I want to thank everyone for the answering my spokeshave question last week…I’ll be purchasing the Boggs spokeshave soon. Now for my question today. I also need to purchase a 1/4″ mortise chisel. I’ve narrowed my choices to the Sorby or the Hirsch/Two Cherries. Which of these do you recommend.
Again thanks for your help.
John
Replies
I have two Sorby mortise chisels--don't know about the Two Cherries, but I would never buy a third one of what I have now.
/jvs
Would you please elaborate? I've always had the impression that Sorby was the Rolls Royce of chisels. (Or have they, like Rolls, been bought out by Volkswagen?)Thanks.
Jeff
JeffK
I have one Sorby about 3/4" which I truly enjoy....but only for paring or light chopping. The tip will role on me if hit hard. Don't know about their morticing chisel, and am not about to take a chance...
It does get nice and sharp and I like the thinness of the blade, seems to improve control.
That was my impression, too. They are nicely finished and comfortable to use, but the edge holding in cherry (not a particularly hard wood) was dissappointing. The constant dressing of the edge was enough to push me into SS rather than pulling out a waterstone every time they needed work. If Eddie is getting good results in something as hard as hickory, that sounds like a good endorsement.
I only have the two examples to go by, so I don't know if I have rare lemons or if they are generally like this, but I plan on replacing them before my next project that involves lots of mortises, and will be looking at the H/TC's, Japanese chisels, or used tool dealer cast steel "pigstickers."
/jvs
Go for the old cast steel. My mortisers are TH Witherby, and a 1.4" Swan. Both brands really take and hold an edge. And, my impression is that mortise chisels new are about $30@, but for the older ones I usually pay 10 to 15, unless someone does not know what they have.
Alan
Thanks, Alan.
/jvs
I really like the older tools. Witherby and Swan are not the only good ones. Older Bucks Brothers and Stanleys are good as well, although I do not recall seeing older Stanley mortisers. Older Greenlee's are nice s well, and Addis of course. I am sure there are others, but I am just getting into the older tool frame of mind, and with much still to learn. Recently got a 1/8" bevel edged Bucks Brothers paring chisel ($11), and it is a thing of beauty. Before I knew of old tools I had purchased a 1/8" blue handled Marples, and the steel in that is quite poor. Anyone need one cheap?
The pre-WWII Disstons are another good value, with very good steel. I am buying a bunch for a class I am teaching, at about $30@, and sending them down to Tom Law for filing and setting. Should be about $55@ when done, with postage, and to me this represents a great value for a good "D" handled tenon saw. They are very pretty, with apple handles, and a nice patina on both the steel and the wood. They feel good in the hand. And, for myself, found a beautiful 14" Spears & Jackson, which I am having filed cross cut. Very pretty saw, and again, with a very good feel in the hand.
Alan
Alan,
Are you going to start a seperate thread on your teaching experiences?...new students reaction...changes in plans..etc.....please? it'd be fascinating
Alan,
I'll echo what BG said. If not a thread, maybe you could keep a journal of the class with thoughts and impressions and publish it at a later date. I will never have the combo of patience and skill necessary to teach a woodworking class (I'd prob get to talking and chisel into my hand and send blood spurting all over the room the first time I tried to demo a chisel technique) but I would be interested in reading about your experiences. Maybe it's a mag article.
Sorry for highjacking the thread. My vote: old mortising chisels or TC or custom-made (i.e. Knight Toolworks). Sorry No Sorby. Ed
BG, Ed (Miss) and JVS
I am not sure I have time to give you a blow by blow; I am honored to be asked. I have to say that I was disappointed in myself in the first class. I worked so hard to be organized, but felt that I rushed over the important stuff, and wasn't as organized as I had tried to be. Reminded me of my son's old Border's t-shirt -- "So little time, so many books, drink coffee."
Not that I didn't not have more detail to share, but it didn't seem to come out as easily as I thought it would. And then, I look at my watch, and the time is gone. I now see why Ed from Aust. runs his high school class the way he does, although I do not think it is a good fit for my class.
More as time passes. I am not quitting.
7 pre-WWII Disstons off to Tom Law for rip filing. I know that will help.
Alan
The best way to learn anything is to teach or explain it. It (teaching) can also be a profoundly humbling (not to mention wonderful) experience. It does take a while to get one's hands around the process, and begining expections are often more than a bit too optimistic with respect to what will get covered.
Practice, learn, watch, do and, if your heart is in transferring knowledge and skills to others, you will both do well and enjoy it. Congrats!
Thanks you for your kind words. One of the school administrators is a woman, a former neighbor, I have known for 20 years. When she learned of my sadness, she reminded me that one does not learn much when does something correctly. That perked me up a bit.
I am passionate about my craft, and about this teaching engagement. I caused me to study quite a bit, never bad, and I built a cross grain shooting board that I now cannot live without. Gets the squarest edge I have ever achieved. Strike a line with a hock marking knife with a Starrett square, and shoot it, and you can really see 1/2 of the knife line, just like in the Charlesworth Book. Pretty amazing. Now I can't imagine building a drawer without it.
Alan
Nice find! I still cut tennons with a floor-mounted spinning metal thingie, but that is on my list for eventual elimination. Another vote for hearing more about the class...
/jvs
Jeff,
If you read the others you know my story. I bought four Sorbys about ten years ago or so. They needed re-sharpening way too often; I could almost see the edge roll up as I used them. They might have lasted a bit longer paring, but they crumpled at just the sight of a mallet. I got rid of them and got a set of Marples, which were a world better than the Sorby's (I recently got a set of Hirsch, which are better still).
I got the corner chisel because a Sorby was the only corner chisel I could find. It's worse than the bench chisels. It is so soft I could easily "sharpen" it with a file--no kidding. It is useless.
Alan
Nothing wrong with the Hirsch/Two Cherries (Same chisel, two different brand names). They have a reputation for excellence - I have a 6mm mortice chisel in two cherries but have only used it twice so can't comment on the longievity of the edge. Still sharp after two mortices in eucalypt (which someone said here that was like working hickory)
Cheers,
eddie
John,
I agree with the others: get the Hirsch/Two Cherries.
I now own only one Sorby chisel, a corner chisel, and I wish I had saved my money. The steel is too soft; you can actually see it crumple in fear when it's in the same room as a good bit of hardwood. The other recent vintage Sorbys I owned were the same. It's a shame, too. Not all that long ago Sorby made some first-rate tools and their products had a good reputation that was well deserved. Too bad.
Alan
The Two Cherries chisels are absolutely top notch. I have a full set that I use on a regular basis in oak, walnut, cherry and maple. They hold their edge well and yet are reasonably easy to sharpen. I replaced a set of Marples Blue Handle chisels with them. The Two Cherries are head and shoulders above the marples.
Alan & Lynette Mikkelsen, Mountain View Farm, est. 1934, Gardens & Fine Woodworking, St. Ignatius, MT
John,
I have a very beautiful (and expensive) set of Sorby bench chisels with octagonal boxwood handles, the handle sure feels nice in the hand, but alas they don't hold an edge worth a damn, steel always rolls over. Given the chance, I think I would look somewhere other than Sorby for you mortising chisels..
Hi John,
I am also in the market for a good set of bench and mortise chisels. I contacted Lie-Nielsen today and was informed that they are nearing production on a set of bench chisels with mortise chisels to follow. Based on the quality of irons and tools I own of theirs, I am sure the chisels will be of the highest quality so I will wait and give them a try. Besides ... it gives me a chance to save my pennies. :+)
Be safe,
Ken
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