Thread: Japanese HSS chisels

Watching for replies with interest...

Originally Posted by sinjin

Hi everyone. anyone using some of the HSS Japanese chisels on Australian hardwoods. If so what has been your experience.
Also quite a lot seem to be using so called Hitachi HSS. If this is the case does it mean there is less importance on the maker
if they are using and already made steel??? And can you also get the HSS chisels in Umeki nomi style??
Thanks

Ask Stu about this. I have a 3/4" bench chisel he sent me which has seen a fair amount of use over the past couple of months. It is the toughest steel I have ever used. Stu will know a lot more.

Regards from Perth

Derek

"Hitachi HSS" refers to the steel manufacturer

you may have seen reference to "white" and "blue" steels, this, I believe, refers to the colour of the paper the steel is wrapped in when it leaves the manufacturer.

I've seen two types of Japanese HSS chisels.
1) where the entire blade is made from HSS, and the chisel has the general shape and hollowed back of a Japanese chisel.
2) where the chisel is the normal two layer Japanese construction (hard cutting edge and soft steel backing) where I imagine the skill of the maker would be very relevant

I sent Stu ans E-mail yesterday so i'll wait and see what he has to say.
But thanks all for the imput.