Thread: A near-death experience for a Titan..

Paint tins But it's been brought back to life very nicely, what timber did you use?

I just had a look at this on eBay, these have had a hard life by someone very much over enthusiastic. 2 Vtg Carpenter Chisel Tool LOT *Erik Anto Berg SWEDEN (eBay item 220746960177 end time 07-Mar-11 12:25:02 AEDST) : Collectibles Have a look at the underside of them as well.

Originally Posted by Waldo

Paint tins But it's been brought back to life very nicely, what timber did you use?

I just had a look at this on eBay, these have had a hard life by someone very much over enthusiastic.

Waldo - I used Brigalow for the handle. Perhaps not the ideal handle wood, but it seems to take compression (bashing) ok.

Holy cow! Not only are those Bergs well used-up, but it looks like some clown has taken an angle-grinder to the backs! You would have to be mildly desperate to try resurrecting that sad pair....

I'm actually looking for a socket 1/2" Berg to complete the set I inherited from my old man. For some reason, the 1/2" has gone walkabout, though the less common sizes like 1/8 & 5/8 were present & correct. But I won't be bidding on these.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

Waldo - I used Brigalow for the handle. Perhaps not the ideal handle wood, but it seems to take compression (bashing) ok

Can't comment on Brigalow as I have no experience with it, but it looks great.

Originally Posted by IanW

but it looks like some clown has taken an angle-grinder to the backs! You would have to be mildly desperate to try resurrecting that sad pair....

What I thought too, and the fronts are not far off either. In the words of a great man, "Tell him he's dreaming."

Originally Posted by Waldo

Can't comment on Brigalow as I have no experience with it, but it looks great.

What I thought too, and the fronts are not far off either. In the words of a great man, "Tell him he's dreaming."

Yep - turns well, too.

Yairs, sadly, I think this pair would be best assigned to paint-can duty from here on....

Cheers,

Ian

That is an excellent retoration for the chisel and the handle looks superb.

Originally Posted by Woody1

Ian

That is an excellent retoration for the chisel and the handle looks superb.

Woddy1 - this old fella was relatively easy - a new handle is just a matter of a few minutes work, and despite the rough back, it's narrow, & my coarse diamond stone got it useable fairly quickly. It's still not perfect, but I'll work on it at subsequent resharpenings, & it'll get there.

I have a few others that have had similar treatent to the ones Waldo pointed to on ebay, though not as bad as those. They are much wider & are going to take many thousands of strokes to flatten. I leave them on the sharpening bench & have a go at them every now & then - one is a good six months away from a properly flat back, I reckon...

I wish people would be a lot more respectful of chisel backs!

Cheers,

Nice save and really good looking handle.

Hi Ian,

That is an absolutely beautiful handle. Great turning, and the figure and colour look stunning with the brass ferrule.


Nice job on the steel too!


Steve.

It was still alive just in a different form, paint tin opener.



Have I just been thrown out of the Dark side from that last statement?

Nice resurrection Ian, I love the figure in the brigalow.

Regards,

Denim.

Originally Posted by Denim

Nice resurrection Ian, I love the figure in the brigalow.

Regards,

Denim.

Hi Denim - Brigalow is normally pretty plain stuff, but this piece has a knot in it, which has caused some spectacular swirls & fiddleback. It's an old, deep knot, & I didn't realise it was so large when I started turning the piece. I thought I might have to chuck it away, but the knot is very solid, so I decided to keep going with it. If it fails, I can soon replace it, I suppose...

This is how you get sucked into this collecting business. I have a set of Titan socket firmers in the sizes I need, and wasn't interested in the tanged version. Now I have 3 of them. It started with the 1/2", which was with the stuff I acquired from my father. It had a piece of water pipe plugged with wood as a handle, & had seen some very rough use, but I couldn't chuck it out, so 'fixed' it & put it away with my "2nd best" tools. Then the 1" came with some other tools, so I gave it a matching handle & put it in to keep the 1/2" company. As I put the 'new' one with the other 2, I caught myself thinking they would look a lot more 'complete' if there was a 1/4" & a 3/4" to go with them.....

Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

If it fails, I can soon replace it, I suppose...

I guess it wouldn't take much time to turn another...

It's interesting that you mention a 2nd best tool category. I've seen a few of your posts on your restored chisels and have often wondered if you have the opportunity to use the tools each category (1st best, 2nd best and so on) and how often they are used?

From my limited experience in restoring my tools I do appreciate the satisfaction in bringing a has-been tool back to it's former glory (if not better) but where do you draw the line in restoring vs. collecting?

I recently acquired a set of bergs from and they are beauties but I question whether I should be using them, holding on to them as a collection or passing them on to fund a newer set. I hesitate at the thought of keeping them as my 1st best set for use but I would like to have a decent set of paring chisels.

Regards,

Denim.

Originally Posted by Denim

It's interesting that you mention a 2nd best tool category. I've seen a few of your posts on your restored chisels and have often wondered if you have the opportunity to use the tools each category (1st best, 2nd best and so on) and how often they are used?

Denim - Most of the tools I have shown here were acquired for daily use, & have a home in my main tool cupboard. I've been operating on the principle of 'if a new tool goes in, an old tool has to go out' for a long time (more or less successfully - amazing what you can manage to squeeze in when really pushed... ).

But I do have another toolbox, in which I have been putting tools that I stumble over (I'm NOT looking, they just get in my way & I can't ignore them! ). It contains the set of Bergs and quite a few other tools from my father's shed, and is getting to be quite a collection, of late. The idea was that when one of my offspring showed their genetic inheritance & developed a real passion for woodwork, I'd be able to say "I have a little something for you"... However, they are all getting on now, & so far not one of them has shown more than a passing interest, so I may soon need to rethink that strategy.

Originally Posted by Denim

I recently acquired a set of bergs from and they are beauties but I question whether I should be using them, holding on to them as a collection or passing them on to fund a newer set. I hesitate at the thought of keeping them as my 1st best set for use but I would like to have a decent set of paring chisels.

Yairs, I have a vaguely similar problem. Bergs are pretty decent chisels so long as they haven't been badly abused. I would have been happy to make my inherited set daily users, but a year or two before the old pot passed on, I had a bit of a small windfall, and indulged in a set of Lie-Nielsens, so the Bergs were superfluous. In view of their connection, I can't just get rid of them on ebay, but I would like to pass them on to either one of my own offspring, or one of my nephews/nieces that shows a genuine interest.

On the other hand, I don't like seeing tools just lying fallow - someone somewhere would probably be very pleased to acquire them - there's quite a bit more than a 'starter' set in there...

Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

The idea was that when one of my offspring showed their genetic inheritance & developed a real passion for woodwork, I'd be able to say "I have a little something for you"...

I think that's a great idea. The main reason I took up the hobby was because of my late grandfather. The family has amassed quite a large collection of furniture he made in his late active years. Each family member inherited a few pieces and they are greatly loved. I also inherited his tools and whilst only bits and pieces, they were enough to get me hooked.

I'd be inclined to hang onto that collection as even if your children don't pick up the bug, your grandchildren may and there's nothing more enjoyable than knowing that your using your grandfather's tools and continuing the tradition of making furniture that your family will treasure.

I think I'll just bite the bullet and use the bergs. Sorry to have hijacked your thread.


Regards,

Denim.