Replies

1. 
   SCFrankland | Nov 23, 2003 02:10pm | #1

   I have seen the new LN chisels at the woodshow last week and was told by LN that they should be out by next month or the latest first of the new year. The price was going to be around $50.00 a chisels with sizes ranging from 1/8 to 3/4. Not a bad looking chisel but I didn't like the feel of them. They seemed to be rather stubby for my liking.

   Scott C. Frankland

   "This all could have been prevented if their parents had just used birth control"

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 23, 2003 07:13pm | #2

      I looked on the LN web-site last night hoping to get a glance at them as I like to keep abreast. I was wondering when they would show up as they are not on the website yet.

      At $50 a chisel, it probably won't be anytime soon before I purchase. Excellent bench chisels can be had for $20 each give-or-take and the difference could go to the purchase of mortice chisels which have a higher price tag.

      The reason I posted was to ask who would purchase a $50 bench chisel and what reasons would justify the premium price tag? Perhaps I over-looked an angle here that could improve my WW'ing skill?

     Neiman-Marcus employees are excluded. ha.. ha...

   sarge..jt

      Proud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   TomMGTC | Nov 24, 2003 01:47am | #3

   Chris Becksvoort had a set of LN chisels at a class I took with him last year. He got them from Tom Lie-Nielsen himself to try out. Chris absolutely loved them. Said they hold an edge better than any chisel he has used. I think he was trying to get them to use a different wood for the handles but I don't remember the specifics. Great guy though and I hope to visit him next summer in Maine.Tom

   Douglasville, GA

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 24, 2003 03:22am | #5

   Tom

      If Tom Lie-Nielsen gives me a set to try out, I wouldn't  hesitate to take them. :>) I don't know the details of the LN's yet, but I have to be skeptical of a $33 difference of the LN and say the Ashley Iles I just purchased.

     If I'm wrong I will certainly admit it. But for such a large difference in price, someone will have to "show me the beef" and prove it's USDA tested before I write the check. ha..ha..

   Regards from across town...

   sarge..john tProud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   BG | Nov 24, 2003 03:55am | #6

   It's time to start the pool....

   everybody chip in a buck....

   guess the date and hour when Sarge buys his first LN Chisel....

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 24, 2003 04:23am | #8

   BG

      See post # 8 and hey, send cash, money order or cashiers check! No personal checks please. ha..ha..

    :>)

   sarge..jtProud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

3. 
   lwilliams | Nov 24, 2003 04:32am | #9

   I depend nearly entirely on old chisels. Some are great and some less so and it's not consistent within one brand name. You pays your quarter and takes your chances with old ones. The most durable of my old ones isn't the prettiest, it's a Merril & Wilder and I thought held an edge better than any chisel I'd likely find. Thomas Lie-Nielsen sent my partner a prototype 3/4" chisel and its edge holding ability compares very favorably to the Merril & Wilder. It's basically modeled after the Stanley 750 series of chisels. I also spend a couple days working in a booth with Barry Iles who now operates Ashley Iles. I was more than a little impressed with Barry and have no doubt he makes some fine chisels. I suspect they'd also stand up well compared to my trusty old Merril & Wilder. I'd have a hard time choosing between Lie-Nielsen and Ashley Iles chisels and the choice would come down to my preference as to design. The socket type Lie-Nielsens are shorter and would offer a little better control. The Ashley Iles are longer and would be better for a lot of paring work. I prefer the size and feel of Lie-Nielsen's hornbeam handle but like the way Ashley Iles chisels bevel on the sides to leave a very fine side edge. I'm just glad I already have the chisels I need except for those I'll have to make. I can say that my partner doesn't have that Lie-Nielsen anymore, I have it and he can't have it back.

4. 
   SCFrankland | Nov 24, 2003 04:43am | #10

   One thing I guess I forgot to metion was that was $50.00 Canadian not US.Scott C. Frankland

   "This all could have been prevented if their parents had just used birth control"

5. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 24, 2003 05:05am | #12

   Scott

      There's always some Canadian Mounted Police that throws a monkey wrench into the well-oiled machine. Now what does that convert to in U.S. $.  ha..ha..

      This sounds more in line with reality, as I'm guessing about $32. Just a guess.  It pretty much makes this thread into "much ado about nothing". I suppose I needed key-board practice anyway. ROFL.....

   sarge..jt

   Proud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

6. 
   TomFerreira | Nov 24, 2003 05:58am | #13

   Sarge,

   I'm surprised your saying you bought the LN low angle plane. Are you sure that wasn't a typo and you really bought the LV low angle plane? I can't imagine an ole yankee like you spending money on LN stuff!

