This is a specialist chisel. You will generally only need one size ... when it is needed. You do not need a bank of them lined up alongside your bench. The idea is to reduce clutter. One handle with a choice of blades.
Regards from Perth
Derek
This is a specialist chisel. You will generally only need one size ... when it is needed. You do not need a bank of them lined up alongside your bench. The idea is to reduce clutter. One handle with a choice of blades.
Regards from Perth
Derek
How long do you suppose it will be before there iis a listing for just the handle hardware for those who want to make their own handles?
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
It looks like a clever solution to a tool box problem to me.
I have been using this prototype set since 2016 ...
The handle is printed but very functional. The blades are the same as those that went into production. They came flat ... flat ... flat. Which is important since that is how they are used.
Are they useful? Very, in the right circumstance.
Are they necessary? No, one can use a chisel bevel down, or every a thick plane blade.
Should you get them? I don't know about getting a whole lot of cranked chisels. I have always had a couple of flat ones and a few cranked gouges. They get used, but they are specialist chisels, so not used very often. I think that the whole point of the Veritas offering is that you get one handle and a couple of blades. It is more cost-effective as well as a space saving.
One of the additions I made to this set was to add a long handle ... ala a Japanese slick (very easy to do as all you need is to recess a thread, which is a standard size). I found that I liked the extra length for control, plus it gave a little more clearance when pushing.
Here is a comparison with a Japanese cranked neck chisel ...
Regards from Perth
Derek
Last edited by Derek Cohen; 08-17-2019 at 12:30 PM.
+1
I bought the same chisel (1"). It along with a block plane always stay on the bench.
Sometimes I like using it bevel down, like a plane. My planer blade has a nick. So on wide boards it leaves a trail. This or block plane, whichever is near cleans it up.
I have used it on tenon's for paring. It feels better than straight handle for this.
I just got the 1 inch... spent some time working with it.
I agree with previous comment...
wish the handle was higher...
when using it on flat panel, such as cleaning up glue line on a panel, u can not get your fingers under the handle, unless u want to scrape your knuckles on the board. Otherwise, a nice chisel...
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
“If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”
David. I see that I shall need to write up a report on these chisels.
As mentioned earlier, they are specialist items, and one can easily do without them. However, having one (or more) of these is incredibly helpful if there is one to hand at the time of need.
The Veritas are versions of what otherwise might be termed a cranked neck chisel. The main two differences are, firstly, that these ones are made by Veritas, which means that there is no .. nil .. nada work to do in preparation, other than give the bevel an extra hone. The backs are flat beyond NASA specifications! This is a Very Big Factor when you realise that this type of chisel is used on the flat. A banana back would be fun or frustrating, dependending on your sense of humour!
Secondly, you get PM-V11 steel which, for the unenlightened, is possibly the best modern steel available for plane and chisel blades. It hones fairly easily, takes a superior edge, and then holds it equally well.
I guess that there is a third feature, which is the obvious one, that is, it is possibly to put together a set of blade widths with a single handle, which is a cost-savings of sort (some will argue, as I did earlier on, that you only need one blade ... but I guess that depends what you want to do with the chisel).
I have just received a production handle (actually two!) from Veritas/Lee Valley (many thanks!), and am now in a position to say more about the full set, and how they may be used. I'll try and get to this in the next few weeks.
Regards from Perth
Derek
Hi David.
I bought this one: LINK. It seems "good enough" for my applications (so far anyway). YMMV.
I love LV tools. This time, I went with the inexpensive option because I expect it to be an occasional use tool. Hard to argue with Derek's good points though, depending on your needs. (Obviously, many people agree - they are nearly sold out.) I will say, it took me only 5 mins to flatten the back on the one I received from Woodcraft.
Fred
Last edited by Frederick Skelly; 09-28-2019 at 8:05 AM.
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."
“If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”
Based on Ken’s post, I picked up a 1” on a recent visit to Woodcraft. I found it usable out of the package with a small amount of honing. I checked the back and found that the heel and bevel end were coplaner with a slight hollow in the center. As a pairing chisel, this wouldn't be an issue, but being a bit OCD on things like this, I spent about 30 minutes with sandpaper to flatten and mirror the back. I plan to use it similar to Ken; remove glue, price stickers, etc.
As Derek mentioned, I don’t see needing more than one size, at least for what I plan to use it for. There have been a few occasions I could have put other sizes to use, but these were easily solved with careful bevel down paring.
Thanks Derek. While I am tempted by Lee Valleys full set and tool roll I’ll probably select one size that will fit my needs and go with that—either 3/4” or 1”.
Derek made a major point in his post, that is, the reference to the " banana" back. I had a Hirsh or Two Cherries of that style and it was frustrating to use. It was given away to a person I did not like very much.
I've had one of the Woodriver bent chisels, and it does the job for me, though I would have liked it to be a bit longer. But these are not tools you use a lot, or really need.
If the thunder don't get you, the lightning will.