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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    22

    Default looking for some good quality chisels (narex, kirschen, marples or stanley)

    hi all
    im looking for some nice bevel edge chisels to buy.
    ive read some reviews and narrowed down my options to these ones:
    narex bevel edge chisel: Set of Bevel Edge Chisels Premium - 6 pieces: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools
    kirschen (two cherries) chisels: TWO CHERRIES Chisels
    irwin marples m444: Irwin Marples M444 Blue Chip Bevel Edge Chisel - Set of 6: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools
    irwin marples m373:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marples-M373-Splitof-Bevel-Chisel/dp/B0001GS17W
    stanley dynagrip chisels: Stanley 216885 Dynagrip Chisel with Strike Cap Set (5 Pieces): Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

    i really cant make a decision myself cause they all seem to get good reviews.
    also, i got some concerns with stanley and irwin marples: i heard that they both USED TO make good tools, but recently theyve been going "downhill" and all the "good reviews" are in fact reviews of older versions of the same models. all this is merely what i heard from some people on the internet so im not sure if its credible(and some other people say they are still good...).
    Sam

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    29

    Default chisels

    like most things in woodwork (and life for that matter..) it all depends.. on what you will be using them for (fine/rough work, paring, cabinetmaking) and how much you are prepared to pay.. I own a couple of kirschen firmer chisels, which I am very happy with, and for finer stuff, a couple of narrow Lie Nielson bevel edged.. I guess that L-N and Veritas are making tools which are based on the old Stanley designs and quality, so if your budget can extend to either of those brands, have a look. It appears your location is Germany, so buying a local product (kirschen) is a not bad option either!

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Range View, Australia
    Posts
    656

    Default

    Sam since you live in Germany it would be hard for me to go past Ulmia. I have a set I've been useing for over 30 years, no complaints. Also the Ulmia veneer plane is a very good tool.
    Cheers, Bill

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    3,191

    Default

    I wouldn't look at Irwin Marples these days. Stanley seem to have come back with their sweetheart range which I believe are made in Sheffield.
    Narex have a good reputation I gather and are not too expensive.
    Kirschen similarly.
    As for people saying some Irwin/Marples are still good, perhaps they're been lucky. I am still using forty odd years old blue chip original Marples.
    Enjoy the journey.
    I would also go along with the other responses and go local.
    Cheers,
    Jim

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    McBride BC Canada
    Posts
    3,543

    Default

    I bought a pair of Narex 1/2" skew chisels from Lee Valley. For wood carving, I needed to reduce the bevel angle from 25 degrees to 20 degrees. They work so wonderfully well that I bought a second pair.
    Not tricky to make carving sharp and they hold an edge very well. Economical, too. Would not hesitate to buy more if the need arose.

    25 degrees is too big to easily push wood open by hand. 20 degrees is the commonplace bevel angle for good wood carving gouges. I have other, knife-like carving tools, most of which are 12-15 degrees.

    I have a couple of flat Marples (1"/25mm & 1/2" 12mm) that I've changed to 40 degrees for "knot-busting" in my carvings. I am amazed at the abuse and hard hitting (30oz lead-core carver's mallet) that they can take.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    3,191

    Default

    Robson, are they the original Marples? Though some of the early Irwin Marples were still made in Sheffield.
    Cheers,
    Jim

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    McBride BC Canada
    Posts
    3,543

    Default

    jimbur: I have no idea, sorry. Bought the Marples off the shelf in local hardware stores as I needed them, possible 20-30 years ago. Blue handles. Does that help at all?
    When I got into carving, it was obvious that the knots in my favourite western red cedar are about the texture of BONE. Not a good thing to hit with a $50 - 70+ Pfeil gouge. At least not for me. I can hammer the Marples into the knots as hard as I can swing that big mallet. The chips that bust out sting my face.

    When I'm rounding over surfaces which meet in a common groove in a carving, I'm happy with a skew in each fist, palm up, making small slicing cuts towards me.

    In my style(?) of carving, skews are a real "go-to" tool or I would not have 7 of them so far. The usual 3/15 or 5/35 or 2/30 are OK but leave me with the pairs of skews and I'll make progress.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    3,191

    Default

    Sounds like the old Marples blue chip. They still make them blue but that's seems to be the only comparison.
    I've chopped mortises for big gates and they just ask for more.
    Cheers,
    Jim

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    McBride BC Canada
    Posts
    3,543

    Default

    I've started 2 logs in the style of the Italian sculptor, Guiseppe Penone.
    Huge amount of physical labor.
    However, there's a perverse pleasure in putting on the gloves and picking up the
    1" Marples and the 30 oz lead core mallet for a session.
    I like that chisel (which is now back at 30 degrees for these projects.)
    I use a snow shovel for the chips and I'm quite happy to clean up (sort of).

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Canberra
    Age
    47
    Posts
    1,484

    Default

    Sam

    You should look at Dieter Schmidt fine tools. 6 two-cherries unpolished chisels for $95 euro seems the best bet. See TWO CHERRIES Chisels

    Trav
    Some days we are the flies; some days we are the windscreen

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    back in Alberta for a while
    Age
    68
    Posts
    12,006

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Trav View Post
    Sam

    You should look at Dieter Schmidt fine tools. 6 two-cherries unpolished chisels for $95 euro seems the best bet. See TWO CHERRIES Chisels

    Trav
    link to another German retailer
    Startseite | DICTUM GmbH - Mehr als Werkzeug

    who else is amused ?
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    46

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Robson Valley View Post
    I bought a pair of Narex 1/2" skew chisels from Lee Valley. For wood carving, I needed to reduce the bevel angle from 25 degrees to 20 degrees. They work so wonderfully well that I bought a second pair.
    Not tricky to make carving sharp and they hold an edge very well. Economical, too. Would not hesitate to buy more if the need arose.
    Bought a pair of these as well to go with the a set of Narex 8116 cabinetmakers and 8882 mortice chisels which I got from workshop heaven. They're all working well so far.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Germany
    Posts
    22

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ball Peen View Post
    Sam since you live in Germany it would be hard for me to go past Ulmia. I have a set I've been useing for over 30 years, no complaints. Also the Ulmia veneer plane is a very good tool.
    yeah, ive heard a lot about ulmia... but its a bit out of my price range

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
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    Default

    What I like about the Dieter Schmidt site is that it explains the possible drawbacks of buying the polished versions.
    Cheers,
    Jim
    ps Dictum or Dick as they used to be called put out an incredible catalogue which is one of the best collections of tool #### I've seen.
    pps just seen I can't use the p word.
    Cheers,
    Jim

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    McBride BC Canada
    Posts
    3,543

    Default

    Based upon a book comment made by Leonard Lee (Lee Valley), I have learned to ask myself: "what is it that I expect this edge to do?" In the main, using a robust enough bevel angle appears to be more than half the answer, whatever that angle needs to be.
    By hand, 25 degrees is too much work to push wood open. 20 degrees is about right for gouges.
    That's why I rebevelled the Narex skews. Economical and they really hold a carving-sharp edge.
    By contrast, my old Marples done up at 40 degrees can whack off 25mm - 30mm knots one after another, just fine.
    Sure, I'd like to spend a bundle on each chisel. I spend enough on things like Pfeil 5/35 gouges and the like. So, I have some really bash-worthy tools for the rough-out work and 3 rolls of Pfeil, etc., carving tools for the fun parts.

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