I Need Chisels!

[David Weaver]

Hi folks -

I am trying to get some sets of chisels to do hand work. I realized that I have a lot of planes (which are maybe more fun to collect), but aside from one LN mortise chisel, my regular bench chisels are Stanley FatMax (they were a gift), which all in all, aren't too bad, but they come with tool marks galore.

I need to come across something that would make a good set of paring chisels, and I'll leave the microbevel on the stanley chisels at 35 degrees so that they can be used for more blunt work.

I also am learning that I need to get a couple of skew chisels to clean out things that aren't square, like half blind dovetail pockets.

Does anyone have any recommendations? If money were no object, I'd just go get a full set of LN bench chisels, and get two pairs of their paring chisels, too, but I'm constrained a little more than that and would be satisfied with something vintage/used (that's not rare) or on par with two cherries.

I guess what I'm asking is does anyone know of any bargain good performers in terms of bench chisels and skew chisels?

If I can't find anything, I'll just wait until I can bear to buy the LN chisels - but I've bought one too many big ticket items lately.

Any ideas?

[Mike K Wenzloff]

Hi David,

LN doesn't make paring chisels. They make additional longer handles for making paring with the bench chisels "easier."

Traditional paring chisels are quite long. Rather than go the vintage route when I had to replace my paring chisels, I chose to get the Sorby paring chisels. While they are fine, if I would get them today it would be the Henry Taylors:
http://www.thebestthings.com/newtools/henry_taylor_paring.htm

I like the steel better in the HT brand, at least the smaller in and out cannel gouges I have of the HT brand. But my Sorby ones will out last my lifetime and they are perfectly servicable.

If by "paring chisel" you want a bench chisel ground with a lower bevel angle than the bench chisel, I would consider picking up the Ashley Iles and grinding the bevel desire on them. I would also get the London Pattern handles, but that's my preference. You can see them at The Best Things as well.

If your paring is for DTs and the like, you cannot go wrong with the Blue Spruce, who also has skewed version, hold an edge extremely well and are wonderfully balanced in the hand.

Take care, Mike

[David Weaver]

Mike - you caught me. I was thinking of the sets of skew chisels when I mentioned the LN (and said paring), and you're right about what I plan to do with a set of chisels (though I wouldn't do that to LN's chisels) if I don't get actual paring chisels - i would grind them to something between 20 and 25 degrees and use them only for paring.

I'd really like to have a set of Stanley 750s, but I don't have the patience to put a set together, and the full matched sets are out of this world in price. I understand there is more variability in the quality of steel in stanley's chisels than there is in a lot of modern chisels, so I could end up being disappointed with those.

Thanks for the suggestions - I'll go take a look.

[Fred Gross]

I am not too big on buying "sets" of chisels. I had a starter of the blue handled type when I first started ww, but after awhile I noticed I was routinely reaching for only 2 or 3 of the set. A nice matched set looks nice in the toolbox, but you can get more bang for your buck buying individual sizes of various types (skew/paring/dovetail/etc...).

[Mike K Wenzloff]

Hi David--for skews not used with a mallet or hammer, the Blue Spruce are tops for use in joinery. Made the same as Dave's detail chisels, so the edges drop down finer than most any other chisel:

http://www.wenzloffandsons.com/temp/bspruce_0002.jpg

http://www.wenzloffandsons.com/temp/bspruce_0003.jpg

And like Fred says, for this a set is unnecessary. I use 1/4" the most and so that is what the one above is.

As for bench, do check the AI chisels. Several members here have them and will most likely pipe up and recommend them when they find this thread.

Take care, Mike

[Ken Werner]

I have a couple of skew chisels that I ground from 2 different 1/2" chisels. Cheap and effective. Unfortunately, assembling a set of chisels can be very time consuming and expensive on the auctions. Mike W. gave you some good advice. But I'd also consider buying the LNs as you can. For what the Stanley 750s go for, you can have a reliable superb set of new chisels. Before you buy a set, try to hold them in your hand. I have heard good things about the Ashley Iles, but when I finally held them, I didn't like the look or feel - just personal taste - no criticism. When I felt the LNs, they felt and looked great.
Ken

[Jim Becker]

I'm quite happy with my Ashley Iles bench chisels from ToolsForWorkingWood.com.

[Doug Shepard]

LV has a low cost set of skews that I've been satisfied with
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=30025&cat=1,41504,41539&ap=1
I'm sure they're not as nice as some of the others mentioned, but they've worked well for me.

[Andrew Williams]

I have the Iroyoi 5-chisel set from LV. The edges stay sharper longer than anything else I have ever used.

[David Weaver]

Doug - thanks for pointing out the LV site. I had forgotten about it, and I ended up getting one 1/4" japanese dovetail chisel and their pair of 1/2" skew chisels - the ones made of O1 steel, which is presumably around 60 hardness.

[David Weaver]

Mike - I saw pictures of those chisels shortly after they were recommended, and I'll admit - they're tool porn!

[Mike Henderson]

The only thing I use a skew chisel for is cleaning out the corners of half-blind dovetails. And for that application, they don't take a beating so any chisel will work. I purchased a couple of Irwin 1/4" chisels and ground a skew on them (left and right). They sell for less than $10 each in most places.

Regarding bench chisels, there are many very good brands of chisels out there. If you're buying your first set of chisels, and are on a budget, you can get excellent service from chisels that are quite a bit less expensive than the LNs. For example, LV sells the Hirsch brand, which is a re-branding of the Two Cherries chisels, for a decent price.

But if money is no object, the LN and Blue Spruce chisels are very nice.

Mike

[Derek Cohen]

Skew chisels are really easy, and satisfying, to make oneself. I have a few that I made to go with my Berg chisels, which are thin and light along the lines of a paring chisel.

