Thread: New Stanley chisel set

I think Blue-Deviled has a set.
Cheers,
Jim

did you get a model number Jim (grandad)

do they look like this


specs from the stanley site seem to say

Features and Benefits
•Based on the design of the Original Stanley 750 Series Chisels
•Hornbeam Wooden Handle For Durability
•Long Thin Blade Design Ideal for Woodworkers
•High Carbon-Chrome Steel for edge retention
•Manufactured in UK
•Set includes sizes: 1/4", 1/8", 3/8", 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", 1", 1-1/4"
•Includes tool roll

on their site they also say available singly and in a set of 4 as well, a 5 set might be just for Oz or bunnies maybe?

high carbon ok, high chrome not so much i think though many have that nowadays, if they are like their other recent chisels offered they are presumably hardened to rc 59-62

cheap though eh, especially for something made in UK is hard to believe

cheers
chippy

They may be manufactured in the UK, but where does the steel come from?

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

They may be manufactured in the UK, but where does the steel come from?

yeah, my thoughts exactly!

Chromium content is definitely not a bad thing in and of itself.

D2 tool steels contain quite a bit of chromium, 11% or so along with much smaller amounts ( less than 1%) of molybdenum, silicon, manganese, and vanadium.

I'd be less concerned about the composition in this case and more concerned by the heat treatment and grind etc.

Horaldic

They are the Bailey Stanley 5 piece set.
Dark wooden handles.
Saw them on a US site (amazon) for 70 bucks.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-16-401-Bailey-Chisel-5-Piece/dp/B003HGH3W2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336791632&sr=8-1"]Amazon.com: Stanley 16-401 Bailey Chisel Set, 5-Piece: Home Improvement[/ame]
Reviews are on there as well.

They look pretty and I was tempted yesterday at bunnies, Will wait for usage report.
Peter

I saw them at Bunnies the other day, the backs were pretty coarse so I reckon that they'd need quite a few hours lapping to get them nice, but they still look better than anything else there.

Just because I was going to the big green shed anyway I took a look.

On an initial inspection these chisels are a lot like the Narex chisels sold by Lee Valley. The handles are beech according to the label, this timber has been stained to get the dark brown colour and they have thin pressed metal ferrules that appear to be brass. Though, I didn't give any a scratch to determine whether it was actually brass or plated steel.

The chisels themselves are quite coarsely ground with obvious striations from the grinding process tracked across the steel. In terms of the bevels they are reasonably thick at the sides, no different from my old yellow-handled stanley carpentry chisels in that respect but perhaps more coarsely ground.

They are the nicest looking chisels on the shelf from three feet away but on closer inspection they are more coarsely ground and have thicker bevels than, for example, the marples blue chips sitting nearby.

It looks to me like a bit of a marketing exercise aimed at folks who are attracted to the dark-stained beech and brass with the leather tool roll.

If I were happy to buy another 5 bevel edge carpentry chisels I might have given them a go just for the sake of experimentation but it looked like a gimmick to me.

I'll try and attach a few photos to another post.

Horaldic

My #1 set is vintage Stanley #60's. They sharpen to a razors edge and hold it forever.

Don't get caught in the marketing hokum of "wood handled" being somehow "better". They might look pretty however in a butt chisel that's going to see impact, that's one area where modern synthetics are so hugely superior to wood, there's really no reason to 'go old' unless you're one of those kooks who are concerned about maintaining an 'aesthetic' among your tools...

Lots of brass, wood handles, etc.

A decent second option to original Stanley 60s that gets no love whatsoever since the brand is so closely associated with bargain priced import tools are the USA Made Great Neck remakes, but these can be tricky to find and I don't know if they're still in production.

They made a huge branding error by defining their company as a bargain tool importer but thinking they could make a higher end like that would get respect. Still, consumer sentiments aside, as working chisels, they're really good.

Thanks to everyone for your comments.
In summary, it would appear they may turn into a "fairly" good chisel if one was prepared to spend some time cleaning them up.
I agree with the sentiment that the nice timber handles and brass are a marketing ploy, and it worked. The only reason they caught my eye was because of the handles. The Sheffield branding then further tempted me.
Fortunately, I have access to people who know their stuff here on this forum and that was as far as it went.
I can well understand how many others would buy them on these two factors alone, and then be disappointed.
Cheers
Jim

Originally Posted by Grandad-5

Thanks to everyone for your comments.
In summary, it would appear they may turn into a "fairly" good chisel if one was prepared to spend some time cleaning them up.
I agree with the sentiment that the nice timber handles and brass are a marketing ploy, and it worked. The only reason they caught my eye was because of the handles. The Sheffield branding then further tempted me.
Fortunately, I have access to people who know their stuff here on this forum and that was as far as it went.
I can well understand how many others would buy them on these two factors alone, and then be disappointed.
Cheers
Jim

BD has his sharpened like razors but I don't think he's given them any heavy use yet. Perhaps he'll chime in.
It is sad that a name like stanley only manages to sell when a specific town is mentioned.
Like Horaldic I wouldn't worry too much about where the steel comes from as long as it's heated treated properly.
Cheers,
Jim

Originally Posted by jimbur

It is sad that a name like stanley only manages to sell when a specific town is mentioned.

Frankly, I find it more irritating than sad. I'm forever getting caught out by a name brand I knew I could once trust, but no longer.
I had need for some new SDS drill bits recently. I use 6.5 and 8mm consistantly to use plugs in brick.
Picked up a new Irwin 8mm SDS and used it for the first time yeasterday.
Whereas my old and tired 8mm drilled a hole that meant I would have to gently tap the plug into place, the new one makes a hole that allows the plug to slide in and out easily with just my fingers.
Clearly, it's drilling a poofteenth bigger than 8mm. I measured the width with my verniers and sure enough, that is the case.
It's really starting to get under my skin.
It's Irwin for crying out loud.
Can't seem to trust any brand now-a-days.

Ok, vent over. Thank you for listening.
Probably just showing my age.

Jim

I would say that anything that is made in China, or from Chinese materials will need thoroughly scrutinising. That's not directed at the Chinese as such, more the people who specify the product to a price.

Jim, I'm older than you and find that mellowing with age is just a myth.
Cheers,
Jim