I am considering a new set of chisels and have the following considerations in mind about the purchase.
The Garret Hack chisel series brings up a question of just how much variation there is between chisels or lots within a manufacturer. I have seen a few reviews that rate Marples above Buck, but the two Buck chisels I have are far superior to the Marples set. They sharpen more easily, stay much sharper, and are far less frangible at the cutting edge. All sharpening of these tools has been by hand, so I would not have altered the temper. Though I do have a set of Marples mortising chisels that seems to have a much better quality than the bench set.
Given that the reviewers are respectable, I have to assume that this difference between my chisels is the result of some internal variation in the steel, or heat treatment process at the manufacturers.
Has anyone else noticed such significant differences in chisel quality within a manufacturer, or am I likely to be mistaken?
Also on the subject of chisels. Every review of Twin Cherries chisels that I have seen rates them as good to excellent. But every Twin Cherries chisel that I have seen at shows, exhibits sizable pits on the surface and back of the tool. Assuming that some holes also exist hidden in the metal, this would seem to make for a truly poor tool. One for which major sections might have to be ground away to find a usable edge. I have never seen such a pit on any other chisel. Am I just seeing an odd sample, or is there a reason that would make such pitting acceptable?
Thank you for your advice.
Replies
I too looked for a good set of socket chisels. I want the lie-neilson copies but cant shell out the cash for a set. Here is the alternative, ebay has stanley chisels all the time ranging from 15 to 55 bucks. The handles may need replaced easy if you have a lathe. a little TLC and you can have a full set. It will take some time and elbow grease.
This is only from personal experience, but I too have noticed that the quality of the blades in chisels from the same maker can vary from one chisel to the next, or from one chisel style to another from the same maker. We don't buy multiples of the same chisel when we do tool reviews for the magazine so we can't test for consistency.
I once had a set of four chisels where three of them took an edge well and stayed sharp, but the fourth chisel was impossible to keep sharp.
Buck chisels have been manufactured for over a century so it is quite likely that their older chisels might vary a lot depending on when they were manufactured.
I would guess that you would have better luck with chisels from a small maker than a large producer, and would be more likely to get good customer service from a small maker if you did have a problem.
John White
when yu find the answer, please let me know.
The concept of finding the "perfect chisel" would be, to my pea-brain, akin to finding the "holy grail" I ain't sure it exists, or philosophically speaking, if it could exist.
Eric
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