Official Luthiers Forum!

I've got a four piece set of Marples with the blue handles. I think they go by a different name now. I'm thinking of buying a better set so what do you use?

I've got more chisels than I can count. Some of my favorites I made myself from O-1 tool steel, or from files.
Some of them are leftover from my gunsmithing days. They work just fine on guitars as well.

Al

I used the Marples for many years. They cut fine while they are sharp, but you have to sharpen often. I bought a Japanese chisel to try, and I was blown away. They stay sharp forever. (Not really, but a very long time.) I ended up buying a set of Matsumura blue steel chisels, and they are one of my favorite tools. The caveats are (1) don't chip them, because it takes forever to sharpen them that much, and (2) it's good if you can sharpen well without a jig, because the blade is short enough that it might be a challenge to get it in a jig. But if you are comfortable sharpening freehand, and if you are not too hard on your tools, they are fantastic. Well worth the price.

Ron,
I've tried a few chisels. I used to have a set of japanese chisels and sort of liked them, they tended to roll off my bench however and onto the cement floor, bad combo. They do take a great edge however. I like to use a sharpening jig and the short tapered blade of the japanese chisels didn't work so well in my jigs.
I sold those and bought some LMI chisels and like those better for me and my sharpening style.
I also have 1 Flexsteel chisel that is quite good and like that a lot also. The only thing I like better about the LMI chisels than the Flexsteel is their handles.

_________________
Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

What do you think of these?

Two Cherries

Two Cherries are nice. They hold an edge better than the Marples, but not as well as something like the Japanese or Lie-Nielsen chisels.

OK so for japanese chisels whats the difference in white and blue steel?

I bought the set of Two-Cherries when I got into guitar building and
they have served me very well. They come coated with a lacquer
finish to keep them shiny in the box so clean them with acetone
before sharpening.

I also love the Japanese tools. I have used both blue and white steel
and for the life of me I can't remember which tools are which steel. I
have been very happy with everything I have gotten from the Japan
Woodworker, I would browse their catalog and pick a few to try.

Louis

_________________
- Louis Freilicher

Oh No! Not another learning experience!

I also use the Two Cherries chisels, and have had very good luck with them. The handles fit my hands well, they sharpen well and don't cost a fortune.

I have a LOT of chisels, and my favorite ones are old Scandinavian ones, found in flea markets and antique shops over the years. They all behave differently (a few are no good at all!), but the really good ones take and hold an edge like no other chisel I have tried. Notable brands are are Kongsberg, E.A. Berg and Jernbolaget.   I have a few Japanese chisels that are nice, but the steel is sort of brittle so you have to work differently or the edge chips. If you manage not to break the edge and you can get used to the weird shape they are phenomenal.   All the old Scandinavians and the Japanese chisels are high carbon steel (the Japanese are laminated), and the carbon content determines how much you can harden them with heat. As I understand, the Swedish steel in the old Scandinavians is renowned for it's "purity", it is easy to make good tool steel out of it.

I have a set of Two Cherries that is OK. Various newer Stanley (OK), Ironside (OK-), Bacho (OK+), Sandvik (OK+) Pfeil (OK+). Paring chisels: My H. Taylors are much better than my Sorbys. All of these, as do most modern hand tools, have varying amounts of "additives" like chromium, tungsten, vanadium in the steel alloy to help with the annealing and corrosion properties. This does not necessarily make them better for our purposes as this also makes it impossible to hone them as sharply as pure carbon steel. More about this can be found here

I don't know who makes new chisels like the old ones, but pure carbon steel would be high on my list if I was buying new chisels.

Arnt38996.2790740741

_________________
Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Ahhh chisels...NOW you're talking!!!

I have a good qaulity set of gouges and flats, comprised of donations from friends, stuff I bought etc. I am hoping to purchase a set of minature carving knives soon, and explore the world of Japanese tools...Sam Price38996.3439814815

I have the same blue Marples that you have in your picture and I find that once they are sharpend they work fine. I also have some very cheap stanley chisels and I use these for glue squeeze out, scraping and other odd jobs where I don't want to risk my good chisels. Oddly enough the cheap Stanleys sharpen up to a very sharp edge very quickly. Sometimes I'll sharpen up one of them just to make a particularly difficult cut that needs the shapest blade I can get. It doesn't stay sharp but I don't need it to. I have some Two Cherries gouges and they also seem very nice.

