Thread: Red plastic handles on original berg chisel

to my knowledge "new" berg handles cannot be purchased (I'd like to be wrong, so please correct me if I am) although I have seen NOS handles go through a popular Auction site.(you know the one).

Originally Posted by chambezio

The "new ones" have timber handles so I was just wondered if I could change them.

Hi chambezio

This would be the way to do it

Berg red handles.jpg

But seriously, yes you could do it, but your "new ones" need to be with a straight tang and not tapered like in the picture.
Unless you want to improvise. Late period Berg/bachos had a straight tang, both the wooden and plastic handled ones.
The big one actually had a pretty good fit until I took it apart.
I also wonder how the plastic would behave after so many years, if a tang was forced into it.

What sizes do you need for the two small ones, I might have one somewhere.

Thomas

Hi Thamas
I would never had dreamt that my question would be answered by some one in Europe.
Looking at your picture- taking a plastic handle off a worn out chisel may not be a good idea. My originals that are 40 plus years old are still very tightly "stuck" to the chisels. I had wondered about gluing them in with an Epoxy Glue.
I have just measured the chisels in Question:
38mm Paring chisel has a wooden handle 37mm ¢ and 132mm long
6mm Paring Chisel has a wooden handle 26mm ¢ and 112mm long

My Red handles (of which there is 4 different shades of red) seem to have only 2 sizes- 3mm chisel has an oval plastic handle 29mm X 22mm while my 25mm chisel (the oldest in the group) his handle is oval and measures 32mm X 26mm

Please don't go to too much trouble as these handle swaps are not an essential thing, I just thought if I could have my collection with all plastic handles it would be nice.

We here on the eastern side of Australia have had the hottest summer in a long time. Daytime temperatures often would go over 40°C with night temperatures going down to mid 20s. Thankfully we have had 2 days of rain that was needed badly but the east coast inhabitants have had floods an strong winds.
What has your winter been like? Can you see signs of global warming? I don't know what to believe.

Chambezio here is the 1965 BAHCO catalogue ( courtesy of Anorak Bob) describing the handle sizes. Perhaps there is some NOS out there somewhere

I would advise not to heat the plastic handle with hot water to put it on as you will end up with a two tone handle DAMHIK.

Maate, Buudddddy, Paaaaal, To my greatest friend, mate if you contemplate NOT using those lovely red plastic
handles,
Woouuulllddd uuuuu consider under great pleasure SELLING them
I have a set at home, I received them when I was an Apprentice, 40 + years ago BUT STUPID ME LENT THEM TO
MY BROTHER AND YEEESSS HE LOST ONE
I HAVE BEEN CHASING THESE DOWN SINCE

MAAATTEE BUUDDDY PLEEEZZZEE CONSIDER MY PLEA

HUEY

Originally Posted by thomaslaursen

Hi chambezio

This would be the way to do it

Berg red handles.jpg

But seriously, yes you could do it, but your "new ones" need to be with a straight tang and not tapered like in the picture.
Unless you want to improvise. Late period Berg/bachos had a straight tang, both the wooden and plastic handled ones.
The big one actually had a pretty good fit until I took it apart.
I also wonder how the plastic would behave after so many years, if a tang was forced into it.

What sizes do you need for the two small ones, I might have one somewhere.

Thomas

Try here:
Stämjärn - Tradera.com

Originally Posted by Heuy

I have a set at home, I received them when I was an Apprentice, 40 + years ago BUT STUPID ME LENT THEM TO
MY BROTHER AND YEEESSS HE LOST ONE
I HAVE BEEN CHASING THESE DOWN SINCE

Family and (good) tools do not mix

New handles are in the catalogue but if they are available down south i dont know.

Item number 956
Untitled Page

work ok, but they're not like the old ones.

I bought four mail order. The plastic is lighter red , pale and matt. The look like regular cheap modern plastic, not the deep shiny red of the old ones. Plus, they are only marked 'Bahco' and '956'. They are not marked 'Eskilstuna' or 'made in Sweden.' As many know, Bahco has no chisel production in the town or country at all.

Of course, they will probably work fine. But if you want old Bahco user chisels, they sell on Tradera all the time for about $10-$20 for the normal size, more for 5mm and narrower or 38mm and larger. Many require the usual multi-hour lapping, grinding/sanding bit to make them usable, but there are many available in long lengths. Actually, Berg red handled chisels are perhaps even more available and go for about the same price unless they are in sets, in which case they go for mor, or if they are mint, much more (as much as $60 for normal sizes).
The red handles were sold seperately too, and people put them on tools other than chisels like files and home made lathe tools. You can ofthen find them in good condition there since you don't pound the back of a file with a mallet (or steel hammer as many of the red handled chisels were pounded with).

It's of course going to be tough to find a replacement handle for a 51mm chisel in the proper size. You'de pretty much have to take it from another chisel. Few big ones were used that much, so it'd be unusual that you would ever want to do that.

I thought I had read somewhere that the plastic red handles were on a lesser grade chisel and the wooden chisels - apparently made from birch root - were the better handle/chisel. I have the 1/2" and 1/4" red handled chisel and find them great for paring. It might have been Derek Cohen who made that comment but not sure.

I suppose plastic handles may be considered "lesser" by collectors today. And I like many prefer wood. But they were never sold as 2nd grade or anything like that. Personally I haven't noticed any difference in sharpenability or edge durability. I know one elderly swedish retired carpenter who thought they were a great improvement.

I recently posted about my berg wood & red handled chisels on the forum and the comments indicated the older the better the quality of the Berg. The Red handles are newer than the original wood handles therefore many not hold the same quality but are not a lesser grade so to speak. All relates to who was actually making the chisel as the company progressed. Earliest were made by Anton Berg himself latter on by others.


That is my take on it from what was posted.

Greetings from Sweden!

I recently found this forum, and am happy to see there is interest in Swedish tools in Australia.

Old red Berg handles are available, but they are usually attached to chisels! I have a used on one in the proper size for your 38mm chisel. Thing is, the end where you hit the mallet has been sawed off flat. So it's not the prettiest thing.

If you want it, I'd be happy to pop it in the mail. If so, perhaps there is some way to send a message with your address?

Best regards,

RS