Thread: Some new chisels

Well after using only a 9mm and a 24mm chisel for ages, I have finally got some more.

I was originally looking at a set of ten but I didn't need all of the larger sizes in a set, so I got the sizes that I really wanted now and will get any others I need later on.

I live in Japan so I got Japanese chisels.

So here are the chisels I got:
Attachment 139251 Attachment 139252 Attachment 139253

They are Japanese chisels made by Yamahiro. They have a polish finish rather than black and the handles are "suga" (I think that is the correct spelling). Suga is similar to gumi (boxwood) and is prefered by the blacksmiths in the Nigata area, where as the blacksmiths in Miki area tend to use gumi.

The sizes are 30, 15, 12, 9, 6, 3mm.

The bloke in the shop recomended these over the Tasai chisels even though they were cheaper (but not much) and I liked the polish finish. I also know from others that Yamahiro is well respected. So, not your typical red oak and black blade chisel.

They are all bevel edge chisels. I was going to get shinogi (dovetail) chisels for the 3mm and the 6mm but after looking at the chisels, I decided to just get the bevel edge as they were thinner and the side angle was not that much different.

Yesterday I spent the afternoon setting the hoops and doming the top of the handle. The blue dome (hat) in the second picture is used to set the hoops. With this little device, this task was very simple.

( I'll post a bit in the Japanese tools forum on how I set the hoops and domed the handles if anyone in interested.)

Next to do, is to work on the blades. They came pretty sharp actually; could shave my arm, but I'll just finish them off. then I'll give them a wirl.


While in town to get these beauties, I had a look around some of the little shops and found a couple of Japanese Mortise chisels in a little shop up a very small alley in a box of other chisels for sale. They were only 1000 yen (about $10) each. This was a bargain, I thought, for old new chisels. (not second hand) Sizes are 12mm and 6mm. There were also some 7.5mm ones but didn't get one; and now I am kicking myself.

Attachment 139256
Here are all of my chisels now. The six Yamahiro's, then the two new mortice chisels, and the two on the right are my original set (9mm and 24mm)

These should keep me going for a bit.

Rob