Thread: Chisels

BTW, anyone care to explain the difference between 'bevel edge' and 'firmer'?:confused:

Tas, dont know if your havin a go here or not,? but if your serious then:
Bevel edge chisels have a slight bevel along the upper edge of the top sides which makes this type of chisel better for joint making. The firmer chisel blade is rectangular without bevel and is considered more suited to general purpose work.
Then youve got a paring chisel which is very like the bevel edge chisel but with a longer blade.
beejay1

http://community.webshots.com/user/eunos

Im going to check the markets etc on Sat/Sun on my way up to Perth.

I think I might take a closer look at the ones I have too. Sounds like an opportunity to learn how to turn some handles.

J!

Derek - if Hirsch=two cherries, would the better deal be $US89 for 6 Firmer chisels? BTW, anyone care to explain the difference between 'bevel edge' and 'firmer'?

This is what you pay for having less tuning to perform to make a tool work correctly. For some reason, those who decide have chosen to sell the Hirsch with polished metal. But this rounds the edges and to make the chisels work perfectly you have to undo all their work by sanding the chisels flat. It is up to you whether you want to put in all the hours required here, or pay the premium and purchase tools that do not require the extra tuning. This is one of the reasons you buy LN of LV tools.

A bevel edge chisel is just that, the sides are bevelled (to get into spaces such as dovetails). Firmer chisels are heavier duty, may be used for morticing as well, and are built like a tank. So they do not give up steel at the sides, as the bevel edge chisels do. Firmer chisels are more likely (but not exclusively) to be flat sided. Then there are firmer chisels with bevelled sides - just that the bevels are blunted (a sort of midway point) - many Japanese but chisels, for example, are like this.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Ah huh. Thanks again - it was the bevel on the Hirsch firmer chisels that were confusing me. I suppuse that a firmer is halfway to a morticing chisel?

Originally Posted by vsquizz

I think some people are just being polite on this thread. An honest opinion (IMHO); Marples - you may find a use for the modern ones, rust experiments?, tyre levers, paint tin openers??, but unless they have some age save your money, the stanleys are better in this regard.

Cheers

Hey Squizzy, I think you are being a bit harsh there.
I have a set of Marples, the ones with the splitproof handles. They are OK, they work.
Blades are flat, easy to sharpen and hold an edge.
What more is there to ask for in a chisel?

Originally Posted by Sprog

Blades are flat, easy to sharpen and hold an edge.
What more is there to ask for in a chisel?

High brag factor.

perth is a terrible place to find a wide and more importantly a quality selection of tools. try timbecon. they sell crown chisels. ok . bought some maples at hardware. ok. but you will become good on the stone. in the process of searching sunday markets and garage sales ?????????????

Originally Posted by Woodlice

Thanks for the input all. At the moment I am using a dozen Chisels that have been severely bashed through the years. They've been passed down to me, and while I wont chuck them out I feel like I want my own set now.

I've done a bit of chasing around today and quality seems to vary from crap to worse in the hardware stores around here. Short of a trip up to Carba-tec (I'll phone up and check with them what stock they have) my options are rather limited.

So, Im going to go with the Stanley FatMax (Dynagrips) that I can actually see, hold and weighup in my hands. I'll be able to get a bit more experience (and be happy with using them too) before I decide whether or not to buy some of the more pricey numbers.

Only thing now is to work out what size's I use most often, and what I'm likely to want to use in the future.

Thanks again.
J!

Originally Posted by Sprog

Hey Squizzy, I think you are being a bit harsh there.
I have a set of Marples, the ones with the splitproof handles. They are OK, they work.
Blades are flat, easy to sharpen and hold an edge.
What more is there to ask for in a chisel?

Sprog,
I've got a set and they hold an edge like a stick of chilled butter :mad: . My Stanleys and Fullers are much better.

Mick

Arhh, Yes indeed, chisels!! For most passionate wood workers there is nothing that brings a sparkle to the eye quicker than the opportunity to talk about chisels. Can’t get more personal than that I reckon.

My expertise only extends to differentiating the sharp end from the blunt whacking end. So do take note of our gurus comments already posted. I have read several reviews on chisels, and apart from confirming many of the opinions here, about Two Cherries, Hersch, Titan and Japanese chisels etc. One common consensus was that the ‘old’ Blue Chip Marples chisels were value for money. Not the best by a long way but good steel, reasonably hard but soft enough to quickly sharpen. So for a first set, a set for rougher work they are a good buy, not that you can buy them now, very hard to find but markets are a good place. I have a couple from markets, for about $5 each, bargain. They must say Marples on the blades and or handles not Irwin. Lee Valley still have a few I see. So I have to agree with Squizzy (#31) on the old Marples vs new ones.

I have one 1 ¼ “ Fuller butt chisel and one Stanley 1 ½ “ butt chisel. They are quite old and are my favourite door carpentry chisels, great for hinge recesses. Surprisingly the steel holds an edge well and is very hard, so hard they chip, (they must have let the apprentice charge the foundry furnace that day).

Like Derek, I have a set of the yellow Stanleys for general work, they are fine. Also have a Titan or two and a couple of Ward. Have some old English registered firmers too, (I think that is the correct term). They are great heavy slabs of steel with leather washers at the tang shoulder. These are serious rough work tools, terrific for the mortices in door frame headers and steps, (on old door frame restoration), you can whack the crickey out of ‘em. Hmm. Would go well with Biting Midge’s great fumping bench. Got to make a real bench!!! Maybe Midge would let me borrow his for a test drive, maybe.....

Lastly, if any of you chisel maniacs have the time and inclination, please drop a photo or two of any of those special chisels you have mentioned or the not so common brands or makes. Would be nice to see some of your favourites, am sure others would like a peek too. Pretty please. Yes, now I am grovelling.

Cheers
Pops

Here yer go Pops, glorious beautiful Stubai, I've got 8 of these

Originally Posted by Termite

Here yer go Pops, glorious beautiful Stubai, I've got 8 of these

no brag factor there

Originally Posted by ryanarcher

no brag factor there

Ryan and Craig, as they say in the timber game, get kno..ed.

Hi Termite,

Never mind those joshing knockers. You have made my day. I likes the look of them Stubais. I must clean up my Titans now too, given Iain's high praise. All this talk of chisels had got me thinking of a new upmarket set. Stubia, Two Cherries, Japanese, Hirsch, LN ??? My head hurts. Thanks Pops.