Replies

1. 
   mwenz | Apr 26, 2006 05:10am | #1

   Hi CW,

   Bob Smalser had nice things to say in last year's Shop issue. I don't have it handy, else I would look it up.

   Take care, Mike

2. 
   Handrubbed | Apr 26, 2006 05:12am | #2

   I don't have any personal experience with the Barrs, but the concensus is that they are a very well crafted tool, and should be at that price.  I would gladly own them, but there are two reservations that I would have:  They are truly bench chisels and are a little chunky for paring or dovetails.  Remember they are from a timberframing specialist.  And two, you have to buy a set...they don't sell single pieces except in the odd "filler" sizes.  So that is $350.00+.    I bought LN's without hesitation.  It really comes down to what type of work you will be doing with them.  Maybe someone who has used them will ring in.

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Apr 26, 2006 05:28am | #3

   I have a full set of the Barr's.  Very tough, not super hard, so you do need a moderately steep bevel--30 degrees.  I had mine made with the arris beveled, so that even the thicker blades fit quite nicely in a dovetail, making them more versatile than you would expect from otherwise beefy chisels.   

1. 
   CWilson | Apr 27, 2006 12:11am | #8

   What is an arris bevel and where did you have this done?  Thanks again.

    

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Apr 27, 2006 01:10am | #9

   There was a recent article in one of the magazines, but its a simple thing:  Instead of making the sides where they joint the back of the chisel (the arris) a right angle, the angle can be tilted so that the included angle is smaller than 90 degrees.  It doesn't need to be very steep--not like the Japanese dovetail saws where the edge is almost a knife edge, just angled enough to fit into the corner of a dovetail.  I had this done by Barr when I ordered the chisels.  I faxed a drawing, and we spoke on the phone. 

1. 
   John_D | Apr 27, 2006 08:36pm | #10

   If I'm following you correctly, Rob Cosman uses such a chisel on either his dovetail or his drawer-making DVD.My goal is for my work to outlast me.  Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.

2. 
   murphreejz | Apr 28, 2006 01:09am | #11

   I thought Cosman was on LN's payroll...? Am I mistaken? Is he using Barr's?

3. 
   John_D | Apr 28, 2006 01:52am | #12

   I was imprecise.  I hate posts only the writer can understand, sorry. :)

   What I meant is that Cosman used a chisel ground as you described, sort of in the shape of a cross-section of a big dovetail bit.  IIRC he said he ground it that way himself.

   I didn't notice the brand of the chisel.

   I bought my Charlesworth DVDs through LN and he didn't use only their planes on the videos, which surprised me because I got the definite impression the videos were shot under LN's aegis.My goal is for my work to outlast me.  Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.

4. 
   Handrubbed | Apr 28, 2006 03:29am | #13

   There are some LN's in the Charlesworth video that I have (the second one),

5. 
   John_D | Apr 28, 2006 04:35am | #14

   Yes, he used some LN's.  But he didn't use them exclusively, and that was a surprise.My goal is for my work to outlast me.  Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.

6. 
   Handrubbed | Apr 28, 2006 05:39am | #15

   I know what you mean, but Charlesworth is not a LN employee.  Now Rob Cosman is another story and he, of course uses the LN's.  I noticed that the LN planes in the video looked brand new out of the box, so I guess he didn't tote them across the pond in his suitcase.  Great video and really showed me the value of the shooting board for precision work.  I made his version right away.   Wasn't sure his voice was going to make it through the video.  A few glasses of single-malt scotch probably helped the bad throat!

   Edited 5/1/2006 4:56 pm ET by Handrubbed

7. 
   John_D | Apr 28, 2006 06:38am | #16

   I know what you mean, but Charlesworth is not a LN employee.

   I was pretty impressed, actually.  Not only by Charlesworth's knowledge (I've learned a lot just from watching it once so far) and relaxed teaching style, but also by LN not insisting that everything in the vicinity be obviously LN.

   It seemed quite clear to me that neither the vendor (LN) nor the instructor felt like making an infomercial, and instead delivered nothing but high-quality instruction on that DVD.  It's rare a vendor-produced video seems untainted by the desire to push product.My goal is for my work to outlast me.  Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.

8. 
   Handrubbed | Apr 28, 2006 02:51pm | #17

   I'm with you all the way.

9. 
   murphreejz | May 01, 2006 10:25pm | #18

   I've heard nothing but good things about the Charlesworth vids; I believe I'll pick them up soon.

2. 
   EdHarrow | Apr 26, 2006 05:28am | #4

   I have a set.

   Comments:

   The handles are OK but, esp for the narrow guy, it would be nice if they weren't round.  DAMHIKT

   They take and hold an edge very nicely

   All chisel sets should have one 3/8" member

   They take and hold an edge very nicely

   I guess, perhaps, they are a little 'big', but they are about the same length as my grandfather's Bucks; the handles certainly are stouter, however.

   Oh, did I tell you that they hold an edge ;-)

1. 
   Handrubbed | Apr 26, 2006 05:53am | #5

   Based on what I am reading here, I would buy Barrs starting at 1", and up from there.  I have heard the Lie-Nielsen will be offering larger sizes as soon as they can get the demand / production for the basic sizes under control.

3. 
   Floss | Apr 26, 2006 04:20pm | #6

   I have had my set for about 5 years now. I did steepen the bevel to about 30 degrees. I also cut off the nub on the end with the steel washer. It makes them much more comfortable to hold and pare. I did try the shorter version when I first bought them but exchanged them for the longer ones. I think the longer version is more versitile.

   They are very well balanced and fit well in the hand. As the others have said, they are made from very good steel, not too hard or soft.

   They also come with a 1 year guarantee. If you are not happy with them you can exchange for new ones or get your money back. I had no problems exchanging mine. It is an excellent company to do business with.

   J.P.

   http://www.jpkfinefurniture.com
1. 
   SteveSchoene | Apr 26, 2006 04:41pm | #7

   I should point out that as much as I love my Barr's my decision to buy a full set (I have thirteen sizes.) was esthetic as much as practical, since I wanted a full set of uniform appearance that didn't sacrifice quality. 

   There are a lot of good older chisels out there of similar, or close to similar, quality.  Charles Buck, Witherby, Swan all made excellent chisels.  Buck Brothers and even Stanley made very functional chisels, too.