Created a slope on chisel back

Hello - I’m pretty new to all this and I have a real old set of buck bros chisels. I became obsessed with flattening the backs. It took forever to do about 2 inches from the tips. Again I didn’t really know what I was doing besides using sandpaper on a granite block. Needless to say I was pretty aggressive and I created a very gentle slope or ridge on the chisel back. If I run my finger tips along the back I can feel where I stopped abrading the chisel back (like a little bump or step up) at the 2” mark.

Did I ruin these chisels?

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(edited) I have a real old set of buck bros chisels.

Did I ruin these chisels?

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How old is the set? Are they pre-Buck head?

How many chisels did you do this to before noticing?

You can likely save them with a bit more work on the backs.

My most used chisels are a set fromBuck Bros.

jtk

I would argue that 2 inches of flatness is fine as a general condition however specifics do matter but flat needs to transition to the rest of the blade with tangency.

The chisels aren’t ruined and will be very usable. If you plan to clean out a long dado or do other paring, you will just need to be sure to register the chisel against the 2” flat.

I would blend in the step a bit so you can't feel it anymore. No reason to think these chisels are ruined.

I agree that for most operations you will be fine. Having a definite step that can snag would bother me but, smoothing it in could cause you to think you had a good registration surface when after 2" you do not. I have butt chisels where the round shaft is proud of the chisel sole (face?). This puts these chisels in the same position you are now in even when brand new. Your call but, I would just use them and remain aware.

In the future when doing heavy flattening work you need to keep the chisel moving along its length a bit, as well as side to side, to avoid creating a ridge wherever the abrasive stops.

But for these I agree that 2" of flat back is enough for use. What I would be concerned about is if the overall shape of the chisel back is hollow along its length. Some paring operations will be difficult if it is, although most tasks will be unaffected.

Most of them say cast steel and have a very rudimentary buck head pressed into the front of the chisel. A few just say cast steel.

Thanks all. I think I’m just going to leave them alone for the time being rather than try to blend them.

I actually really like these chisels. The steel seems very nice and they feel pretty good. But I also don’t have anything to compare them to except my brand new set of Stanly 750 sweetheart chisels. Which seem to be ok. The landing on the 3/4” chisel is a full 1/8” which seems a little fat to me. But again I don’t know what the heck I’m talking about. I just read a bunch of stuff lol.

Seth, I have a set of those 750's, decent chisels. I wouldn't worry too much about the 3/4 - its the smaller chisels like the 1/2'' that you'll be poking at dovetails with.

As far as the BB chisels, I'd 'flatten' out the ridge you've created and call it a day. Best of luck.

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Originally Posted by Seth Terndrup

Most of them say cast steel and have a very rudimentary buck head pressed into the front of the chisel. A few just say cast steel.

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The buck head started in about 1870 if my memory is working.

Some of mine have a rectangular logo and some have what looks like a bow tie.

jtk