Nevertheless I did weaken and buy a couple of African Blackwood Blue Spruce skews when I built up a set of the dovetail chisels (1/8" - 1/2" with a custom 3/4"), seen below:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Chisels/Dovetailchisels2.jpg

My favourite skew chisel, nevertheless, is a fishtail (for cleaning half-blind dovetails) I made out of a derelict 3/8" lying about. This has a Tasmanian Blackwood handle:

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/Chisels/Dovetailchisel1.jpg

I can highly recommend the BS chisels. As Mike says, they have a wonderful balance. These are reserved for dovetailing.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[David Weaver]

Derek - that's a fine looking lineup.

I will be the first to admit that I like my tools to look nice, even though I know that it doesn't have any effect on their performance in a lot of cases.

At this point, the Blue Spruce is a bit salty for me, but the day will come when my minimum needs are met and I start to purchase tools "i don't need".

[David Weaver]

Thanks for the help and recommendations, guys. I added a set of Hirsch bench chisels from LV this morning - after reading a bunch of reviews - to go along with the skews and the japanese dovetail chisel I ordered yesterday.

Seems like lots don't like the handles on them, but I don't have big gorilla paws, so the handles should be OK for me.

I should have enough now that I can get by until I see what I like in person somewhere for a "deal" (though there never seem to be any real "deals" on the good stuff).

[David Tiell]

I've picked up a whole lot of nice older chisels, including some 750's, firmers, mortisers, and slicks, some with and some needing handles, for a couple bucks each at yard sales an flea markets. Not enough of anything in particular to put together a like set, but nice all the same. Somebody rightly mentioned you'll usually find yourself reaching for the same 2 or 3 chisels out of a set (I'm partial to the 1/4", 1/2" and 3/4"). So you could purchase 2 or 3 LNs individually, and as you get extra cash, add to them 1 or 2 at a time until you have them all.

[Jeff Raymond]

I bought a set of Buck chisels at the local HD, based on their reputation for knives.

What junk. They're dull, just about un-sharpenable (if that's a word) and ergonomically bad.

Oh well.

[Tom Henry]

I'm quite happy with my Ashley Iles bench chisels from ToolsForWorkingWood.com.

Jim-

I also have the Iles chisels and they are great. But I just noticed that they are cheeper at thebestthings.com

[Jim Becker]

I also have the Iles chisels and they are great. But I just noticed that they are cheeper at thebestthings.com

There are always opportunities to source tools at various places. Joel has been very good to me on my chisel purchase, including a recent replacement of the 3/4" chisel when the ferrule disintegrated. When I need something "Neander", I tend to look to him first for that reason. The other vendors may be just as customer service oriented...I don't know them.

[Eddie Darby]

I have the Iroyoi 5-chisel set from LV. The edges stay sharper longer than anything else I have ever used.

Can you tell us what other chisels you have used?

Have you used for instance the LN chisels?

Thanks

[Jim Shaver, Oakville Ont]

Skew chisels are really easy, and satisfying, to make oneself. I have a few that I made to go with my Berg chisels, which are thin and light along the lines of a paring chisel.

Nevertheless I did weaken and buy a couple of African Blackwood Blue Spruce skews when I built up a set of the dovetail chisels (1/8" - 1/2" with a custom 3/4"),

Derek

We must be twins, I have all my BSTW in African Blackwood, the handles Dave makes are perfect for my hands...a joy to use...;)

[Andrew Williams]

Have not used the LN chisels. I don't have a lot of chisels, mainly Stanleys and an Iles mortise chisel in addition to the japanese ones. I have lots of planes though and the japanese chisels stay sharper longer than even the A2 stuff in my experience.


Can you tell us what other chisels you have used?

Have you used for instance the LN chisels?

Thanks

[Mike Henderson]

Have not used the LN chisels. I don't have a lot of chisels, mainly Stanleys and an Iles mortise chisel in addition to the japanese ones. I have lots of planes though and the japanese chisels stay sharper longer than even the A2 stuff in my experience.
In my opinion, Andrew is correct. The Japanese chisels use a laminated piece of steel for the edge which is hardened more than Western chisels. The harder the steel, the longer it will hold an edge. But you pay for that hardness with brittleness - the steel chips rather then bends. Western chisels are not as hard but are tougher - they deform rather than chipping.

Some people like hard chisels and some people prefer tough chisels. Neither is "better" - it's all in what you like.

Mike

[David Weaver]

I have seen several recommendations that Japanese tools take a much keener edge. Being that I've only used one mortise chisel (and compared it to an LN chisel - I couldn't tell a huge difference), I can't say how much better it is than a really really good western chisel.

Anyway, the suggestion that I've seen is that the keenness of the edge that a japanese chisel takes is idea for paring and cleaning up rough work. So, getting a set of very durable chisels first (the two-cherries / hirsch - both use the same steel) fit that category in the tests, falling only behind the LN chisels for toughnes - but at half the cost. Then, if you want more keenness than they offer, get a fine japanese that someone else recommends. You can do the rough work with the two-cherries type, and clean up the work with the very keen japanese chisel.

I'm all for trying that, and in the next couple of days, should get a japanese dovetail chisel.

I basically started this thread to see if there were any "deals", and was also kind of hoping that someone would offer up a two-cherries / AI / Hirsch type for cheap because they wanted to upgrade to fine japanese chisels or maybe the LN 750 repros, but it never seems to work that way.
Also, note when you're looking around that there are lots of chisels in the high 50s for hardness, and though they sound like they should hold an edge almost as well as one that's 60 or 61, the relationship doesn't look to be linear (and hasn't been in my narrow experience). If you can get a hard durable edge like the LN and hirsch chisels, that's pretty darned cool, and you aren't too bad off to start.