Thread: Harold & Saxon Chisels

I am a canadian who will be visiting Australia early next year and thought it would be a great idea to bring home a woodworker's souvenir from your country.
I had stumbled on Harold & Saxon chisels through the web. I was going to post on this forum before deciding but having followed the thread I knew I had to place an order. unfortunately its been several days and I have yet to hear back.
In some cultures no response means "no" but I had the impression that wasn't true for australians. I had emailed H&S about a set of paring chisels. anyone know if they produce paring chisels?

Originally Posted by giraffelt

In some cultures no response means "no" but I had the impression that wasn't true for australians. I had emailed H&S about a set of paring chisels. anyone know if they produce paring chisels?

Around here no response means "I'm busy, wait your turn." We also just had Trent out to Melbourne over the weekend for the WW show, so I'm sure he's flooded with emails from Melbournites by now.

To the best of my knowledge Trent doesn't do paring chisels. The closest he makes is the Cabinet Range which are your typical bevel edge chisel. I understand Blue Spruce are the people to talk to about paring chisels. That said, it's worth asking Trent if he can produce them for you.

kman-oz

thanks for the response. in my email to H&S I did describe what I was looking for and asked if he did or would produce them.
I have the Blue Spruce dovetail and fishtail chisels (and they are great) but as I had said in my original post I wanted to bring back a tool or tools from Australia when I visit in late January. I thought chisels with Australian timber handles would be a great addition to my tool collection.

I agree. You'd better order now because you might be waiting for them until January.

Originally Posted by giraffelt

as I said in my original post I want to bring back a tool or tools from Australia when I visit in late January. I thought chisels with Australian timber handles would be a great addition to my tool collection.

don't despair, there's lots of fine tool makers to choose a "souvenier" from:

Colen Clenton maker of squares, marking gauges, and the like http://www.hntgordon.com.au/colenclenton.htm

the plane maker, Terry Gordon http://www.hntgordon.com.au/productioncat.htm

many consider Paul Williams' plane blades to be the best on the planet http://www.hntgordon.com.au/paulwilliams.htm

a Micheal Connor bench might be a tad large for cabin luggage, but there's always one of his shooting boards http://www.hntgordon.com.au/shootingboards.htm

or store your chisels in a tool roll made from the finest parts of the Australian coat of arms – Kangaroo leather http://www.maka.com.au/products.php?cat=6

or pick up one or more of Chris Vesper's goodies http://www.vespertools.com.au/

most of these guys are sole traders, so if they are really busy making stuff or away for any reason, emails and phone calls take a while to get a response — just be patient.


and if your down Canberra way, you must call into the Bungendore Wood Works for some really inspiring craftsmanship along with reallisticly priced Australian timber products http://www.bwoodworks.com.au/

whatever time you go, skip the meal before hand as the cafe attached to the gallery does scrumptiuos breakfasts and lunch — and the orange poppy seed cake is devine, what ever time of day you have it.



ian

Ian,
thanks so much for the suggestions I will definitely check out the links you provided.

I would also collect some wood. Australia is known for its wood. Even its only small pen turning blank. You could make a large collection and it would only way 1 or 2 kg's.

See here http://www.loggerheads.com.au/species.htm

saw one of my chisels at the WWS in Melb. Trent said the heat treaters have had some of his work for nearly 3 months.
The chisel was very impressive though....Shame to give it a good whackin with a mallet.

Well, I've order three chisels (1/4", 1/2", 3/4") and hope to receive them next year! No Cooktown Ironwood at the moment, bugger.

Christmas budget stretched..... so I get the 4 piece set I wanted in HSS. Trent tells me Terry Gordon is kiln drying some Cooktown Ironwood for him, so I should get my 4-piece HSS set with Ironwood handles in late January.

... I don't know if I can wait that long, I might have to finish restoring my old Titan's before then.

I ordered mine about 6 months ago..i did see one of them at the show and they look good. And hopefully by xmas they might be ready. Although i will starting my shed about then so no real panic to have them.

Originally Posted by sinjin

I ordered mine about 6 months ago..i did see one of them at the show and they look good. And hopefully by xmas they might be ready. Although i will starting my shed about then so no real panic to have them.

I did hear back from Trent and he told me having a set of paring chisels available in time for my visit to Australia in late January was doable as he was making a batch in December. I am awaiting the invoice. if it in fact is a 6 month wait I have a problem.

Originally Posted by ian

don't despair, there's lots of fine tool makers to choose a "souvenier" from:

ian

Adding to that list: A Funky Marking Set

thanks to everyone who provided excellent suggestions of alternate tools.

Trent has advised that he can make the paring chisels exactly as I described them and have them ready for pick up in Australia early next year when I visit your wonderful country. I have confirmed my order today for 3 chisels.

Now I can concentrate on planning the details of the trip (and figure out an explanation to my wife as to why this is a cost of the trip and not a cost of woodworking).