Thread: Pay Dirt A Chisel Gloat

I have been distracted by life and have not given the time to get these finished, but today I restored the three best condition chisels from this gloat.

The Marples, the Socketed Berg and the Jernbolaget as these three had near perfect handles and only need the backs flattened and the blades sharpened.

I hollow ground the primary bevels 25º and except for the small one and got the backs into some decent condition.

Secondary bevels honed to #12000 grit.

I did not touch the handles because these ones still have their decals to them and so they just got a coat of wax.

They are now in a functional state. They could use a little more polish on the back but they shave finger nails, so they pass.

I think they look good for $2.5 chisels.

I will try to get three more bench chisels done this weekend. But they need major work completed on their handles. So we will se how far I get.

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Originally Posted by thumbsucker

I have been distracted by life and have not given the time to get these finished, but today I restored the three best condition chisels from this gloat.

The Marples, the Socketed Berg and the Jernbolaget as these three had near perfect handles and only need the backs flattened and the blades sharpened.

I hollow ground the primary bevels 25º and except for the small one and got the backs into some decent condition.

Secondary bevels honed to #12000 grit.

I did not touch the handles because these ones still have their decals to them and so they just got a coat of wax.

They are now in a functional state. They could use a little more polish on the back but they shave finger nails, so they pass.

I think they look good for $2.5 chisels.

I will try to get three more bench chisels done this weekend. But they need major work completed on their handles. So we will se how far I get.

IMG_0790.jpg IMG_0793.jpg

Three beauties right there.
Well done
Tom

Questions

I have this titan handle with decal - the wood is bone dry and the varnish is splitting.

What do you guys think is the best thing to do. Three options:

1. Replace the whole handle (NOT KEEN ON THIS)
2. Sand Back to Raw wood and re-varnish (LOOSE THE DECAL IN THE PROCESS)
3. Soak in thinned varnish to rejuvenate (PROBABLY DISSOLVE THE DECAL ANYWAY)

I am not really a collector and I do not plan to sell these so feel and function is more important then preservation.


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I am having trouble sourcing ferrules lots of places offer brass in a limited range or are out of stock - I will go and see my local steel supplies to see if he has suitable tubing.

I really need steel ferrules because this is what the Titans came with.

TS, if it was my chisel, I wouldn't be the slightest bit concerned about a scruffy decal that is barely legible. About the only use what's left of it provides is an approximate date of manufacture (if you have, or have access to Dick Lynch's book). If it were of "collector" quality, then you would not want to do anything at all to it, but once you declare it a 'user' it's no longer an issue what happens to the handle, so just make it comfortable in whatever way you prefer.

That's my 2c......

Cheers,

I would apply shellac and linseed oil to the handle everywhere but the decal. The varnish is likely something solvent resistant, as it has been on English chisels I've gotten, or some kind of lacquer - haven't tried acetone but the handles on the set I was testing are pristine, so unlikely to do that.

Shellac just in a rag with a bit of linseed oil drop on it to help move it where you want it, and that's it.

I'd be inclined to keep the decal but probably wouldn't handle it.