Replies

1. 
   hammer1 | Feb 23, 2010 06:15pm | #1

   I would put it back to work.

2. 
   gdblake | Feb 23, 2010 08:18pm | #2

   Matt:

   It's your chisel, do what you want with it.  There is nothing wrong with using it or displaying it.  There are plenty of tool collectors who just like to look at them and there is nothing wrong with that.  I like to own tools I can use.

   gdblake

3. 
   derekcohen | Feb 23, 2010 10:13pm | #3

   Hi Matt

   I think what you are saying is that this chisel may have serious collector value and, therefore, should be preserved in a museum.

   Here's the rule of thumb: generally tools need to be in near mint condition, unless they are very rare (that is, there are only one or two of their type existing - being old does not establish rarity, and rarity is what defines collectibility).  Do you think that your chisel - with the absent handle - fits into this category? It has been sharpened before - you are not preserving a factory grind?

   Now I assume that you bought it to use it? Check out the above. If there are others available of eBay it is unlikely to be a unique item. Then I would make a handle for it, flatten the back near the bevel end (you cannot sharpen properly without doing so), and use it.

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

4. 
   9619 | Feb 24, 2010 08:00am | #4

   Clint,

   The nice thing about woodworking is that everyone is right.  You haven't gotten many responses but the show nice disagreement.    Me, I am a woodworker.  A woodworker USES tools.  A collector HOARDS tools.  Hoarding is a means of taking tools away from actual use in the hopes that someday they will be worth a buck more than you paid for them.   By hoarding, a collector raises the prices of tools for actual woodworkers.  THis, of course, is legal, but to me, it is obscene. 

   In the modern world, tools have expanded to include items which were not even meant to be used.  Holtey turns out planes in which he polishes the underside of screw heads, and charges over $10,000 apiece for them.   I suppose you could use one of his planes, but you could do just as well with planes in the few hundred dollar category.  

   There is a saying that cocaine is God's way of telling you that you have too much money.   I believe in the woodworking world, "tool collecting" is God's way of telling you that you have too much money.  

   To me, tool collecting is to woodwork what viruses are to computing, what cults are to churches, what polygamy is to marriage, what bestiality is to sex.  Tool collecting is essentially a pox on woodworking.  It takes something which is beautiful and perverts it. 

   But woodworking is done by humans, and humans are the ones who invented viruses, bestiality and cults.  THerefore, one can only expect that it is subject to being perverted.  I am shocked that there are not churches in which people actually pray to tools, and make them "saints" and attribute special powers to them.    OOOOOOPS, I made a mistake.  Many woodworkers do actually believe that some tools have mystical powers.  Have you ever heard people talk about their super expensive planes.   One recently said here on Knots that he would take his planes to the grave with him.    It is like golf, just as there are golfers willing to pay a lot of money for a club that they thing will improve their game, there are people who pay $1500 for Festools, and thousands for new handplanes.  THis is a human thing.   As long as there are humans with that little sense, there will be makers willing to take their money.   

   But at least those "hopefuls" actually use their tools.   Collectors just sit and talk about how nice it would have been if they got the original box along with the tool.   IMHO, these people would be happier if they actually did woodworking instead of worrying that their original, unused Stanley #1 has a small ding in the front tote.  

   Woodworkers are proud of the work they do.   Tool collectors are proud of owning things.  Any fool can own things.  

   Wow. I'll bet you never thought you would get an answer like thatt.    Well, I don't believe what I actually said.  I just like to write fiction.   Virtually anything can be made believable by a sufficiently talented writer.  Unfortunately I am an avid, but not a talented writer.  I hope I got you going for a second, and then gave you a laugh.

   Have fun.   Ii don't care if you use the chisel, put it in a safe for future generations, or pray to it.    This is woodworking.  Anything you do is ok, as long as it's safe, and if it isn't save, when then it is good for making the doctors more skilled and richer.  

   Mel

   PS there is a lesson here.  Some people write nonsense here in Knots, but don't label it as such.   At least, I have labelled mine.   So how does one differentiate between the wheat and the chaff of those who don't label theirs.  Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.    Talk about the horns of a dilemma!

5. 
   clinton66 | Feb 24, 2010 11:12am | #5

   Thanks for all the replys. My main concern was what if any effect sharpening and lapping the back would have on the "collector" value of the chisel. Sounds like there is no real "collector" value to be had so I will sharpen and use accordingly. I don't have a lathe to make handles with, any one know a good source for replacement handles for socket chisels?

6. 
   Furniture_Maker | Feb 24, 2010 03:16pm | #6

   I'd hone and use a chisel with indisputable provenance as one of Duncan Phyfe's own. 

   But that's just me.

   For sure, you have a chisel that should be used. 

7. 
   gdblake | Feb 24, 2010 07:26pm | #7

   Matt;

   You don't need a lathe to make an octagonal (or any shape for that matter) shaped handle.  Look at old examples on the internet to get an idea of shape.  Start with a squared blank, use a spokeshave or plane to define the handle's tapers, shave the corners off the blank to form the octagon, then carefully work down the shaft to fit into the socket with a chisel.  To fit the shaft into the socket go slowly, constantly fit the shaft into the socket, turn it a few rotations, remove the shaft and work down the burnished areas until the shaft is burnished all around and well seated.  Here is a link to a Finewoodworking article that takes you through all of the steps.

   https://www.finewoodworking.com/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesArticle.aspx?id=27740

   If your first attempt doesn't fit your hand well chaulk it up to a learning experience and try again until you get it right.  Chisel handles require very little wood.

   gdblake