Thread: Chisels

Benny,
I like the Block type mallet. Just a preference. I have found that with the round head mallet I end up with a "glancing" blow now and then - with a bit of practice and more care this probably wouldn't be a problem. I got an el-cheapo block mallet about 6 years ago, and while it is dinged up a bit, its still good. As a $10 mallet, is still giving good service.

In regards to the Stanley chisels - I don't know the difference between the two types. I'm biased against Stanley anyway.

I've just been searching the forum and discovered so much info.

I'm feeling the same way about Stanley now I think of it, a good company in years goone past but going down the mass produced and save on manufacturing costs to compete line.

Might get the kids to think of something else and just hunt around for second hand but good quality ones?

Wooden handle Stubai from Mik, they are what I've got.

Just hunting for my Mik Catalog.......

by the way do these ones run on 240V or do we need to have a 110V adaptor? (Oh thats right, this is dark side stuff?)

I have the Stanley clear plastic handle chisels which I have had for 20 years or more. They are great chisels although the smallest width is only 1/4 inch. You can get another two 1/4 inch chisels though and grind them down to 1/8 and one 16th for your dovetails.

The most important thing is that all chisels must be kept very sharp otherwise you are wasting your time.

Use a wooden mallet. I use a round type which I find is superior to the square type.

I have far better chisels than the Stanleys (Robert Sorby, Lie Nielsen and one Barr) but I have kept my Stanleys mainly for rougher and riskier work (nail territory). Each of my Stanleys are razor sharp, they all have a mirror finish on them. If you want good new chisels at a reasonable price then the Stanleys are the go.

I used my Stanleys for all my handcut dovetails up until about 3 years ago with what I consider good results.

Another approach is to buy second hand chisels with a good reputation such as Titan and recondition them. This is a longer term project.

I advise you to avoid the set of 5 for $9.99 type chisels unless you intend opening paint tins and then stirring the paint.

If you are in my area one night, you are welcome to "test drive my chisels" if it would help you make your decision.

I have a 'Warehouse' set which someone bought me, they are not even fit for prising lids off paint tins, what WB said and have almost exclusively Titans which I buy in different states of repair and but put a lethal edge on, and they hold it.
I use a block type hammer but one day I will make something a bit smaller and easier to handle.

Thanks guys

The ones I have are a mixture of Dads old ones and some cheapies bought years ago. After learning how to get a nice edge with the stone I am enjoying that satisfaction of actually cutting and paring rather than bashing a blunt blad through. Hence the need to further my collection, oh and my nice new Jack plane from HNT Gordon helped to.

One day I'll manage to get an edge on my scaper as that seems a black art in itself.

For a good quality mid priced set I would go for Two Cherries, Hirsch or Bahco

Anybody else noticed how Titans are creeping up in price. I hardly ever see tham at markets now, where once I could scrounge one occasinally for five sheckles the bugges want fifteen or twenty now.

Hirsch and two cherries are basically the same, but the buggeres polish them so they round. For a good cheapo set I believe Lie Nielson make something passable.

Originally Posted by outback

Anybody else noticed how Titans are creeping up in price.

I have indeed, but I got lucky recently scoring 7 on ebay for $12.50, you lot must have been asleep as I couldn't beleive my luck

Wot the others have said, Benny....
My motley lot have been collected over 25 years or more. Some are 'keepers' from a set of blue plastic handled things bought in the early 70's (most of the set were only fit for opening paint cans or used when I'm likely to hit nails). The rest were picked up at flea markets, and two or three are store-bought Two Cherries, which are good steel, but a PITA to lap those stupid polished edges off the back, as Outback sez. The smaller size bevel-edges are a bit long and bouncy for thumping, too - I removed about 20mm from the 1/4" and it's much better to wollop, now.

What I've found is that there is a fair bit of variation in the run-of-the-mill chisels you're likely to run into at sales, but if you collect anything that's reasonably priced, you'll end up with a few gems. I have sets of bevel, mortise, skew, paring and butt chisels, now. They are a bit of a motley lot, even though I've made matching handles for each 'set', but at least most of them will take and hold a decent edge.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by Iain

I have indeed, but I got lucky recently scoring 7 on ebay for $12.50, you lot must have been asleep as I couldn't beleive my luck

Don't bother looking for a Christmas card from me then.
Well done, lucky bugger, less than 3 bucks each including postage etc.

Originally Posted by outback

Don't bother looking for a Christmas card from me then.
Well done, lucky bugger, less than 3 bucks each including postage etc.

$2.92 including postage, one had a split handle, should I try for a refund??
None had an edge and one had a rounded end, none were pitted.
Having said that I have seen some crap at the flea markets going for top dollar.

I've got the start then, those same blue handles things plus some of Dad's oldies.

Out with the Gifkins to make a nice box up for the newcomers.......


Opps, does using the Gifkins rule me out of the Darkside?