my collection is eclectic, ranging from modern marples yellow handled unbreakables for heavy chopping, witherby and sorby firmer and paring types, to vintage 1/16" and 1/8" morticing types. but my favorite and most used chisel is a 5/8" firmer buck bros cast steel relic that i bought at a garage sale for $.50 sans handle. the collection even include some stainless steel surgical bone chisels.

there are socket handles and tanged and bolstered handles among them, though i tend to favour the tanged and bolsterd style.

i find that for me the old cast steel chisels hone up finer and easier than anything else whilst still holding an edge well.

whatever you have, the most important thing to do is devote time to learning to hone well. the system isn't as important as how well you use it. over the years i have used arkansas oil stones, sandpaper, diamond sharpeners and waterstones, and prefer the waterstones. others have done the same and come to different conclusions. but don't blame the tools, look at your skills first.

I have the same 4 pc.set of Marples which are fine when Sharp and I have 6 Japanese chisels that I love using.
Also the so called Glue clearing chisel from Stew mac which is very handy with the skewed blade. I use the scary sharp system for sharpening. When sharp they are a joy!!

_________________
Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

I got a set of the Czech made Narex ones at Highland Hdwr when they were on sale for $39. Very nicely made w/ tempered chrome-moly steel blades, & Beech handles that are very comfortable to hold. I have a few of the Marples & a set of old Stanleys that were my Dads, but the Narex ones are a step above those...



http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEW PROD&ProdID=754

I have a set of Japaneese chisels I got at Grizzly. They are just OK I think.

_________________
Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Check out www.capeforge.com.

You can specify exactly what you want --length, width, handle style --
they'll make it. Excellent steel, superb workmanship. The paring chisels are
even available with a radiused bevel so you don't have to grind it yourself.

Here is another option. Expensive but AWESOME. Me, I use some older (25 years or so) Footprints as well as a full set of Japanese chisels but my favorite for brace shaving is actually my Sorby paring chisels from Lee Valley. I have a couple of henry taylors and I just don't like the fit and finish on them so I don't use them enough to gauge their steel quality. A caution, a lot of people don't like the Sorby's, but I find they sharpen well, hold an edge just OK but a touch up on the stone does not take long and they are very comfortable to use!

Shane

_________________
Canada

I have some chisels that were passed down to me that my grandfather used. I believe they are about 60 years old. I'll pick up a chisel occasionally when I go antique shopping with my wife. I've heard that some of the older chisels are very good. I'm happy with what I have, but I have no idea how they stack up against some of these new expensive sets. Mine work good enough for me so I'll not spend the money oon a new set.

I understand that the older chisels are forged to produce their hardness, while newer chisels rely on the advanced metallurgy and oven hardening.

_________________
"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.

WOW, many chisel experts on the panel, great thread guys and gals, thanks!

I have a few cheapies that get used more as scrapers than chisels.

But the one chisel that is always in my hand is a 1/2", polished, bevel-edge chisel from Lee Valley. They no longer carry this exact line, so I can't comment on their cirrent offerings, but I would suspect they're new ones to be just as good. This puppy holds an edge for months, is perfectly balanced and just plain works. It was reasonably cheap, also!

The best advice I can give here is to find one good chisel, and lock the others away. Use the one, and only the one, and it will become an extension of your hand, and do anything you ask of it.

Ronn, I've got a set of Two Cherries that I love.
Mine were purchased years ago, and have the octagonal Ulmia handles on them (which I think is more elegant, and hate to see that discontinued). Also, on the label, are the words "West Germany", which not only dates them, but will make them collectible when I'm dead.
Recently, though, I got one of the LMI chisels and am really amazed at the quality of the tool and how well it keeps its edge. It is becoming the tool I reach for--like Mario mentioned.

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

I have a set of Pfiel (or pfeil) chisels that I love. I started out with some cheaper ones but the differnce is amazing. The Pfiel chisels stay sharp longer and take a great edge. I also like the two-cherries chisels, but only have one of them.

I am looking for a good 1/8 inch chisel. Any suggestions?

Thanks.
Homeboy

[QUOTE=Homeboy]I am looking for a good 1/8 inch chisel. Any suggestions?[/QUOTE]

LMI offers a wide variety of chisel sizes. An excellent tool. They are crafted superbly w/ great styling and Rockwell hardness(62C). However, the closest to 1/8", would be their 3mm size, a tad smaller. They aren't cheap either!
http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?CategoryName=C hisels+%26+Gouges&NameProdHeader=LMI+Chisels