer or coating, I guess this is normal. In the past I had just ground through it on sandpaper on the initial flattening and sharpening. I had remembered my teacher at a class I took tell us that he had removed that stuff on his chisels (some other brand) with lacquer thinner. I decided that this would be much better than letting it gum up my nice new sheet of sandpaper.
I took them outside onto the patio and began to remove this stuff with a paper towel and some lacquer thinner. The 32 went just fine and I started in on the 18. About two swipes with the paper towel over the top and the size and brand markings were gone. Just bare metal with the even machine marks that the Narex chisels have on all their faces.
I'd like to hear opinions on what to do next. Should I just leave one chisel with no marks, should I try more lacquer thinner on the others to remove their markings. Should I attempt to remark them somehow or are unmarked chisels fine as my eye holding one up to the work will pick the right size. How would you remark a chisel? Wood burning on the handle? Buy a set of number stamps and have a go at the blades or handle?
219241