Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 26

Thread: Lee Valley Veritas PM-V11 chisels

  1. #1

    Lee Valley Veritas PM-V11 chisels

    I recently purchased two chisels - 3/4" and 1/2". Yep, I sold some tools and swallowed hard because they are expensive. However, there has been such good reviews about the PM-V11 I took the plunge. The steel is supposed to be tough and relatively easy to sharpen. I sharpen with a 25 degree primary bevel and a 30 degree secondary bevel.

    I am building a cabinet with white oak that involves dovetailing. While the PM-V11chisels are easy to sharpen, the steel is definitely not durable. After one light pass to remove 1/32" - 1/16" while chopping dovetails, the edge on each chisel crumbled. That's right, crumbled. I have heard heat treatment can cause a weakened edge on chisels, plane irons, etc, so I sharpened each chisel several times to remove some material. My experience after sharpening each time was the same - the edge crumbled during one light pass.

    Now granted white oak is a tough and hard wood. However, that is exactly why I spent the money to buy the PM-V11 chisels.

    For comparison I have used Lie Nielsen A2 chisels, Japanese chisels - both laminated steel and special Hitachi HSS (non laminated) and O1 (old Stanley 750). The laminated Japanese chisel I have is an inexpensive store brand chisel from Japan Woodworker. It is easy to sharpen and durable. The Hitachi special HSS chisels were purchased from Traditional Woodworker. I love the Hitachi HSS steel chisels - durable, easy to sharpenand reasonably priced but Traditional Woodworker is out of business and I can't find these chisels anywhere.

    What has been your experience with PM-V11 chisels? I will return these chisels - they are a big disappointment and are not worth the high price or even a low price.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    So Cal
    Posts
    3,739
    White oak can be very nasty. My friend sent me a piece of White oak from Oregon that was extremely difficult.
    I had to nibble away at it. That’s all I got good luck.
    One more thing I was going to post a pic but I see your not a contributor yet.
    Good Luck
    Aj

  3. #3
    Well, as a matter of fact I am using Oregon white oak. The PM-V11 chisels performed worse than the other chisels I tried as described in my post

  4. #4
    Some report that new chisels sometimes are soft at the sharp edge and need to wear down a little to the harder steel.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Michiana
    Posts
    3,047
    I work almost exclusively in white oak. It's miserable stuff. I have LN A2 Chisels as well as some Irwin/Marples in HSS. White oak is an able rival. Chisels and plane irons need to be stupid sharp. They cut, but you need to keep it light and they do need honing or stropping frequently. Without a secondary bevel they tend to chip. I have one plane with a PM-V11 iron and it performs very well. If your edge is "crumbling" it suggests an unusual problem. In my experience, an email to LV about the issue will bring about a prompt resolution. Crabbing to a woodworking forum on your first post, not so much.
    Last edited by Rob Luter; 05-26-2019 at 8:10 AM. Reason: stupid typo.
    Sharp solves all manner of problems.

  6. #6
    Well, I did contact Lee Valley prior to posting here. I am waiting a reply. Thanks for your input.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Michiana
    Posts
    3,047
    They'll make it right. They're a good bunch.
    Sharp solves all manner of problems.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    Calgary AB
    Posts
    179
    I got my set a few years back, and the three biggest chisels had similar issues (coincidentally also in white oak is when I found out). Talked to LV and three replacements were sent and return postage for the defective chisels. They hold up well chopping Purpleheart, white oak, Jarrah, etc. PMV-11 is good steel.

  9. #9
    I use the LV PM-V11 chisels and my experience is quite different than yours. I also suggest you contact LV about the issue. They have always responded quickly and fairly.

    Mike
    Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.

  10. #10
    That's good to hear. thanks

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Longview WA
    Posts
    27,347
    Blog Entries
    1
    So far my only experience with PMv-11 is a spokeshave.

    At first the blade didn't seem all that much better than the blades on my other shaves. After a few trips to the sharpening bench the blade has held up remarkably well.

    jtk
    "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
    - Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    DuBois, PA
    Posts
    1,898
    I've got one PMV-11 chisel and one block plane blade-I find both have excellent steel. As (I believe Mel) mentioned, you typically need to grind back a whisker and also make sure your honing angle is not too low-definitely no lower than 25 degrees, maybe closer to 30.
    If the thunder don't get you, the lightning will.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    New England area
    Posts
    588
    Quote Originally Posted by Tony Zaffuto View Post
    I've got one PMV-11 chisel and one block plane blade-I find both have excellent steel. As (I believe Mel) mentioned, you typically need to grind back a whisker and also make sure your honing angle is not too low-definitely no lower than 25 degrees, maybe closer to 30.
    Most decent steel will perform more than adequately if honed at 30*; no need to spend a whole lot of money.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Clarks Summit PA
    Posts
    1,733
    Quote Originally Posted by Charles Guest View Post
    Most decent steel will perform more than adequately if honed at 30*; no need to spend a whole lot of money.
    Always glad to get input from a craftsman with over 50 years experience.

  15. #15
    Thought I would follow up on my OP. I received two chisels - 1/2" and 3/4" - to replace the original poor performing chisels. I followed the same method - sharpened with a 30 degree secondary bevel and chopped vertically on Oregon white oak. I made six passes with the 1/2 inch chisel, taking off 1/16" with each pass and going about 3/8" deep. I observed a single, extremely small nick in the edge, but the edge was still adequate. I blunted the edge slightly on my polishing stone (Spyderco ceramic) and resharpened. I took six more passes and could not see or feel any nicks.

    The 3/4" chisel did not perform quite as well, after 3 passes in a similar fashion, I could see a few small nicks. I resharpened as described above and took a few more passes. I couldn't see or feel any nicks.

    The edges on the replacement chisels definitely did not chip and crumble like the original chisels. I would say after this brief second go 'round that these chisels performed well in a difficult wood and are worth keeping.

    IMG_20190530_142438.jpgIMG_20190530_142446.jpg

    I'm surprised that the Lee Valley QC process let the original two chisels slip through.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •