Forget what the others recommended.
I have a nice set of Japanese chisels
from Grizzly. I have a couple of high-end
Japanese chisels ($82 for one) and while
the Grizzly set is not as good as the
very expensive chisels, they are better
that the rest I have seen. The price is low
and they run a close second to the fine
chisels. BTW...I've used Marples. Save
your money and frustration. Not worth it
at half the price.
Also, get a set of good water stones and
order; "The double bevel Sharpening"
booklet.
-Rick
I love my hirsch chisels. I thought I chiseling was a lot of work
until I found these (~$80 for a set of six at LV). I am tempted to go
try dovetails be hand now.
Daryl
[email protected] (Nate Perkins) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> "Mike in Mystic" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> > here's the link to the hirsch chisels:
> >
> > http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=46403&category=1,41504&ccurrency=2&SID=
> >
> > they're $89, but the quality is definitely worth trying to swing the extra
> > $14 over your budget.
> >
> > These are exactly the same as "Two Cherries" chisels (same factory, same
> > steel), just with a different label and/or different handle. I have a set
> > of the 2 cherries (bought before I knew about the Hirsch) and they are very
> > good chisels.
> ...
>
> I've got the same experience as Mike with the Two Cherries, and I'd
> echo his recommendation for the Hirsch. The Hirsch are the same
> top-quality chisels at a lower price.
On Sun, 31 Oct 2004 10:05:09 -0500, SawDust <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
>I have a set of Marples Blue Chip bought from LV about a year ago.
>I honed with the wet stones, then polished with Veritas Honing
>Compound. They're razor sharp. I use them for pairing more than
>chopping, but I have tapped them several times. I also find them
>long enough and sized nicely to be held comfortably with both hands or
>in the palm of one hand (Which too me is a more important
>consideration).
>
>In my opinion, they're a good starter set not only for wood working,
>but also for learning to sharpen them.
Just want to reiterate the learning to sharpen thing. I'd agree that
it makes sense to get something that works well (such as the blue
chips) that aren't too expensive. I've recently started to really
take sharpening seriously and am trying to learn to sharpen my tools
and knives.
There is nothing quite like getting a really nice sharp edge on your
tools. My wife has been kidding me lately about my hairless forearms,
as I have gotten a little carried away with testing the edge on my
chisels and knives.
I have managed to make a complete mess out of some cheap v-gouges I
got. Doesn't really bother me, since they are from a pretty
inexpensive set of chisels I got specifically to practice sharpening
on. If they were expensive, i may never have had the guts to really
learn how to redo the beve angles and such.
There are lots of sharpening systems out there, so I'd suggest doing
some reading and pick one and try to make it work. i've tried
several, and the one thing I can really recommend is getting a good
LARGE double sided diamond abrasive 'stone' I've got one of the nice
big DMT's that was about a hundred bucks and all I can say is that it
was worth it.
Also take an old belt and make a strop on a piece of scrap wood. it
helps with the honing.
I found this article at the antique tool site to be very helpful in my
quest to be able to make things sharp.
http://www.antiquetools.com/sharp/index.html
I have a set of Marples Blue Chip bought from LV about a year ago.
I honed with the wet stones, then polished with Veritas Honing
Compound. They're razor sharp. I use them for pairing more than
chopping, but I have tapped them several times. I also find them
long enough and sized nicely to be held comfortably with both hands or
in the palm of one hand (Which too me is a more important
consideration).
In my opinion, they're a good starter set not only for wood working,
but also for learning to sharpen them.
As a side note: In the LV Christmas Catalogue. They advertised a
tool roll, on page 4. Aprox $12.50 CDN for the large one. I
bought one recently specifically for my chisels. Best investment I
have ever made. I plan to buy another for other tools.
Product # 68K42.10
Pat
On Sun, 31 Oct 2004 00:43:35 GMT, Phisherman <[email protected]> wrote:
>A set of five Maples Blue Chip bench chisels will fit most of your
>needs for $40. These chisels have tough plastic handles, and they
>can take a pounding. A step up is a set of four Two Cherries (or
>Hirsch is also excellent), but these will run about $85. These are
>"standard" chisels. I found that I have a few other specialty
>chisels, such as skew, corner, mortise, etc. If you plan to hand cut
>dovetails (especially blind dovetails), get at least one skew chisel.
