Replies

1. 
   Dave45 | Oct 15, 2006 04:56pm | #1

   Redwood -

   I see from your profile that you're fairly new to this forum so I'll say "Hi" and "Bye" in the same reply.  You're probably gonna get slammed big time by the tool junkies here. 

   You've blasphemed on two levels.  First, you've said something good about Sears tools.  Secondly, you had the unmitigated gall to compare them favorably to LV. (the Holy Grail of chisels.)  Man, are you gonna pay for that!! - lol

   On second thought, I won't say "Bye" here.  I think I'll take your back on this.  I have two chisel sets - one set of 20+ year old Stanleys and a set of Buck Bros. chisels I got a couple of years ago when I forgot to take the Stanleys to a job.  Both sets are sharp enough to shave with, and both get quite a bit of use.  They may not be LV quality, but they do everything I need them to do.

1. 
   jazzdogg | Oct 15, 2006 07:22pm | #4

   "LV. (the Holy Grail of chisels.)"

   Hi Dave,

   Lee Valley chisels? I've never heard anything extraordinary said about them, either good or bad. Do they have some noteworthy chisels?

    -Jazzdogg-

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

1. 
   Handrubbed | Oct 16, 2006 09:26pm | #6

   I hear ya.  All of those chisels with the yellow butyrate handles could probably be lumped together as good quality construction grade tools, but hardly the stuff of much conversation around here.

2. 
   AB | Oct 15, 2006 05:00pm | #2

   Not uncommon at all.

3. 
   Glaucon | Oct 15, 2006 05:13pm | #3

   If they used high quality steel- and Craftsman hand tools of years past were well thought of- then they should sharpen and cut well. Any chisel that uses quality steel- Marples, Bucks, Stanleys, etc. will behave just as well. The trouble is many formerly respected brands have gone to lesser quality and shorter steels.

   As for mortising, I think a true mortising chisel is better designed for that task. The second area where LN and others may have an advantage is in specialty applications, such as dovetails, mortising, etc.

   For 90% of chopping and paring, any good bench chisel works fine, IMHO.

   Glaucon

   If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...

4. 
   TaunTonMacoute | Oct 16, 2006 04:51pm | #5

   Don't worry about it, if they work then they work.

   You'll find the blokes on these forums that carp the loudest about edge-holding qualities are the least likely to ever tax an edge in the first place.  They are the crowd who are forever honing, tweaking, and talking metallurgy instead of building.

    

   
   

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   Edited 10/16/2006 1:55 pm ET by TaunTonMacoute