New production chisels poll

[John C Cox]

Vote for your favorite new production bench chisel

The reason I ask about new, current production is that my experience with old rust is more miss than hit if you catch my drift.

Here are some I have been looking at...
LN
LV PM-V11
LV O1
Stanley sweetheart (new, not old)
Sorby (new production)
Stubai
MHG
Pfeil
Ashley Iles
Two Cherries/Hirsch

Thanks

[Mike Tekin]

John,

poll results are looking like the general consensus from magazines - editors and professional woodworkers as well as what you see people respond to favorably on forums...I would get a 1 Lie Nielsen and 1 Veritas and have fun...I did that and ended up having to like both a lot so have some sizes of both and haven't looked back.

I had Narex and The Blie Marples and hated both

[allen long]

I voted for the LV PM11 for the steel edge retention, but I have a set of the Ashley Isles and LN. I love the LN for their look and feel in my hand. I like all three sets. That said, I still enjoy using a number of my old steel chisels . For one thing they are available in wider versions than new sets. You might augment your new set sith a 1-1/2" and 2" vintage chisels.


Many Kind Regards . . . Allen

[Stewie Simpson]

If you haven't learnt the basics on how to maintain a sharp edge on your chisels you'll likely see little return on your investment with the more expensive line of chisels currently on the market.

There's been a lot of discussion recently on the benefits of A2 steel with longevity of the edge when compared to more traditional 01 steel. What's not covered is the additional time it takes to sharpen an edge on A2, when compared to 01 steel.

Its most likely that the tests done comparing A2 to 01 steel are biased to favour better results with A2. A2 steel needs a secondary bevel within the range of 32 to 35 degrees to initiate an advantage over 01 steel on longevity of the cutting edge. What's never mentioned of course is the fact that you can raise the secondary bevel on 01 steel from its commonly used 28-30, to 32-35 degrees, and you will also experience a similar improvement on the longevity of the cutting edge. Enough said.

[george wilson]

Of course longer edge retaining tools take longer to sharpen. There's no free lunch! They take longer to sharpen for the exact same reason they take longer to DULL: Abrasion resistance.

[Bill McDermott]

John, While most of us have an collection of odd, old and cheap chisels, there may be lots of folks like me who have experience with only one, or perhaps two of the flavors on your list. Therefore, it is not possible for me to cast a vote on my "favorite" in your list. However, I can easily cast a "very pleased with" vote. Would votes like that be useful to you?

[Daniel Rode]

My favorite is the set I bought :)

[Jim Belair]

My favorite is the set I bought :)

Me too. And they hadn't had any love yet in the poll so I voted for them (2C/H)

[John C Cox]

Well - so far, the Lie Nielsen and Lee Valley PM-V11 are way out in front.

The interesting thing to me about this is that both of these offerings are fairly new to the market... And they are aimed squarely at the top of the market with no apologies for price.

thanks

[Kees Heiden]

No Japanese chisels? They are the only newly produced ones I have.

[Jim Koepke]

John, While most of us have an collection of odd, old and cheap chisels, there may be lots of folks like me who have experience with only one, or perhaps two of the flavors on your list.

This covers me and why my vote is an abstention. My "new" chisels are not on the list. Besides that they is nothing about them which is worth writing home. Some cheap Stanley chisels, some Sandvick (Bacho) chisels and a Buck Bros with a plastic handle.


You might augment your new set sith a 1-1/2" and 2" vintage chisels.

+1 on having some wider chisels.

My 1-1/4" and 1-1/2" chisels see a lot of use. My 2" chisel is seldom used.

My most used 1-1/4" chisel is a Stanley 4xx series butt chisel. The bigger (longer) chisels are Greenlee, PS&W and Union branded.

jtk

[steven c newman]

I voted for the Messerschmidt made chisels...only because IF I were going to buy any NEW chisels, it would be from them. Otherwise, I would not have voted. My current "users" are the Aldis, a few Witherbys, a few Buck Brothers ( NOT from HD) and a few by Butcher. Mortise chisels are either a New Haven Edge Tool, a Japanese 12mm, and a Witherby 3/8"....The "wide chisel"( 1-1/2") is a Jennings. Have a couple drawers of "cheap" chisels I can loan out.........