>
>On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 23:41:10 GMT, "philly"
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Any recommendations for a good wood chisel set? I don't want to spend of
>>fortune, no more than $75.00, and I plan to use a plastic & rubber tipped
>>mallet to work the chisels.
>>
>>Philly
>>
A set of five Maples Blue Chip bench chisels will fit most of your
needs for $40. These chisels have tough plastic handles, and they
can take a pounding. A step up is a set of four Two Cherries (or
Hirsch is also excellent), but these will run about $85. These are
"standard" chisels. I found that I have a few other specialty
chisels, such as skew, corner, mortise, etc. If you plan to hand cut
dovetails (especially blind dovetails), get at least one skew chisel.
On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 23:41:10 GMT, "philly"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Any recommendations for a good wood chisel set? I don't want to spend of
>fortune, no more than $75.00, and I plan to use a plastic & rubber tipped
>mallet to work the chisels.
>
>Philly
>
"Mike in Mystic" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> here's the link to the hirsch chisels:
>
> http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=46403&category=1,41504&ccurrency=2&SID=
>
> they're $89, but the quality is definitely worth trying to swing the extra
> $14 over your budget.
>
> These are exactly the same as "Two Cherries" chisels (same factory, same
> steel), just with a different label and/or different handle. I have a set
> of the 2 cherries (bought before I knew about the Hirsch) and they are very
> good chisels.
...
I've got the same experience as Mike with the Two Cherries, and I'd
echo his recommendation for the Hirsch. The Hirsch are the same
top-quality chisels at a lower price.
> Any recommendations for a good wood chisel set? I don't want to spend of
> fortune, no more than $75.00, and I plan to use a plastic & rubber tipped
> mallet to work the chisels.
>
>
I recommend these Harris chisels, made in Costa rica. They are socket chisels
(handle is mounted inside of a socket with an internal tang going up into the
wood), and the handle is cocobolo wood, very hard. I do recommend using a
proper chiseling mallet made of wood however. Believe me, these are a fantastic
deal at this price. It is a dutch auction so you will get them at the price you see.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6127784155
http://www.harristools.com/ maker's site, then look for their carpenter's mallet
for the right mallet idea, they have different sizes, but are pricey. The right
price is around $20.
Alex
here's the link to the hirsch chisels:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=46403&category=1,41504&ccurrency=2&SID=
they're $89, but the quality is definitely worth trying to swing the extra
$14 over your budget.
These are exactly the same as "Two Cherries" chisels (same factory, same
steel), just with a different label and/or different handle. I have a set
of the 2 cherries (bought before I knew about the Hirsch) and they are very
good chisels.
Now, if you ever get to go luxurious, buy the Lie-nielsen socket chisels
(which I also bought recently). These are in a different league from any
other chisel I've ever used (not saying much, really).
Mike
"philly" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Any recommendations for a good wood chisel set? I don't want to spend of
> fortune, no more than $75.00, and I plan to use a plastic & rubber tipped
> mallet to work the chisels.
>
> Philly
>
>
I thought the marples that are sold now and are reputed to be junk - not the
same ones you could get a few years ago. \
Bob
"Phisherman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> A set of five Maples Blue Chip bench chisels will fit most of your
> needs for $40. These chisels have tough plastic handles, and they
> can take a pounding. A step up is a set of four Two Cherries (or
> Hirsch is also excellent), but these will run about $85. These are
> "standard" chisels. I found that I have a few other specialty
> chisels, such as skew, corner, mortise, etc. If you plan to hand cut
> dovetails (especially blind dovetails), get at least one skew chisel.
>
> On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 23:41:10 GMT, "philly"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Any recommendations for a good wood chisel set? I don't want to spend of
> >fortune, no more than $75.00, and I plan to use a plastic & rubber tipped
> >mallet to work the chisels.
> >
> >Philly
> >
>
On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 23:41:10 GMT, "philly"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Any recommendations for a good wood chisel set? I don't want to spend of
>fortune, no more than $75.00, and I plan to use a plastic & rubber tipped
>mallet to work the chisels.
Check out Hirsch chisels on LeeValley.com.
Barry
On Mon, 01 Nov 2004 21:12:21 -0800, BD <[email protected]> calmly
ranted:
>On Sun, 31 Oct 2004 10:05:09 -0500, SawDust <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>
>>I have a set of Marples Blue Chip bought from LV about a year ago.
