Thread: Looking for a good "Starter" Chisel - set and singles

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

...... I am in two minds of selling or getting someone to make new handles for them....

I didn't hesitate for a second, Chris, I started on a set of new handles for my Narex cranked parers the minute I unpacked them! To be fair, the original handles weren't as large & clunky as the handles of their bench chisels: Handles cf.jpg

But this shape & size suits me better on this style of chisel: Narex chisels rehandled.jpg

Cheers,

I must round up some suitable wood and get someone to do it, I'll get quote from someone I know just down the road. If I don't do that they are just sitting in a drawer doing nothing as I never use them.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

...... I'll get quote from someone I know just down the road.......

If it's the 'someone' I suspect, isn't he involved in a project that requires some heavy lifting right now? He might drive a hard bargain...

Ya gotta get yourself a lathe, Chris, you can have more fun & waste more time with a lathe than with just about any other tool I know! You could look for a treadle type if you want to keep your shop plug-free.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

If it's the 'someone' I suspect, isn't he involved in a project that requires some heavy lifting right now? He might drive a hard bargain...

Ya gotta get yourself a lathe, Chris, you can have more fun & waste more time with a lathe than with just about any other tool I know! You could look for a treadle type if you want to keep your shop plug-free.

Cheers,

Ian, I had a lathe and sold it to the bloke I know many years ago and don't regret it at all. For some reason I never drank the medicine that made wood turning appeal to me like it did my father.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

....I had a lathe and sold it to the bloke I know many years ago and don't regret it at all. For some reason I never drank the medicine that made wood turning appeal to me like it did my father.

Ah well, different strokes for different folks.

Must admit, I never caught the bowl virus, but spindles are another matter. Spindles & legs aplenty have rolled off my lathe. And handles, of course, lotsa handles. There are few tools in my shed that haven't been given a handle more to my liking than the one it came with..

Cheers,

My work shop is really cold this winter, as low as 12C. Until the electric heater thaws* things out,
I wear lined gloves and carve, holding the Narex skews by the metal parts. The wooden handles are for balance.

* is "thaw" a word in use outside of Thredbo & Buller/Hotham in Australia?

Originally Posted by Robson Valley

* is "thaw" a word in use outside of Thredbo & Buller/Hotham in Australia?

Only when we take some steaks out of the deep freezer to cook on the BBQ

Originally Posted by Robson Valley

* is "thaw" a word in use outside of Thredbo & Buller/Hotham in Australia?

I thaw thome ithe latht night, it wath in my thcotch.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

Yes, I bought the butt chisels set, at that price it didn't matter that I wouldn't use a few. The good oil is that they are Woodriver without the brand on them. I would recommend them to any beginner and also more experienced woodworkers as well.

Good Morning T

I concur with Chris. They are very good value for money, and good steel very similar to O1. I think that you will find that the McJ, Luban, Woodriver and Axminster chisels all come out of the Qiangshang factory in China.
https://www.finetools.com.au/collections/clearance-list

Contrary to Ian's advice, I suggest that you start with a 4 or 6 chisel set, so that you can get experience with different sizes. Learn to sharpen them well; they are inexpensive so it is not a catastrophe if you damage one; learn how to recover.... the art of woodworking. Then follow both Ians' advice - seek out superior brands in junk stalls and fettle & rehandle to fit your needs.

Until you know what you want, you cannot select wisely.


Cheers

Graeme

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

...... I am in two minds of selling or getting someone to make new handles for them....

Originally Posted by IanW

I didn't hesitate for a second, Chris, I started on a set of new handles for my Narex cranked parers the minute I unpacked them! ...: Handles cf.jpg

Narex chisels rehandled.jpg

Hi Chris

Have you ever suspected that IanW buys chisels just so that he might put new handles on them ?



Cheers

Graeme

What is your method for establishing your correct chisel handle size?

In the Pacific Northwest, it takes some prototype tool handles to establish that.
I have big hands and long fingers. Your new handles look tapered and small for me.
I determined that a 25mm blank diameter will carve down to a 20-21mm handle for both crooked knives and adze handles.

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Have you ever suspected that IanW buys chisels just so that he might put new handles on them ?

yep

Hi old workshop here,
I pick up old good chisels at cat boots
and charity shops. Matheison I sorby and many more at under 50 pence each.

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

...... Have you ever suspected that IanW buys chisels just so that he might put new handles on them ?...

Originally Posted by ian

yep

Damn! I've been outed!

In my (weak) defense, at least half of the many tools I've rehandled had either badly damaged or crude user-made handles that needed replacement, but a few, like the Narexes, did get unblemished new handles ripped off them.

And likewise the couple of Veritas planes I own - couldn't get on with the 'orrible things they came with.

RV, shapes & sizes of handles are personal choice. I have medium-small hands, and we never need gloves here in the subtropics, so I like smaller handles I can hold comfortably. I arrived at the sizes & shapes I like by trial & error (plenty of both!).....

Cheers,