[Pat Barry]

mine are not listed

[Derek Cohen]

How can one vote unless you have used ALL the chisels nominated, and for enough time to be familiar with each?

I have sets of Veritas PM-V11 and O1, Blue Spruce A2, vintage Stanley 750 in O1 or W1 (not sure - anyone know?), Koyamaichi white steel, Kiyohisa white steel, plus Ray Iles in D2.

They are are all excellent, and all sharpen up well and easily. If I only had just one, I would still be satisfied and not look elsewhere. They were not accumulated owing to either greed or dissatisfaction (for example, the Veritas chisels came later after I had been field testing the O1 versions before they went into production), but I do admit that I love chisels and must stay on top of what could become a "chisel habit".

it is really nice to use a well-made chisel (any well made tool for that matter), but when the well-made chisel is dull, and you grab for a replacement, anything that gets the job done will do. At that point I do not care what is in my hand. Having said that, here are a few pros and cons of some of these chisels ...

Veritas: the PM versions are my go-to chisels. They live on my bench. Easy to hone and great edge-holding. The handles are very comfortable for me. I take the O1 versions to Woodshows when I demo making joints. They are identical to the PM but the O1 steel would be easier for some to hone (e.g. If you use oil stones).

LN/Stanley 750 - Similar in balance, these are really nice chisels. I have used the LN quite a bit (when demonstrating for LN at woodshows). The blades of my Stanley's were modified to have the fine lands as in the LN. My personal dislike is the handle for these chisels - just too small in my hand. This is a personal thing. I made custom handles for my Stanley's.

Blue Spruce: I purchased these when they first came out, so I have had them a long time now. Best looking and best handles in the business. The chisels are light and feel like an extension of one's hand. I bought them for dovetailing. They are not heavy duty enough for general bench work. Although A2, they take an excellent edge. Just don't chop with them as they will not hold the edge for long then. For pushing, they are like small paring chisels, and used this way they hold an excellent edge.

Kiyohisa: these are my long handled paring chisels. The best in the world, and I feel privileged to use them each time. They were a three year wait, which is now a six year wait. Damn, they are nice! Did I mention this?

Koyamaichi: I have dovetail chisels. I first heard about Koyamaichi when reading an article by David Charlesworth about 20 years ago. I looked for them, but they were not to be found. Eventually I found some, NOS from the mid 80's on the UK eBay, a dozen years ago. They took over as my Japanese bench chisels, which were/are for chopping into particularly hard woods when dovetailing. Several years ago, Stu (TFJ) came to me to say that he had become the agent for Koyamaichi, and knew of my fondness for this make. I had Mr Koyama make up three dovetail chisels in the smaller sizes with custom fine lands (apparently this was new for him at that time). These chisels are just excellent in every way. However, for those looking for a first time excellent chisel, they are different from Western chisels in that they are designed to be used with a gennou, and not pushed by hand.

Hope this helps someone.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Nick Stokes]

LN are not at the top of the price range. That much for sure. In my opinion they are they affordable option in bench chisels... and very nice. However I sold my set to trade for pmv11..

[Bruce Haugen]

Me too. And they hadn't had any love yet in the poll so I voted for them (2C/H)

I don't understand this, either. I have a set of Hirsch chisels I bought on the advice of a very experienced friend. My favorite set is my Bergs, but the Hirsch take a very good edge and hold it a long time. Yes, the back is polished too much, but that can be fixed. I also replaced the handles. That's okay; I've replaced handles on Stiletto paring, Stanley #60 and Narex mortise chisels, too.

I'd say that for the money they're hard to beat.

