Official Luthiers Forum!

So what tools do you buy when your shop is fully stocked with all the tools you need (mine isn't... but I ran across this and thought it would be fun to post it.) I have to wonder how many of those sets get sold.

http://www.japanwoodworker.com/product.asp?s=JapanWoodworker &pf_id=05.310.00&dept_id=12795Brock Poling38610.8291203704

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Not many!!

I've been to their store a number of times and they have all kinds of stuff I have never seen before, I would think this is more for a collector than a working stiff. Unless you've made it in your woodworking career and want only the best.

Man that's a lot of dough for three chisels...

-Paul-

_________________
-Paul-

Patriot Guitars

more like you made it at 19 as a .com billionaire and now you are trying to find something to occupy your time...

I am sure they are really nice... but come on...   

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

It just so happens that they're the best set of chisels I've ever owned.




Psyche...

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

do you think they would give us an OLF discount?

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Who would possibly think of spending over 2K for a handmade GUITAR?! Bet the guy who makes the chisels couldn't afford a set either.

Must be the ebony...

[QUOTE=Don Williams] It just so happens that they're the best set of chisels I've ever owned.
[/QUOTE]

Don, I think I've found the reason why you aren't making the money you had hoped to make on this venture.

... Group buy ... Anyone?

_________________
tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

Brock,
I've been looking at that very set for a few weeks now. They are undeniably beautiful. If money was no object....

Ok, if money was no object, I wouldn't work. But since it is, and I do, I sure wouldn't work with these.
Next time Lance awards us for something, and he buys this set for me, I'll put it in my safe deposit box.Steve Kinnaird38610.9656365741

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

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

You mean you guys don't have those already? Aww man are you missing out.. Of course I won't use them.. I don't want to mess up that finish or scratch the ebony handles..

I can't believe someone can even justify making those

_________________
CVT Inc.
A tour of our shop (Somewhat outdated)
My Personal eBay profile. BCWoodBug

No doubt they are fine chisels, but the $250 dollar japanese 1 7/8 inch slick (it's a timber paring chisel) that I bought a few years back was a lot of money!! But, hey...it remains my favorite chisel. Man can you get it sharp and it stays that way!

_________________
Canada

After re-reading some stuff on that site I see those guys are making chisels the same way they make a samurai sword.. Very cool. Still think it's gonna be a LONG time before I ever consider a set of chisels that cost 1000+ (I'd probably buy the actual samuarai sword first) but you never know ;)

_________________
CVT Inc.
A tour of our shop (Somewhat outdated)
My Personal eBay profile. BCWoodBug

Yup,

They make them the same way the build swords. Very hard and brittle cutting edge and a soft back for strength and ease of sharpening. And all on dirt floors in their back yards!! Kinda' like how we build guitars.....

I have a good set of Japanese chisels but I find that they are a bit thick bladed for my tatstes for fine work. I really like my 20 year old Footprints and I also use a set of Sorby paring chisels. Nothin' wrong with good ole' Sheffield steel!

_________________
Canada

I have some "cheap" Japanese chisels ,they keep a good edge for ages.
Try the Dieter Schmid web site in Germany;
www.fine-tools.com I also have 30 year old set of Marples , but I cant get them as sharp as the Japanese ones.

mine are Tiwain chisels, that's close to Japan right?

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

If they worked 1000 times better than my Marples Blue chip chisels I've had for 10 years, that might be worth it.

I use soem Japaneese chisels (see the link Below)

Japanesse Chisels

they are not quite as expensive as the ones on that website, but they are outstanding, they really hold an edge. I also have some old sheffield steel chisels which you can't quite get to the sharpness of the Japaneese ones but they are exceptional too, much better than the modern stuff they make.

Some of my small stuff is made by Kirschen the German Manufacturer, and they are pretty good too.

I bought a set of inexpensive Japanese chisels from

Dick GmbH

and they really get sharp and hold an edge well too. They edges are a bit brittle because the cutting edge steel is very hard, so you can't use them like your westen chisels. They are super for softwoods, though.

As for westen style chisels, you all know that the best ones were made in Eskilstna, Sweden (from pure, Swedish carbon steel) right? I have a bunch that I have found in flea markets and antique shops, and when they're good, they're really good! Look for the shark symbol (Erik Anton Berg), Jernbolaget, Eskilstuna or Konsgberg (Norway). They will all outperform anything made in England or Germany

_________________
Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Hey Russell, what are you doing with my chisels? Actually I like those from Axminster but I still find my no brand second hand (meaning very old) Sheffield ones I bought in the weekly Maidstone market take and hold an edge better.

Colin

_________________
I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Colin

I have some I got from a woodwork teacher, they are old sheffield steel and magnificent.

Russell

[QUOTE=rick218] I have some "cheap" Japanese chisels ,they keep a good edge for ages.
Try the Dieter Schmid web site in Germany;
www.fine-tools.com I also have 30 year old set of Marples , but I cant get them as sharp as the Japanese ones.[/QUOTE]
Rick I have a set of those Marples too. Maybe 25 years old with boxwood handles. Fine chisels.

_________________
Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

I am a tool collector junkie so I have far too many sets of chisels.

I have both handmade (and signed) japanese as well as sheap japanese sets and they are otherwise the same. I too have a set of Foorprint chisels and use them regularly. Stanley used to make a very nice chisel that had a hard black handle that was very good. I have Sheffield steel carving tools and gouges and they are very good.

But in general the best chisels I have and use the most are Swedish and Norwegian in all of the brands that Arnt mentioned...big disclaimer...I am of Norwegian ancestry (also 1/4 Swedish) was I am biased

Shawn, I have one of those old Stanley chisels with the black handle. It was the first chisel I ever bought, when I started my carpenter apprenticeship.

I still use it on a regular basis and it holds an edge well.

_________________
Dave Rector
Rector Guitars