Thread: Which Chisels are Worthy?

Hi sCORCH

Can't help you with Qs 1 and 2, but I have a range of Matsumura chisels I bought some time ago from Japan Woodworker, and I like them. They feel nicely balanced, and hold their edge very well. Fine Woodworking ran a review of a large number of chisels last year (I think), and the Matsumura chisels rated very highly. These days I mainly use a set of chisels I bought in Japan, but I would certainly recommend the Matsumura, and I've only had good experiences with Japan Woodworker.

I also have a few specialty Iyoroi chisels, and while they do their job well, they don't feel quite as nice to hold as the Matsumura, but that's purely my subjective opinion.

Des

Hey Des,

Thanks for that feedback. The Matsumura are pretty high on my list as a "mid-level" japanese chisel, so it's great to know that others have good things to say.

Cheerio,
sCORCH

Hi- The Matsumora chisels are good. The Fujihiro brand, made by the blacksmith Chutaro Imai, and sold by Hida (whom I like very much) are also very good in the same price range. -Howard

You will not be disappointed with the Iyoroi bench chisels from Carba-tec. For the price they are very strong performers. I have a bunch of them that I have used for over 10 years and they have proved to take a superb edge and hold it exceptionally well. And note that I predominantly work with hard and abrasive Aussie timber (Perth, the home of Jarrah!). These chisels see off everything else I own.

I also have a few Matsumura dovetail chisels. They are very good as well. However since they are only used for chopping dovetails it isdifficult to say how they compare. I'd guess that the two are very similar.

Basically the choice will come down to whether you want the comfort of purchasing locally (Iyoroi) or going overseas (Matsumura).

Regards from Perth

Derek

Had a few Iyoroi bench chisels for about 6 years now and I've found them to be as good as any of my Japanese chisels, though none of mine are from big name blacksmiths.

I don't have, so can't comment on, Matsumura chisels.

Unless you are really into the finer nuances of Japanese woodworking and tools, I'm not convinced that most of us western woodworkers that are using Japanese chisels are able to extract and maintain the higher performance that is possible from the better quality J chisels (ie better than or similar to Iyoroi). We just don't/won't get the practical additional benefits by spending the extra dollars. For example, unless properly sharpened (and very few of us ever get to the required level of skill) a Tasai chisel will cut no better than an Iyoroi.

However, if you are fascinated with the craftsmanship of hand forged Japanese blades and appreciate their Zen aesthetics, and are prepared to practice your sharpening for at least an hour a day for several years, and spend half as much again on waterstones to what you have already spent on your blades, and have the $s, then Iyoroi may not satisfy you....

Neil

I have to agree with Neil. Again, I can't talk from actual comparison as I have only used Iyoroi and Yasaku level chisels. However, they have done everything I expected they would do. I can get them very sharp (I know I could do better) and I'm always impressed at how long they stay sharp.

I think the crux of using tools (of any ilk) is learning what they are capable of (re. chisels : how hard they can be hit, how well they cut which types of wood, which bevel angles are appropriate, how much levering they can withstand, etc.) and not on who made them and how much they cost (because this is very often not at all related to how well they work as tools).

For example, on a related but different subject, I once purchased a relatively cheap SLR camera (because it was all I could afford). After having my first roll of film developed, I commented to the camera salesperson (back when film got developed at the same places where cameras were sold) at how impressed I was with the quality of the pictures. His reply was, "well, its not really the camera that counts, but the photographer". This is now the way I look at most hardware (but of course this isn't universally applicable, the cost vs performance equation, but is true I feel, more often than not).

But I try to research before buying and concur with asking for an opinion or two.

Steve