Replies

1. 
   philip | Dec 27, 2006 11:52am | #1

   Send it back-it will not be good like that as you need to line things up.... And it should be tapered.

   Philip Marcou

   
2. 
   pzgren | Dec 27, 2006 07:10pm | #2

   Grüß Gott Wanda!

     <<I am considering sending the chisel back. And maybe purchasing the Sorby Registered Mortise chisel from lee Valley. I am considering sending the chisel back. And maybe purchasing the Sorby Registered Mortise chisel from lee Valley....>>

     Some food for thought: Some time back (six months or so, maybe?) on several of the WW forums, there was a considerable amount of commentary on the quality (control) of the steel and heat treatment in Sorby chisels. I don't remember much about the details other than some commented that their chisels were properly heat treated, while others were rather unhappy that their chisels were not properly heat treated. It had the appearance of being rather hit or miss/luck of the draw. I don't know if that is still the case or whether Sorby has gotten the (apparent) quality control problem corrected. Just something to consider in making your decision.

   Beste Wünschen auf ein glückliches und wohlbehaltenes Neues Jahr!

   Tschüß!

   Mit freundlichen holzbearbeitungischen Grüßen aus dem Land der Rio Grande!!

   James

3. 
   CStanford | Dec 27, 2006 08:34pm | #3

   Wanda, almost all mail order suppliers have a comment section for online orders.  When you buy chisels, you should always insist that they be inspected before shipping for blade/handle alignment and that the backs are not convex ("humped") near the cutting edge. 

   I've done this on more than once and I received perfectly fine chisels.  You'll be happy with your Hirsch chisels once you get a replacement.  I have a few myself.

4. 
   Rich14 | Dec 27, 2006 09:50pm | #4

   Wanda,

   Re:

   "The tip of the chisel was rough as well. It will certainly need a tune up for sure. I would expect a chisel of this quality to be "perfect" and ready to use right out of the package without having to sharpen it. "

   I have never received a chisel "ready to use right out of the package." Quite the opposite. Chisels do not normally come "pre-sharpened."

   The bevel is ground to some pre-determined angle. If that angle is good for you, you will not have to regrind. However, you need to lap (flatten) the back of the chisel and hone the bevel (and micro bevel if you use one) and the back before using. Honing the back is usually a one-time operation.

   Rich

   
   

   ---

   Edited 12/27/2006 1:51 pm ET by Rich14

1. 
   Wanda200 | Jan 05, 2007 05:21am | #5

   Hi,

   I decided to send the chisel back.  Here are a few pictures of the "defective"Hirsch chisel .

   Wanda

   
1. 
   woodenhead | Jan 13, 2007 07:39am | #6

   Try Hartvilletools great mortising chisels i purchased a set two weeks ago made in Germany. If you are not satsified they will give you a 100% refund. p.s you will love them

   Edited 1/13/2007 12:25 am ET by woodenhead

5. 
   Buster2000 | Jan 13, 2007 09:02am | #7

   Wanda,

   I'm a big fan of these chisels.  They're rather beefy.  In this case I would get it replaced.

   I have a few Sorby mortising chisels, and they are not thick enough in my opinion.  Notice that your mortising chisels are almost thicker than they are wide?  My understanding is that this helps the chisel stay square when your chopping.  Rob Cosman discussed this at the local wood show.

   Buster

1. 
   user-200815 | Jan 14, 2007 09:56am | #8

   The sides to bevel edge also cuts the sides of the mortise when the cutting edge is driven into the wood. Makes the sides of the mortise smoother.Thick mortising chisels will help align the next cut and keep the sides of the mortise straight IF you start out straight.Steve Knight of Knight Toolworks, a plane maker, used to sell great mortising chisels made by Jim Wilson, a woodworker and tool maker. Not shiny, but cryo treated, sharp as ####, holds an edge a long time despite the pounding they take, nice and square and thick suckers. Attached photos will give you an idea of just how beefy these suckers are.They deserved their own special box
   http://web.hypersurf.com/~charlie2/Boxes/BoxesMTchisels.html And here's a pros and cons of rectangular vs trapezoidal cross section for mortising chisels.http://web.hypersurf.com/~charlie2/MortiseChiselXsection.htmlcharlie b

   
1. 
   Lataxe | Jan 14, 2007 02:35pm | #9

   Charlie,

   Thank you for that second link, in particular; it is very interesting stuff.  I've previously only seen the justification for the trapezoid shape - basically that it makes it a lot easier to extract the chisel once the mortise deepens.