[george wilson]

Hirsch were at or near the top of performanbce in a FWW test several years ago. But then,they did ANOTHER test,and got pretty different results. My Pfiels did not do so well in test #1,which I did not agree with. In test #2,my Pfiel chisels scored very high. I think Japanese chisels won both contests. I don't understand the differences gotten in these 2 tests. It seemed to me that in test #1,the tester used a good,scientific method to test all the chisels equally,by dropping them held in a simple machine he made,onto pieces of white oak. Yet,the 2 tests came out very different. It is certainly very confusing when a magazine runs TWO chisel tests,and gets totally different results! NOT GOOD!!!!!

I still like my OLD 1960's Marples just fine,and my newer Pfiels. I haven't decided to cough up about $400.00 for fancier ones yet! All the work I have posted here was done with the 1965ish Marples I own,and though I have several sets,they are still my "go to" set.
So,as out dated as they are,I'll have to stick with the Marples and Pfiels ,at least till I decide to spend a pile of cash on something more exotic!:) The amount of work I now am doing doesn't warrant it. Maybe when I get new knees and a new thumb joint.

I think the real finding should be: A GOOD craftsman can get excellent results with ANY chisels,as long as they are capable of holding a reasonable edge for at least a short while. When I was young,I got good work done with a 50 cent hardware chisel,with a 1/8" thick stamped out blade and a yellow handle. Sharpened on an old gray,el cheapo stone,and stropped on paper till quite sharp. It was all I had. That,and a lot of determination and energy.

[John C Cox]

It's pretty interesting how the preferences here have stayed the same through the poll as it progressed... And the interesting thing to me is that the 2 most expensive choices hold a long lead - 70% between the LN and PM-V11 to 30% everything else...

And since my rehardened junk chisels are clearly the equivalent of the LN... That means logically I need the PM-V11... ;)

I mean.. It's the obvious conclusion. ;)

[Ted Phillips]

I voted for LN, but I actually buy most of my chisels from Dave at Blue Spruce Toolworks...

[Stew Denton]

Hi All,

My response will the least useful of all. The last new chisel I bought was a new Stanley sweet heart 1/8 inch, bought recently, and I have not used it so don't know how well it will do. Other than that one chisel, the last (and only other) new chisels I bought (have ever bought new) were two Stanley handyman chisels, and that was back in 1970 or so. They have actually served me quite well, which is a surprise. However, on one of them the chisel will turn on the handle, (but it does not turn very easily) so that is not good. (The better ones at the time, in the lumber yard in our little town, were Stanley 60s, but they were too pricy for me, at maybe $4.50 or so each, I think, but it may have been $6.50, it has been long enough ago that I don't remember for certain, but think it may have been the $4.50 figure.)

No matter, what ever the price was, it was too high for me at the time, but I looked longingly at them on the tool rack. I now have a pretty good flock of vintage 60s, and probably didn't pay much over $4.50 for them now (if that), on that auction site, but now the $4.50 doesn't seem to be too pricy, times change. I have only sharpened up a tiny number of those #60s, but they have also done very well for me. They are better chisels in my view than the handyman ones, at least the handles are much better, but I use them primarily for carpentry not fine woodworking, at least not yet.

I do have some vintage socket chisels from probably mostly 100 to 100+ years old, that need handles put on them, and they should get them some day. They aren't new chisels, however, since they are all likely from 60+ to 100+ year old, so they don't pertain.

Stew

[Chris Hachet]

I voted for LN, but I actually buy most of my chisels from Dave at Blue Spruce Toolworks...I plan to buy several tools from them in the near future. They seem like an excellent product.

[Chris Hachet]

I voted for the Messerschmidt made chisels...only because IF I were going to buy any NEW chisels, it would be from them. Otherwise, I would not have voted. My current "users" are the Aldis, a few Witherbys, a few Buck Brothers ( NOT from HD) and a few by Butcher. Mortise chisels are either a New Haven Edge Tool, a Japanese 12mm, and a Witherby 3/8"....The "wide chisel"( 1-1/2") is a Jennings. Have a couple drawers of "cheap" chisels I can loan out............and all of your chisels are nice and sharp, the most important thing in making any edge tool work....