Replies

1. 
   Vertigo | Mar 04, 2005 08:44pm | #1

   Hi Jim,

   Do a Google for "Clico Chisels". They used to be the best hollow chisels made, in Sheffield.

   I have a full set, but don't remember where I got them.

1. 
   Jimma | Mar 05, 2005 10:02pm | #2

   Yours is the only post I've received to my hollow chisel question and I appreciate it. I've looked at umpteen items via Google and haven't found much help. I have seen some people's opinion that Fisch is better than Clico, one US source for the Clico chisels, and several references to the chisels sold for the non-Mulitco mortisers without a brand or manufacturer identified. There are quite a few sources for Clico and Multico hollow chisels in the UK, but not much in the US. Garrett Wade used to carry a cheapo vesion of the English line, but no more. I have a set of chisels that came as a promotion with the Jet drill press; they look OK but won't fit the Multico -- at least not the 1/2 inch one. I haven't given up yet, but I've already spent a lot of time looking without decent results. Thanks, though, for your response.

2. 
   walnutjerry | Mar 06, 2005 05:11am | #3

   Hi Jim----I am using mortising bit/chisels from Fisch and have been please with results. They are in Claysville Pa.

                            Regards, Jerry

1. 
   Jimma | Mar 06, 2005 06:51pm | #5

   Thanks, Jerry. I've sent an inquiry to them. My suspician, though, is that they're going to be too expensive. I may have to go with them in the end.

1. 
   walnutjerry | Mar 06, 2005 08:11pm | #10

   Jim, you are quite welcome. A point to consider is that TW blades are guarenteed to last twice as long. The rep at the ww show says they will last 4 times as long but they only advertise twice as long. Of course that depends on how they are used and not abused.

                                          Cheers, Jerry

    

1. 
   Vertigo | Mar 06, 2005 08:53pm | #11

   I was to the impression that the Clico chisels had a much beefier drill bit, thus eliminating the chance if snapping the tips off. Maybe they are different now.

   Edited 3/6/2005 12:54 pm ET by cp

1. 
   walnutjerry | Mar 07, 2005 01:19am | #12

   Hi cp------That could very well be true.  The mortising machine is something I use occassionaly. I have not mortised anything over 1 1/2" deep since I bought the machine. My machine is a Fisch bench top model and meets my need to mortise table legs--which is usually 1" deep. It is also the only mortising machine I have ever owned.

   I am a one man shop so my needs are not the same as a high production shop. As with most tooling, if I keep the bits and chisels sharp it does a real good job for me.

                          Regards, Jerry

2. 
   Vertigo | Mar 07, 2005 01:39am | #13

   Yeah I agree Jerry, as long as your taking care of your tools and not slamming the mortise bits into hard maple and keeping them in the mortise to the point of over heating them you should be ok with anyones chisels, but I would steer clear of Chinese made tools.

3. 
   Jimma | Mar 10, 2005 05:16am | #14

   Thanks to all who responded to my question about hollow chisel mortising bits. The simple answer was just in front of my eyes -- Woodcraft. However, it was instructive to do the search. Out of four possible sources I emailed over last weekend, only General responded and they didn't know anything about Multico chisels. Woodcraft has both a Taiwan-made set and Clico chisels. I also talked with Garrett Wade, from whom I bought the Multico a few years ago, and they no longer support the product even though they still have a few parts in inventory. The company has moved to France, they said, making it difficult to compete with all the knock-offs now marketed due to price, not quality. But, I appreciate hearing from all of you who were interested in helping. Thanks!

4. 
   Vertigo | Mar 13, 2005 06:28am | #15

   Hi Jim,

   GW no longer carries the Multico line?? WOW! GW is turning into a real Gardening store aren't they.

   CP

3. 
   jako17 | Mar 06, 2005 08:17am | #4

   Try contacting General (Canada) They used to sell Multico machines maybe still do .Multico used to have a 3/4 " shank on the chisels. Probably the same as Delta etc I believe that Multico made mortisers for Delta many years ago.Really good quality chisels tend to have a 13/16 shank which can be met by turning a new bushing.I think that you will find that 3/4 shank is common on most bench top machines

1. 
   Jimma | Mar 06, 2005 07:11pm | #7

   I just emailed them for info on their chisels. Thanks for the reference.

4. 
   KesslerCraftsman | Mar 06, 2005 07:05pm | #6

   Hi Jim,

   I've "ranted" about the clico hollow mortiser chisels being vastly superior...albeit expensive.

   Formerly using them with a drill press mortiser, I just bought a Shop Fox hollow chisel mortiser and, with it, a cheap Taiwanese chisel...just for practice and setup before I attached the "good" chisels.

   Imagine my chagrin when I couldn't tell any difference!  I left the Grizzly chisel attached and cut around 400 mortises without any problems...four tables worth of M&T joints and a million mission spindles.

   At very least, do a head-to-head comparison.  I'm as guilty as any in assuming that the more I spend, the better tool I get.  Not always so!

   lp

1. 
   Jimma | Mar 06, 2005 07:19pm | #8

   The Shop Fox website isn't working right this morning (Sunday), but I'll contact them tomorrow and see if I can get chisels to fit my Multico. Funny, but when I bought the Multico some years ago there weren't any competitors. Now you find them all over, and probably with better features as they improved the clones -- certainly as far as chisel availability is concerned. Thanks for the reference.

1. 
   KesslerCraftsman | Mar 06, 2005 07:23pm | #9

   You're welcome, Jim.

   I expect my previous message to get ripped..I'm nipping at the bastions of "tool-holism"...of which I greatly suffer.

   But looking at the delta between a $15 Taiwanese and a $65 (two years ago price) Clico..with similar performance, I just can't see it.

   Anyone want some Clico chisels cheap?  Smile.

   Good luck!

   lp

1. 
   qldwoodie | Mar 17, 2005 05:41am | #18

   Larry - you won't get any argument from me.  I'm still using the set that came with my mortiser more than 12 yrs ago.  They must be about as hard as you can get steel to be (took a LOT of elbow-grease to polish them!) but so far, I haven't chipped any.  They've cut an awful lot of mortises, in some pretty tough woods, and I'm talking Australian hardwoods that make Maple seem like butter.  The mortiser itself is not the greatest tool - the head can swivel on the post, if you're not careful, and the plunge mechanism is pretty primitive.  Someday soon, I'm going to get a better machine, but I think I'll stick with my el cheapo chisels, as long as they fit the new machine - at the rate they're going, they'll see me out.

   It's probaby just like bench chisels in that the quality varies from batch to batch.  I've bought quite a few chisels (which will remain nameless, but they have blue handles....) over the years  Some have been excellent tools, some are used as paint can openers, and they're barely good enough for that!  But I got lucky with my hollow chisel set - if the European brands are significantly better, they must be pretty good, alright.

   Cheers,

   IW

5. 
   Michael6255 | Mar 13, 2005 04:23pm | #16

   Hi Jim,

   The Woodcraft store in Wilmington, DE has Clicos at 20% off closeout prices.  Check the website for a stoe phone number.  Maybe they'll ship.

   Mike

1. 
   Jimma | Mar 17, 2005 03:19am | #17

   I'm on to new topics now after finding a way to solve the original problem, but I was just wondering if you've ever gone to Punkin Chunkin. My wife and I went last fall and had a great time. They're talking about moving it so more people can be accommodated. Have you ever gone?