   TDF

7. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 24, 2003 07:00am | #14

   Tom

      Lee Valley doesn't make a low-angle #5 jack. They do make a l-a smoother as does Lie-Nielsen. I didn't buy one, well at least not yet. I would like the low-angle jack, but have a jack now so necessity doesn't dictate. Maybe in the future.

      I though I had one in the bag till Scott stated he quoted the price of the chisels as Canadian instead of U.S. dollars. Yep, that cost me a free Lie-Nielsen jack plane. :>)

      With my southern up-bringing, would I buy from Lie-Nielsen in Maine? You bethca...... Would I buy from Lee Valley in Ontario? You betcha........ If the price is right, the quality is good, I have the money and need I would buy from Mickey Mouse in DisneyWorld. ha..ha..

   Have a good holiday week, Tom...

   sarge..jtProud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

8. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 24, 2003 04:51am | #11

   Larry

      Thanks Larry. If you haven't already go back and read post #8 as to my thinking. When you mentioned the Ashley Iles being longer, were you referring to the standard English bench set? What I bought was the new design American Pattern chisels which are only 7" long up till the 1". These are basically the old American butt chisel with bevels added and they cut the fat handles like on butt's down to a smaller taper.

      Go the web-site for you know who that sells your C&W planes and check out the new entry if you are not aware of the ones I refer to.

      Again see post #8 if you want to see how this po' boy reasons. ha..ha..

   Have a good evening Larry and wishing full recovery...

   sarge..jtProud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

2. 
   jazzdogg | Nov 24, 2003 02:35am | #4

   " The reason I posted was to ask who would purchase a $50 bench chisel and what reasons would justify the premium price tag? Perhaps I over-looked an angle here that could improve my WW'ing skill?"

   Sarge,

   Off the top of my empty little head, I'd be willing to pay a premium for bench chisels: (1) that'll hold an edge for a long time; (2) come with the bevel perfectly hollow-ground; (3) the back flattened and polished to a mirror surface from the factory; (4) handles contoured to fit my hands, and; (5) the side bevels near the handles rounded-over slightly to prevent cutting my hands while sharpening <grin>.

   Imagine buying a new chisel and only having to spend a few minutes on an 8,000-grit ceramic stone before using it to achieve terrific results!

   Of course, the question remains, how much of a premium? Hmmmmmmm?

   Have a Happy Thanksgiving, one and all,Paul

   Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 24, 2003 04:16am | #7

   jazz

      Your quetion of how much of a premium is right up my alley in the thought process department. :>)

      Here's how I look at say, a set of 6. My Ashley Iles $102.00

      (1) Hold and edge..... Already got some

      (2) Bevel perfectly hollow-ground..... 45 minutes-my shop

      (3) Backs flat and mirror polished..... 45 minutes -my shop

      (4) Handles contoured to my hand.... Already got some

      (5) Side bevels rounded over near handle... Not a priority,         but 45 minutes my shop

       My conclusion: Two hour 15 minutes work (play) for a little less than $100 an hour of my labor (fun). I perform the work and ante-up the $200 I saved plus another $10 from my pocket. I make a phone call and order the LN low-angle jack plane on sale. No tax and free shipping.

      At this point I have a fantastic set of chisels that fit my hand, are well balanced, polished, razor sharp with edge holding ability. I also have a extremely well made, versatile low-angle LN jack plane to boot.

      Now, you can call me frugal, cheap, tight or whatever might fit this situation. JUST DON'T CALL ME and tell me you need to borrow my new low-angle jack plane cause you spent all your money on CHISELS.. ha.. ha...

   Have a good holiday, jazz...

   sarge..jt   Proud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

2. 
   bjpearce | Nov 24, 2003 09:59am | #15

   Hello all.

   Just wondering if anyone had anything to say about those Barr chisels, the web site says their hammer forged instead of cast then ground.

   Love to see a comparo between the Lie Neilsons (when they arive) and the Barrs.

   Ben

   Look here

   http://www.barrtools.com

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Nov 24, 2003 06:16pm | #16

   Ben

      Highland Hardware carries them. If I did this for a living or did a lot of timber-framing or large mortices, that's where I would go for mortice chisels. Now you get to $50 price tag and well spent if you depend on them daily.

   Regards...

   sarge..jtProud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)