Thread: To do or not to do

I totally agree with your comments to change the handles.

If you are concerned about devaluing the chisels by removing the original handles, surely you can keep the original handles in a "safe place".

I agree and 2nd Wood Borers suggestion! Make new handles and keep the originals in safe place if for any reason you wanted to re-fit them in the future. If you do use them as they are you'll probably end up losing the decals at some point anyway.

Cheers
JF

John,
Use them as they are and enjoy doing it.
If and when the handles wear out replace them.
(Unless you've a fetish of some sort )
Cheers
Bill

Thanks for the feedback. I was torn between replacing the handles without top bands (as I will only use a mallet on them) and keeping them looking like bergs. They are users and I dont think collectors will be lining up for them soon. The decision was more or less decided when I cleaned some of the dirt off the handles. 2 of them look like they are made of burl of some sort and I dont think they left Sweeden like that. I have decided to give the existing handles a go for a while bar one that was beyond keeping (it would have been chewing the face off the mallet) so I made a copy and recycled the ferrule and band. I'll see how they go like this for a while. Anyhow a picture is worth a thousand words.
Regards
John

Last 2 pics
Sorry just cant get the last pic to load so call this last 1 pic.
Regards
John

John Thanks these look the same as my set except I have the shorter ones all left from dad

Hi John

Unless a chisel is in absolutely pristine (new) condition, it is never going to be a "Collector" item. My philosophy is "use them and enjoy them", and if this means adding new handles to customise them for your needs/tastes .. well just do it!

The advantage of Bergs over many (most) other vintage chisels (if a 60's chisel can be called vintage!) is their combination of superior steel along with thin blades that are in the "parer" category. The stubby, hooped handle is not appropriate, in my opinion, as I do not see them as general bench chisels (unless you get the firmer type). Take them off!!!

I replaced all mine with (Jarrah) handles that are very similar in length and diameter to Japanese slicks (paring chisels).





These run from 1/8" through 1 1/4". (Still looking to add a 1 1/2" - anyone?)

Regards from Perth

Derek

Derek,
My first reaction was to rehandle them without the bands as like you say they are not flogging chisels anyhow. I know they are a long way past being collectors and show signs of a hard life but are good users. I'll give the existing handles a go for a while to see how they feel. I was just seeing what others views were. They can remain looking like bergs if I find them comfortable to work with. My mixed bag of chisels was a bit light on bevels and this the nearest to a set in the shed. They are all reasonably sharp but could do with a proper flatten on the back a grind and hone to match them all up.
Regards
John

Originally Posted by orraloon

. 2 of them look like they are made of burl of some sort and I dont think they left Sweeden like that.
Regards
John

Hi John,
Bergs are as good as folks make them out to be and are excellent user chisels, not just for the collectors.
The "burl" you refer to is likely to be birch root which is what the older Bergs were handled with. It does look burl-like with lots of swirls and changes of grain.
Since I don't whack mine but use them in hand for paring, I have rounded over any dagged ends on the disk sander to make them a more comfortable fit in the palm of the hand.
Savor the pleasure that these will give you.
SG

i love your jarah handles derek they look very comfortable to use and if i may hijack your thread for a moment orralooni have 3 bergs with red plastic handles is the steel in these just as good as the wooden handled ones and what is the best way to remove the plastic handles and put wooden ones one?
thanks
greg

Greg,
As these are my first bergs I cant say if the later plastic handled ones are as good or not. I would guess that they would be in the good range and most likely better than what is available as general range chisels today. Perhaps some of the chisel gurus can help here. I have put a handle or 2 on old plastic handled chisels and they usually have a strait tang sometimes with flared bulges halfways along. The bulges can be filed off. The ones I did had already lost the handles but I guess you could just shatter them with a hammer. I would avoid heating them. With a strait tang use epoxy to set it in the handle as it will not tighten up like a tapered tang. Have you a lathe to make new ones.

SG,
Thanks for the burl info. Good to know. When I saw them I was sure they were Aus replacements but the wood is softer than I expected.

Anyhow latest is I have them all reground honed and sharp enough to shave. The left forearm has a bit less hair also.
Regards
John

Originally Posted by orraloon

My first reaction was to rehandle them without the bands

Hi John.
A while ago picked up a small set of bergs with a couple of mashed handles and turned up handles from osage.. I can't find the photos on my hd atm but you can see a similar set I made for a mate not long after here (only pic on that page)
Like you say.. no need for hoops if you don't plan on bashing the daylights out of them and you use an appropriate timber

We all have our different tastes and methods when it comes to woodworking and fwiw I find the berg pattern handle very comfortable and user freindly for paring and carving chisels.. I recently got rid of the ugly handles from my Pfiel set and replaced them with a shortened version of the berg pattern. sure they roll of the bench but they are so much nicer to use, I now have somwhere to register my grip and apply forward pressure.

These pics are probably a good example of the how you can get away with "quick and close enough" when you are turning a set.. they look the same at a glance but they were all turned with no template and differ wildly!

Attachment 106983Attachment 106984
Attachment 106985Attachment 106986
Attachment 106987

While I'm on the other side of the bench from derrek regarding handle shape, I completely agree with his statement that unless they are pristene that they are not collectors chisels anyway.. even if you did keep those original handles in nice shape they would eventually be sitting on stumpy little chisel nubs anyway because you're going to use them.. so I parrot his advice, whatever you decide, just do it!

The other great thing about sockets is that you can change handles really quickly and you dont have to stuff around with ferrules and drilling out the tapered hole for the tang.. you could turn up a set ala Derek from scrap and play with them for a while... I'm sure I read somewhere about a chap who kept two different sets of handles for his sockets, he'd just tap them out and change handles for different jobs, maybe I'm imagining that.. does sound a bit nutty

Not nutty. I've been playing with different handle types in a couple of socket Bergs since I got a lath, and learning heaps, would be a big hassle with tangs.
Has anyone tried Oz tree roots for handles ?

Very nice handles Luban.
I have heard that osage orange is quite heavy. How is it to work - ie turn?
I can't see the minor differences that you mention, and anyway with different sized chisels you wouldn't want all large or all small handles.
Remember the old saying:
Perfection is the enemy of good enough.
Cheers
SG