Craigslist -- Blue Spruce

[John LoDico]

A little brag: picked up four brand new Blue Spruce dovetail chisels on Craigslist today for $160. 1", 1/2" 3/8" and 1/8". $40 each as opposed to $75-85. They're beautiful.

[Greg Hanus]

Gotta say I’m a bit jealous but congrats on the great find!

[Jim Koepke]

My wife was impressed by the feel and look of the Blue Spruce display at the Portland Tool Event last Friday.

So John, can you post images?

jtk

[John LoDico]

Pretty, no?
IMG_0532.jpgIMG_0531.jpg

[Jessica de Boer]

Not really if I'm honest. But I don't have to like them. And I fail to see why anyone would ever pay that kind of money for A2 chisels.

[Prashun Patel]

Nor do you have to rain on his parade but that’s your prerogative.

Look great to me. Good buy.

I have A2s and paid more. Mine work well for me. Granted I am not as productive or prolific or efficient as a professional probably needs to be, but they work well for me. Easy to sharpen and last long enough for me.

[Paul McGaha]

Not really if I'm honest. But I don't have to like them. And I fail to see why anyone would ever pay that kind of money for A2 chisels.

Bye Felicia.

[Mike Manning]

Bye Felicia.

If you are offended by Jessica's honesty and bluntness then maybe your comment should have been directed to a mirror. There are cultural differences in people from different countries. Heck, there are a lot of cultural differences between regions in the US. For myself, having been born and raised in Texas we always try to say something nice. That isn't a particular trait you can attribute to other parts of the country. I for one am glad we're not all the same.

As to the Blue Spruce chisels, I think they look outstanding and would love to see for myself how they feel in the hand.

[Nicholas Lawrence]

Is it bluntness or is it just rudeness?

If you are offended by Jessica's honesty and bluntness then maybe your comment should have been directed to a mirror. There are cultural differences in people from different countries. Heck, there are a lot of cultural differences between regions in the US. For myself, having been born and raised in Texas we always try to say something nice. That isn't a particular trait you can attribute to other parts of the country. I for one am glad we're not all the same.

As to the Blue Spruce chisels, I think they look outstanding and would love to see for myself how they feel in the hand.

[Mike Manning]

Is it bluntness or is it just rudeness?

You're asking the wrong person.

[John LoDico]

You throw out a brag, you expect a response. I'm not offended by any comments -- so far. (The "Bye, Felicia" was funny though!) When I finish the built-in bookcase project I have going on (I dread the painting) I hope to put those chisels to good use.

[Richard Jones]

Is it bluntness or is it just rudeness?

If this is a poll, I'm voting for 'just rudeness.'

[Jim Foster]

I think some of the behavior on this thread is not indicative of the community that has been built here. I don't come here to look at personal attacks, I come here to enjoy learning about and sharing the craft of woodworking. I've worked with people all around the globe and there are a number of cultures where it is expected for people to be blunt in their opinions and facts. I have friends all over the world that would have commented just like Jessica did if they had the same opinion, and in an open venue where people have a common interest in the topic at hand, no one would have taken offense. In this context, I do like Eddie Wood's quote listed above.

[Derek Cohen]

Not really if I'm honest. But I don't have to like them. And I fail to see why anyone would ever pay that kind of money for A2 chisels.

Jessica, in theory these A2 chisels should be dogs ... A2 is sort of tough but "chewy" when sharpening. The wire edge holds on a long time, and the feedback when honing is sort-of sluggish. I don't have a problem with the 30 degrees they are ground and honed at, since all my Oire Nomi and Western Bench chisels are also at this angle.

The Blue Spruce chisels I have - which are the detail or dovetail chisels - would be a real surprise for someone with the expectation, above. They are light and beautifully balanced, with extremely comfortable handles. They are a delight to use where the work requires a delicate touch. The blade takes a very keen edge, which will surprise many critics of A2 steel. The only negative I have of the blades is that the edge is not held as long as white steel or PM-V11. It is better than O1. They are not for pounding with a mallet or gennou. Think of them as small paring chisels.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Rob Luter]

Not really if I'm honest. But I don't have to like them. And I fail to see why anyone would ever pay that kind of money for A2 chisels.

Is A2 somehow inferior now? I have a set of A2 chisels (LN) and they seem to work pretty well. I work mostly in QSWO and the edges seem to hold up well too.