   So far with the trapezoid Two Cherries (Hirch) I have had no problem with skewed holes - but I am being very careful!  I flattened the sides of their round handles, which helps with the correct alignment of the chisel tip when starting.   I also follow some Ian Kirby advice about chopping with the mortise length running straight out in front of you, rather than trying to chop from the side.

   Lataxe.

2. 
   Wanda200 | Jan 15, 2007 10:10pm | #10

   Hi Buster2000,

    

   Did you actually get to see Rob Cosman in person? I only know him from his video tapes. I checked out the cost of his woodworking seminars.. $$$$$$$$$ way out of my price range. LOL  I have his video on drawer making. I've only watched the first disc haven't had a chance to watch disc 2 yet. So far so good. He's a handtool fanatic. 

   WAnda

1. 
   Buster2000 | Jan 15, 2007 10:37pm | #11

   He's out on your side of the Country isn't he?  My understanding is that he has family here in Calgary, so he does classes in the summer.  I haven't been to those.  When the woodshow comes to Edmonton and Calgary I usually go to both and pick up any of the free seminars they have on.  I've seen his dovetail seminar, and his mortise and tennon seminar.  They are as much sales pitches as instructional courses, but they're free so what can I expect.

   I really like Rob's approach to dovetails, and his teaching methods.  I watch him do his mortise and tennon demo, went home and tried it using my Sorby mortise chisels (They do work, but I had better results with the beefier Hirsch) and came out with good results.

   Buster

1. 
   Wanda200 | Jan 16, 2007 01:42am | #12

   Hi,

   You're lucky to be able to go to woodworking demos. We don't have those where I live. I would love to go to one of those big tool shows.

   Rob Cosman lives in New Brunswich which isn't too far from where I live providing you travel by plane and not car.

   He Spends a lot of his time travelling around the country teaching woodworking and giving seminars. However He does offer private classes during the year when he's not travelling but they are Expensive. $1000 for 8hrs of instruction. (1 day instruction) Or you could sign up for group lessons. Those are also pretty costly.

   Rob Cosman's instruction is excellent. He must have used 5 different woodworking tools and 2 jigs while demonstrating how to mill material for the drawer sides.  I would love to own one of those adjustable low angle planes. I'd be broke if I had to afford all those specialized handtools just to put together drawers. LOL  I'll  stick to using my router, table saw, miter saw  and planer for building drawers.

   My sister has his video on dovetails so I will have to borrow it from her sometime. I"ve read so many articles on how to make dovetails. Now I have to get into the shop and start practicing what I've learned.

   You hit it on the head when you said, "They are as much sales pitches as instructional courses". After all he does make his living selling Lie Nielsen tools. He has their logo on his shirt.

   Wanda

    

1. 
   Buster2000 | Jan 16, 2007 02:39am | #13

   He must have used 5 different woodworking tools and 2 jigs while demonstrating how to mill material for the drawer sides.

   Yeah, I try to look past these things and get to the core of what we's doing.  When I try to do the things I see in the presentation I have to 'make do' with my poor boy tools.  I actually did get a LN saw for christmas last year, it was worth the money; however I think any properly sharpened and set saw would work.

2. 
   Wanda200 | Jan 16, 2007 03:18am | #14

   Hi,

   Having the right tool for the job sure makes life easier.     :) 

   Like you I try to choose the appropriate tool for the job. whateverTools I have hanging around the shop that will adequately get the job done. 

   I will probably never own a plane as fine as the Lie Nielson in my lifetime. The only decent handtool I own is a dovetail saw. (Adria saw).  Maybe one of these days/yrs I might splurge and buy a lee valley low angle apron plane for doing trim carpentry.

    

   Wanda

3. 
   Buster2000 | Jan 16, 2007 06:13am | #15

   I will probably never own a plane as fine as the Lie Nielson in my lifetime. The only decent handtool I own is a dovetail saw. (Adria saw). 

   I've got two LN saws now.  Rip and Crosscut.  But I think that's it...  The good thing is I hang out in a Lie Nielsen type of crowd.  On guy, an ex-engineer has every tool they make (except possibly the newest ones)!  In fact he has multiples of some tools sharpened in different ways (i.e. A rip saw for hardwood, and a rip saw for softwood).  It's really amazing.

   I'm happy with my LV 4 1/2 smoother...