>>I honed with the wet stones, then polished with Veritas Honing
>>Compound. They're razor sharp. I use them for pairing more than
>>chopping, but I have tapped them several times. I also find them
>>long enough and sized nicely to be held comfortably with both hands or
>>in the palm of one hand (Which too me is a more important
>>consideration).
>>
>>In my opinion, they're a good starter set not only for wood working,
>>but also for learning to sharpen them.
>
>Just want to reiterate the learning to sharpen thing. I'd agree that
>it makes sense to get something that works well (such as the blue
>chips) that aren't too expensive. I've recently started to really
>take sharpening seriously and am trying to learn to sharpen my tools
>and knives.
>
>There is nothing quite like getting a really nice sharp edge on your
>tools. My wife has been kidding me lately about my hairless forearms,
>as I have gotten a little carried away with testing the edge on my
>chisels and knives.
You should have ridges in your thumbnails instead, Brent.
Once I learned that trick, my sharpening skills improved
immediately. I have a ways to go, though. My copy of
Leonard Lee's sharpening bible was picked up for less
than half price. I really should read that from cover to
cover some day soon. Now that I have a carving bench, I
should be getting serious about actually carving some
time soon. Shortly after my leaf-raking muscles have
somewhat recooperated, eh? I used the blower to herd them
last night, before today's rain. (Different muscles.)
Oh, the fingernail test: Rest the chisel/gouge vertically
on your nail with no extra pressure. Now try to slide it
across the nail perpendicular to the edge, just as you
would carve. If it slips, it's not yet sharp. If the weight
has caused it to dig in and you raise a shaving, it's sharp.
I got that tip from Frank Klausz when he was giving his
Dovetail lecture at the Anaheim WW Show a few years ago.
I was his volunteer shop assistant.
>I have managed to make a complete mess out of some cheap v-gouges I
>got. Doesn't really bother me, since they are from a pretty
>inexpensive set of chisels I got specifically to practice sharpening
>on. If they were expensive, i may never have had the guts to really
>learn how to redo the beve angles and such.
Sure you would, once you got "the tip". You need to consciously
put a bit more weight on the inside corner so the v doesn't get
longer than the rest of the chisel edge. Then cut a piece of wood
in the angle of your gouge. 320 or 400 grit paper will help you
remove the wire edge you create by sharpening the bevels.
I really like Pfeil gouges. At $30ish, they're not cheap, but they
should last me a lifetime. But even if they lasted only 10 years,
that would be $3 a year for a precision tool. A good deal, IMHO.
>There are lots of sharpening systems out there, so I'd suggest doing
>some reading and pick one and try to make it work. i've tried
>several, and the one thing I can really recommend is getting a good
>LARGE double sided diamond abrasive 'stone' I've got one of the nice
>big DMT's that was about a hundred bucks and all I can say is that it
>was worth it.
I have both EZlap and DMT stones, both 600ish grit. I prefer the
DMT (a bit finer) but both work well. I got the DMT used and it
should outlast me.
>Also take an old belt and make a strop on a piece of scrap wood. it
>helps with the honing.
Lee Valley green chromium oxide crayons work well to charge the strop.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?SID=&ccurrency=2&page=32984&category=1,43072
>I found this article at the antique tool site to be very helpful in my
>quest to be able to make things sharp.
>
>http://www.antiquetools.com/sharp/index.html
Have you seen ScarySharp(tm) yet? I use the DMT and scary paper
for my edges. http://www.shavings.net/SCARY.HTM
--
"Given the low level of competence among politicians,
every American should become a Libertarian."
-- Charley Reese, Alameda Times-Star (California), June 17, 2003
On 31 Oct 2004 18:10:10 -0800, [email protected] (daryl1138) calmly
ranted:
>I love my hirsch chisels. I thought I chiseling was a lot of work
>until I found these (~$80 for a set of six at LV). I am tempted to go
>try dovetails be hand now.
If so, try one of the www.japanwoodworking.com Ryoba saws
while you're at it. They're $25.95 shipped to your door.
(See ad in Fine Woodworking and other mags.) I like it a
lot more than Lee Valley's imported Franch dovie saw now
that I've used it a few times.
--
"Given the low level of competence among politicians,
every American should become a Libertarian."
-- Charley Reese, Alameda Times-Star (California), June 17, 2003