Does anyone have experience using old Chipaway wood chisels? Any info on the maker would be appreciated. I recently bought a box of old chisels at auction and in among the usual suspects, Buck Bros, Butcher, Made in USA (Stanley) etc., was a long 1 1/2″ Chipayaway. I am unfamiliar with the brand.
I’m not a collector as such, but a sometimes user of old chisels. I buy old lots and if something in the lot can be cleaned up to be better than the equivalent one in the tool box, it replaces the old tool. Otherwise it goes up on eBay to offset the cost of my habit. Is the Chipaway worth my time to make a new handle and tune it up?
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Replies
i believe that brand was sold by E.C. Simmons Hardware, The people who made the Keen Kutter line of tools.
Yes, Chipaway was a brand under the EC Simmons/ Keen Kutter umbrella. But, a lot of Keen Kutter tools were made by Stanley, Sargent, and Ohio Tool. Possibly others.
Most tool manufacturers had lower priced house brands on which they used other names. They didn't want to dilute the value of their better quality tools. My guess is your Chipaway chisel is a less expensive Simmons brand.
It doesn't mean it's a bad tool. It might have had less flattening and polishing than their better tools. The lends on the sides of bevel edge chisels may ave been thicker, and so on.
Only you can say what your time is worth. I'm past the point of spending a chunk of time rehabbing a chisel.
John,
Thank you and Ed for the info. One will probably see it show up on eBay before long.
I try to be selective in chisels that I rehab and make the decision based on the amount of work required and my "need" for the chisel. For example: in this same lot there is a 3/8" A. W. Crossman laminated framing/mortice chisel. I have never had a project that required anything like the size of a large framing chisel, but I "need" to rehab the old laminated Crossman just in case. Then it can sit in the drawer next to its 5/8" brother awaiting the call.
I believe there was an old Doobie Brothers album titled What Once Were Habits Now Are Vices.
Crossman made good stuff.
I think the album title was the other way around. Last good album they made.
You are right, either way works in the context.
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