I received 3 Hirsch chisels recently and in honing one of them yesterday had some difficulty; maybe those of you with experience with Hirsch can answer my question. The chisels have a very shiny surface but when I began to hone the bevel, it appeared that perhaps the shiny surface was a coating (chrome?); I then turned it over on the back and tried smoothing the back and found that it was not flat, seemed to be uneven. Again, gave me the impression that the outside surface was like a coating that had been applied unevenly. All the honing was done on a flat diamond stone and fine waterstone.( No similar problem honing other chisels on these stones.)
I didn’t spend a lot of time with it but was surprised that these chisels , which have been touted as one of the best, did not have a flat back. Is there a surface(like a chrome coating) that needs to be taken down to get to the “real” iron? I didn’t find this condition on any other chisels I have, so was surprised. I only tried one chisel, so I can’t say they are all like this but can those with experience with this brand of chisel, tell me whether this is to be expected?
Replies
Hi Alex -
There is an incredibly tough lacquer on those chisels. Best bet is to use a scraper, or a razor blade to take it off...
Cheers -
Rob
Sailalex,
When I got my set of Hirsch chisels I tried to remove the coating while I sharpened them. All I succeeded doing was to gum up my waterstones while not making a dent in the coating. I put them into an old mayonnaise jar (without the may) and poured in enough lacquer thinner to completely cover the coated steel. The next morning the coating (whatever it was) easily sloughed off with no trouble.
Alan
Thanks Alan, I had the same experience. I was honing them first on a waterstone and noticed I was getting nowwhere so went to the diamond stone and found the pieces of what I now know is laquer, on it. Seems vendor would include a warning or instruction about a coating that thick.
It some kind of coating they use; pour yourself a glass of lacquer thinner and let the metal part of the chisels soak in it until all the coating dissolves. I ran into this same problem when I got my Two Cherries chisels.
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