Thread: Titan Chisel Sizes

PM Doggie. He will know.

Doggie will certainly know - he is our resident Titan expert

Look on it as a win. You can now start collecting another set in the 16ths.
Regards
John

Bergs were available in 16th" from 1/8" to 1", and then in 8th" to 2". So no surprise if Titans did not follow suit. Mind you I don't have any Bergs in 16th", and very few period. So you are doing well with one.

Originally Posted by Luke Maddux

Remember when you found out Santa Claus wasn't real, and then there's kind of that reality check domino effect where you immediately lose The Tooth Fairy and The Easter Bunny too? I would compare it to that.


Cheers,
Luke

Not real? What are you talking about? I have my order in for a Simonds No.9. I cannot countenance the prospect of Santa being mythical. As a chocolaholic the Easter Bunny is essential to life as I know it and I still put my teeth under the pillow: Every night .

Can't help with Titans. I hear Doggie is good.

Regards
Paul

Yeah, Doggie is definitely the Titan man. He hasn't gotten back to my email yet, but I assume he will.

Sounds like I may have come across something uncommon. Guess I should hang onto it and be thankful.

Originally Posted by Luke Maddux

As I've mentioned before, I like vintage tools, but I really like quality, Australian, vintage tools. I buy just about any Titan chisel I find for a reasonable price, and after a while I realized I had enough of the plain edge, tang style firmer chisels to start actively trying to complete the set. They are the 131 style chisels.

I've been using this website as my tick list.

http://peterrobinson.galootcentral.com/titanchisel/

It lists these chisels in 1/8" increments up to 1", and then in 1/4" increments up to 2".

That was all well and good. I enjoy the thrill of the hunt almost as much as rehandling and using them so I had no problem with it taking a while and requiring a bit of detective work to find the missing pieces to the puzzle. I was well on my way and already had my eye on a couple on ebay which could be used to round out my existing set.

Until yesterday, when my world was rocked...

I bought a lot of them from a Gumtree seller and they arrived. As I giddily unwrapped the package I was filled with excitement and anticipation. I had my combination square in one hand as I retrieved the chisels from the Express Post bag with the other. Those feelings of tool nerd euphoria were soon whisked away, however, as I measured the first one and, to my horror, it read...

Five sixteenths.

Well and truly 5/16". This wasn't a defect, it did not appear to have been reshaped by a user, and it wasn't out in one direction or another to indicate that maybe it was meant to be a 1/4" or a 3/8". It was bang on the line 5/16".

Remember when you found out Santa Claus wasn't real, and then there's kind of that reality check domino effect where you immediately lose The Tooth Fairy and The Easter Bunny too? I would compare it to that.

Ok, so here's the reason for the post. Are there any Titan chisel users/aficionados out there who can give me some kind of idea of what sizes actually exist in these chisels? Is this a fluke, or perhaps a custom ordered chisel by an old joiner? Does anyone have a complete set of these which contains sizes in 1/16" increments and, if so, which sizes have you actually come across?

Basically I'm looking for any information that can help me revise my acquisition goal for this set of chisels.

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Cheers,
Luke

P.S. If anyone has any they want to get rid of, you know how to reach me.

Luke

I have a 3/4inch titan pairing chisel that i'm willing to swap.

I collect berg. Let me know if you are keen?

Cheers stewart


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Originally Posted by bunya pine

Luke

I have a 3/4inch titan pairing chisel that i'm willing to swap.

I collect berg. Let me know if you are keen?

Cheers stewart


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Sorry its one of the long pairing chisels. Will send a photo on the wrekend.

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Originally Posted by bunya pine

Sorry its one of the long pairing chisels. Will send a photo on the wrekend.

Sent from my SM-G360G using Tapatalk

Sounds good. Interested to see it.

Cheers,
Luke

Luke
On request Titan would make any size you want. This is mentioned in many fifties and sixties advertisements. The usual (standard) graduation for most types (101/6's and 131/6's) is 1/8th's between 1/8th and one inch thence by quarter inch up to two inches (twelve in the set) but, 1/16ths graduations are not all that rare. The 1970 blackwoods catalogue lists Titan chisels available in sixteenths from 1/16th through to 1/2 inch thence 1/8ths to an inch and a half then, by quarter inch up to two inches. Physical evidence seems to support these sizes only applied to 131's and maybe 136's although I would not be startled if 101's showed up one day. The image shows a bunch of 131's up to one inch. If Blackwoods have it then other distributors would have done likewise. I have a few examples also of what seems to be 1/32nd sizes but no documented proof,Fig 86A.jpg just the physical chisels themselves. Berg on the other hand had up to twenty (or more)chisel sizes available utilising one and two mm graduations (irrespective of type, even gouges).

Titan heavy and light sockets and socket butts were a bit of an exception too. The 50/60 era blades included a 1 1/8th size.

Keep collecting Luke AND BUY THE BOOK.

Oh dear! Putting together a 'user' set is one thing, but getting drawn into making a "complete collection" of even a single type seems to be a dangerous increase in the slippery slope!

Sounds like you have a lifetime hobby there, Luke - after the 16th sizes are filled, it's on to the 32nds, eh?

Originally Posted by IanW

Oh dear! Putting together a 'user' set is one thing, but getting drawn into making a "complete collection" of even a single type seems to be a dangerous increase in the slippery slope!

Its not a slope Ian. Its a sheer drop in to the abyss.

I have a handful in the shed in a box not being used, I should get them out & take a photo & some measurements.

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

I have a handful in the shed in a box not being used, I should get them out & take a photo & some measurements.

Thanks everyone!

Cliff if you get around to it id love to see what you've got.

Cheers,
Luke