Replies

1. 
   StorzInVail | Oct 30, 2003 05:24am | #1

   Personally, I'd just call the guys at The Japan Woodworker and ask, the few times I've been in, I don't think I've met a more devoted group in any given retail shop. Reminded me of the old general store type crowd.js

2. 
   BG | Oct 30, 2003 05:37am | #2

   Timber,

   I like my Japanese chisels very much.  For heavier work I'm buying mortice chisels and firmer chisels...suggest you think along those lines too...

   When you do heavier work...the japanese chisel can take a pounding..but the shortness makes it hard to remove from the wood...
3. 
   RANGERP75R | Oct 30, 2003 07:20am | #3

   Dale

      Have to agree with BG. Attempting to get one chisel to do it all is like buying the TS combo blade. The combo attemps to bridge the gap of a 24 rip, 60 cross-cut and 80 fine finish. It can do all of those, just not as well as the proper one for the given job.

      Bench with shorter handles and paring with longer ones are lightweight, sash mortice are medium for average motices in most furniture, heavy mortices are the 1" up with standard lenght handle and the heavy timber mortices with longer, super stout handles and steel for timber framing.

      I have a set of Ashley Iles arriving tomorrow. The American Pattern bevel edges. I choose them as opposed to their standard English paring chisels. Will post the web-site so you can look at them. The Amer. Pattern is similar to the shorter Japanese, the English paring have the longer handles.

      I have paring chisels. I have sash mortice and I have heavy mortice for work-benches. Yep, gets expensive but spaced out 31 years not to bad. You will have to make a compromise an get whatever you think will suit as many of your needs as possible. Then add the others latter as you find the need. Maybe you won't find the need.

   http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com

   Good luck..... BTW, the American Pattern I ordered has excellent balance...A good place to start with any chisel.

   sarge..jt

1. 
   sailalex | Oct 30, 2003 03:01pm | #4

   Just a note generally on Japanese chisels and that is that you can't use a guide , like the Veritas, to sharpen them; the blades are too short. I bought some and learned that later. So, if sharpening with a guide is the only way you go, avoid Japanese chisels. On the other hand after buying the chisels (and I like them a lot) I have learned to sharpen them, as well as all my blades,without a guide.

    I would also second the comment about the staff at JapaneseWoodworker; they are most helpful when you call and are willing to help in whatever way they can.