[OP]
Contributor
I do most of my woodworking with power tools, but from time to time I need a chisel to clean something up etc... I've been using some cheap throw away Stanley chisels and thought it would be nice to have a set of maybe 3 pieces 1/2, 3/4, & 1" sizes.
Looking for opinions of a reasonably priced, but good quality brand for this type of function.
Thanks.
Brian
Brian
Contributor
Brian, you have a lot from which to choose.
On the inexpensive end there are Lee Valley Butt chisels at $52 for the 3 piece set you describe > https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop...s?item=44S0220 < These and their bevel edged chisels at a little more are plastic handled.
A similar set of Narex chisels > https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop...s?item=10S0976 < with wood handles is actually a little less with four chisels, it includes a 1/4" size.
Either of those would likely serve quite well for a mostly power tool woodworker.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Contributor
Narex Richter is currently widely seen as the best value in western chisels.
Contributor
The three piece set, the OP mentioned, is about $130 and currently out of stock at Lee Valley and a few other vendors.Originally Posted by Assaf Oppenheimer
My tendency would be to buy vintage chisels via ebay and rehab them. Not everyone's cup of meat.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Member
The steel is excellent on Narex Richter chisels. The machining on the back is so-so: took me an eternity to flatten the back of a 1-1/2” unit I got last year.
Contributor
I read something interesting in one of Patrick Leach’s monthly tool listings. He claims unequivocally that the steel used in the Stanley #60’s was better than the 720s & 750s. To be sure he’s a salesman, but not a bull*****er. I have a set of LN chisels and a bunch of my dad’s plastic handle Stanley #60s and Buck Bros. #100s from the 1950s and I can attest that their quality is very close to the LNs, although not nearly as pretty. They hone razor sharp and hold an edge for a long time.
Contributor
IMO, Stanley made the #60s to stand up to the abuse they would receive from people in various building trades.
Here is an old thread on the #60s > https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?230951
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Contributor
I only need one no. 60 butt chisel, for it's intended purpose- the top, and bottom hinge mortises on a door jamb where a longer chisel just doesn't work. That's why they're called Butt chisels-for hinge butts.
My favorite plastic handled Stanley chisels are the black plastic handled no. 40. They're regular length chisels, instead of like the shorter No. 60's. I have some I bought new in the 1970's, and some others I've picked off ebay when they went for less than what they typically go for, which is real money. I keep a couple at 18 degrees for paring use, and use on window sash. I can get them as sharp as any cutting edge I have, and for my work, the edge lasts plenty good enough. They are better than the old wooden handled Stanley chisels. I always thought they didn't get the attention they deserve because of the plastic handles.
Contributor
Jim or anyone,
How can you tell the good older Stanley #60s that were so good from the more recent vintages that probably aren't on par? I'd like to start looking for them as I hit estate and garage sales.
Mike
Contributor
I bought a 1/4, 1/2 and 1" Lie Nielsen just to try them.
They seem to be all people say they are.
The first chisels I bought when I decided to actually be a ww'er not a carpenter was Irwin Marple blue handles. They are pretty decent chisels I consider them a "firmer" chisel. I did a lot of dovetails with them. A good entry level set.
I can't imagine HF chisels having decent steel.
Contributor
My knowledge on this is limited. There was a member here who had a website with a lot of information on Stanley's plastic handled chisels. Just now checking on it the site seems to have disappeared down the interweb memory hole.
Here are my Stanley plastic handled chisels:
100_3401.jpg
The first on the right and the third from the right are both Stanley Handyman #60 chisels from the 1950s for my best guess. The black handled one is a #40 to the best of my knowledge. It is of the 'everslasting' genre. Those have steel caps and a rod from the cap to the metal of the chisel. They were made for abuse.
The chisel on the far left is also a #60 to the best of my knowledge. Not sure what attacked the plastic.
The plastic was removed and a new handle was fitted:
#60 with New Handle.jpg
At the time it was my only 3/8" paring chisel.
Later versions of the #60 have a black ring of plastic at the base and look an awful like Buck Brothers chisels from the same time period.
The 1/2" #60 was one of my first chisels purchased. It was at a flea market in Berkeley, CA for fifty cents or a dollar. That was about forty years ago so my memory has faded.
For the various types of work around the property it makes sense to me to have different sets of tools. There are my beater chisels for when working on dirty wood or a tree stump. My set of Buck Brothers chisels are ground at a very low angle for paring. They are seldom even tapped with a mallet.
Surely my nicer chisels could do the dirty work. But it is heart breaking to spend an hour regrinding a chipped chisel that hit an unforeseen stone or nail. Much less cleaning off the mud and yuck that accompanies working in the woods or other outdoor locations.
Last edited by Jim Koepke; 12-23-2021 at 12:30 PM. Reason: words, words, words
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Contributor
You can’t wrong following Jim and Tom’s advice. +1 on the Narex Richter line. Really good chisels. I have a couple and both take a great edge. My favorite is one that I picked up from a one man shop in Michigan. Check out the chisels that Andrew Kimmons (Kimmonshandtools) is making and selling via Etsy. A little more spendy than the Richter but on par with LV. No affiliation with the maker, I just like the chisels that he makes.
Contributor
These chisels are very well made and suitable for finer work. More attractive than the LV or Narex ones, at the very least.
https://toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/IL-100-40.XX
Contributor
A guy on Woodcentral was very impressed with the steel in this Harbor Freight set.
https://www.harborfreight.com/wood-c...ood+chisel+set
Contributor
Those are good chisels too and come down to less than $2 each. They can be reprofiled for finer work using a grinder and sandpaper on a block. Takes maybe 10 min per chisels. Convert them from heavy duty work to dovetail chisels in minutes.
20210923_094254.jpg
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