Custom Tasai Push Chisels

[Allen Fulmer]

Ive posted this on another forum as well so I apologize if you've already seen it.


Hey everyone, I browse here frequently but Im new to posting. I know there are a bunch of Japanese tool specialists on this forum and Im looking for some insight. First, I found these custom Tasai push chisels online, and im trying to get the specifics of them. I really like their aesthetic features, a lot. its possibleObviously they're Mokume, are the sockets a dark blue? Or are they black and the lighting is weird? This may seem like a strange question but im very curious.
http://www.daikudojo.org/Archive/gallery_nomi/20070224_tasai_mokume_push_chisels/pics/IMG_0498.JPG
http://www.daikudojo.org/Archive/gallery_nomi/20070224_tasai_mokume_push_chisels/pics/IMG_0515.JPG
http://www.daikudojo.org/Archive/gallery_nomi/20070224_tasai_mokume_push_chisels/pics/IMG_0516.JPG


Also, Ive got a set of Koyamaichi Bench chisels as well as a set of Koyamaichi Dovetail chisels(hooped) but I find myself being able to use bench chisels for most of my larger dovetails, and just needing to clean out the very corners. I know this isnt news but I guess Im curious if I have a set of bench chisels, are push "dovetail" chisels useful rather than hooped ones? I guess im curious what some of your japanese chisel collections consist of.


Answers to these questions would be greatly appreciated. Thank You

[david charlesworth]

Push chisels, without hoop are generally significantly longer.

I like them,as I seem to have better control of angle.

I do not like dovetail shape which in my opinion has no advantage over regular shape.

When you buy Tasai chisels, you are paying for Blacksmithing artistry. I am not clear that they will function differently from your Koyamaichi chisels which are excellent.

Best wishhes,
David Charlesworth

[Andrew Hughes]

I must confess I do have a weakness for Tasai Chisels,Those sure are pretty.Not sure what you mean about the socket,If your talking about the ferrel that's between the tang and handle.I can say that some of my Tasai are blue and some are more white colored.
I like the shape of the dovetail chisels,mainly for dovetails on precious little boxes.Andrew

[Allen Fulmer]

Thanks for your input David!
I actually like the short handles on these.

Andrew,
yes I'm referring to the "ferrules". I just really like the blueish look but it seems that they vary so much that sometimes you get blue, sometimes you get black etc.

[David Weaver]

I don't know if tasai does that intentionally. Ferrules, handles and hoops can all be bought from various makers separate, and no chisel maker has to make their own. Whether some do, anyway, I don't know, and obviously the hoops don't amount to any concern on push chisels. If you weren't purchasing stock, you could likely request the maker user a certain color ferrule. When discussing chisels that can be as much as $700 a pop, they can't be surprised that some folks would want certain things to be certain ways.

Also, I think I may not have said anything elsewhere, but I agree with what david says above - much prefer the usu nomi (flat top). If you have a habit of keeping a chisel in the cut with your thumb, the top of a shinogi is very uncomfortable to use, and on top of that, the triangular shape of the shinogi makes sharpening less stable on what is already a long chisels that doesn't really like to rest on its bevel without quite a bit of outside influence due to the length.

[Allen Fulmer]

I will look into that David, thank you.

I also agree with both of you for the Usu, but what about for small sizes, 3,6, still Usu as opposed to shinogi?

[David Weaver]

Any small chisels for me is fine for that work. One of my usu nomis is 6 mm, and I have never used it because it literally isn't worth the effort to pick it up to clean out corners when the KI choppers can very easily do that held with one hand.

And if the KI chisels are wrapped up in a roll, I often don't even have them out. They are nice, but I think in the balance of things, a bench chisel with the lands ground down would make a nicer chisel to use simply because the sharpening and handling would be a lot more comfortable. It may be the reason that there aren't tons of chisels the style of the KI dovetail chisels floating around out there in vintage types.

[Jack Curtis]

Just in case you don't know this, mokume adds no performance advantage whatsoever except in one very special case (when the shank/neck is so narrow that Tasai weaves mokume strands for strength). I'm not debating that it looks nice in a gothic kind of way and may hold a higher monetary value and/or make you feel great when using one.

I'd always spend the money on more Tasai ultra thin paring chisels, heavenly tools.

[Allen Fulmer]

Just in case you don't know this, mokume adds no performance advantage whatsoever except in one very special case (when the shank/neck is so narrow that Tasai weaves mokume strands for strength). I'm not debating that it looks nice in a gothic kind of way and may hold a higher monetary value and/or make you feel great when using one.

I'd always spend the money on more Tasai ultra thin paring chisels, heavenly tools.

Yes, im aware it adds no performance to the chisel. These chisels are strictly for their beauty, although their performance is obviously top notch because theyre Tasai. I'm not looking to build a collection of mokume tools. Just saw these and decided i want them. All of my other chisels are and will be regular working type chisels. The price of these chisels is high, but for 2 or 3, its worth it to me to add these to my tool collection(which is a working collection)

Im currently looking into a few very thin paring chisels of Tasai's in the smaller sizes. Ive read nothing but great things written about them.

[Chris Vandiver]

Tasai flat shank push chisel.

[Jack Curtis]

...Im currently looking into a few very thin paring chisels of Tasai's in the smaller sizes. Ive read nothing but great things written about them.

My girl friend/partner, Pam, originally bought a 36mm very thin Tasai about 14 years ago at a dai making seminar at Harrelson's, and she fell in love immediately. It's a great tool for adjusting dai beds. She says it make her feel masterful. I like it a lot, too.

Neither of us has tried narrow versions, but we're thinking of trying a couple or three.

[Allen Fulmer]

My girl friend/partner, Pam, originally bought a 36mm very thin Tasai about 14 years ago at a dai making seminar at Harrelson's, and she fell in love immediately. It's a great tool for adjusting dai beds. She says it make her feel masterful. I like it a lot, too.

Neither of us has tried narrow versions, but we're thinking of trying a couple or three.

I was actually hoping she would also chime in on this discussion simply because I know she has alot of experience in this area just from browsing the forums for the last few months. I wasnt aware you guys were partners, but if you have any other advice as well, im all ears. Something she said in a post has really stuck with me and its making me think hard. The comment she made about her bench chisels being obsolete now that she has aquired all of her specialty chisels. Although I already have a set of bench chisels, I was actually curious what her entire japanese chisel collection looked like.

Ive been thinking long and hard about the very thin chisels. I definitely think im going to try a 12/15mm that Wiley recommended, but I think it might also be nice to have a 6/9mm to get into narrower dovetails. If I have to be the guinea pig for the narrow chisel I will gladly do it, but I was hoping someone would chime in who might have one.

[Rick Fisher]

http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/jokerbird_photo/Hand%20Tools/Chis1.jpg (http://s335.photobucket.com/user/jokerbird_photo/media/Hand%20Tools/Chis1.jpg.html)

Those are mine.. I recently got the bench chisels in polished finish. Tasai Chisels are as much about art as function, but they function extremely well.
http://i335.photobucket.com/albums/m455/jokerbird_photo/P1060365_zps71c630bd.jpg (http://s335.photobucket.com/user/jokerbird_photo/media/P1060365_zps71c630bd.jpg.html)

The woodgrain finish is about style and beauty, not function..

[Jack Curtis]

I was actually hoping she would also chime in on this discussion simply because I know she has alot of experience in this area just from browsing the forums for the last few months. I wasnt aware you guys were partners, but if you have any other advice as well, im all ears. Something she said in a post has really stuck with me and its making me think hard. The comment she made about her bench chisels being obsolete now that she has aquired all of her specialty chisels. Although I already have a set of bench chisels, I was actually curious what her entire japanese chisel collection looked like.

Ive been thinking long and hard about the very thin chisels. I definitely think im going to try a 12/15mm that Wiley recommended, but I think it might also be nice to have a 6/9mm to get into narrower dovetails. If I have to be the guinea pig for the narrow chisel I will gladly do it, but I was hoping someone would chime in who might have one.

Pam doesn't consider the bench chisels so much obsolete as obviated, no longer necessary; but we haven't sold our set as yet, very hard to sell tools, even the unused ones. She will not post here, but you can check out the Japanese Handtools Forum within the Woodwork Forums.

As to cleaning out dovetails, I'd say get one of the newish, small Tasai/Koyamaichi Concorde look-alikes (http://japantool-iida.com/chisel_others/2008/05/special-dovetail-chisel-by-tas.html) or a small bachi nomi (fishtail).

[Jack Curtis]

Rick said: The woodgrain finish is about style and beauty, not function.

Very clear once you know that. :)

[Allen Fulmer]

Pam doesn't consider the bench chisels so much obsolete as obviated, no longer necessary; but we haven't sold our set as yet, very hard to sell tools, even the unused ones. She will not post here, but you can check out the Japanese Handtools Forum within the Woodwork Forums.

As to cleaning out dovetails, I'd say get one of the newish, small Tasai/Koyamaichi Concorde look-alikes (http://japantool-iida.com/chisel_others/2008/05/special-dovetail-chisel-by-tas.html) or a small bachi nomi (fishtail).

Thanks Jack, I will look for her elsewhere. I'm also on wood central as well as another Japanese hand tool forum.

I have actually been considering one of those special Tasai dovetail chisels, thanks.