Early Access Video: Avoid these vintage chisels!
Added 2023-04-15 11:00:02 +0000 UTCFriends:
Many of us buy our tools used, and chisels are an especially good deal on the used market. Unfortunately, there are LOTS of weird and specialized chisels out there. Many of these tools look cool, so we buy them without thinking....and then find out they aren't very useful.
I've been there and I'd like to save you the trouble.
In that spirit, I humbly present my guide to vintage chisels you need AND the ones you don't. Hopefully, we can all save a few bucks and some space in our shops by avoiding some of these tools.
Happy Saturday!
--Rex
Comments
"The firmer chisel gets its name from the old French chisel known as the "fermoir", a tool that was used for making mortises [...], since it is a fairly stout tool unlike the more delicate paring chisel." Graham Blackburn, 2015, The Illustrated Workshop V1, Instruments & Devices, p. 28. I just wanted to mention this but not in the comments of the video.
Thomas Hverring
2023-05-06 21:22:30 +0000 UTCDid you have a video about making socket style handles for chisels? I found the one with the london pattern handles.
Madeleine Yeh
2023-04-20 16:56:02 +0000 UTCTang you for making this video, but you really socket it. 🤣
Austin V Papp
2023-04-17 22:00:51 +0000 UTCMy youngest grandson is showing an interest in woodworking and his dad has built a workbench and I have been able to supply him with a few tools from my collection to help get him started including his Great Grandfather’s No3 plane which I had been “minding” for him
John Byron Coombes
2023-04-17 20:38:13 +0000 UTCI would tend to agree. Hoping to see a video on carving gouges one of these days, although the main thing I want to know is how to sharpen them and I think I know how.
Robert Dennett
2023-04-17 20:25:40 +0000 UTCIt's true! I've used all those excuses.
Rex Krueger
2023-04-17 20:24:35 +0000 UTCWell, you have some dependable chisels!
Rex Krueger
2023-04-17 20:24:10 +0000 UTCI have so many that I don't use!
Rex Krueger
2023-04-17 20:23:37 +0000 UTCDrive in a screw and pull? Works sometimes.
Rex Krueger
2023-04-17 20:23:14 +0000 UTCMan, the Isles chisels are very fine!
Rex Krueger
2023-04-17 20:22:42 +0000 UTCMy kid shows very little interest in this stuff!
Rex Krueger
2023-04-17 20:21:55 +0000 UTCNo question. The LN chisels are just amazing.
Rex Krueger
2023-04-17 20:21:16 +0000 UTCI think the router plane is far more useful. So hard to find them these days!
Rex Krueger
2023-04-17 20:20:56 +0000 UTCYou think you need all these chisels, but you really don;t. After this video, i put all the odds and ends in a box in the storeroom. Don't need 'em!
Rex Krueger
2023-04-17 20:20:23 +0000 UTCI have a bunch of carving stuff and I don't carve!
Rex Krueger
2023-04-17 20:19:05 +0000 UTCUnhandled chisels are a secret bargain!
Rex Krueger
2023-04-17 20:18:33 +0000 UTCWell, that's a good place to be. You know you're out of excuses!
Rex Krueger
2023-04-17 20:18:07 +0000 UTCThose do seem nice!
Rex Krueger
2023-04-17 20:17:38 +0000 UTCI'm the same way. So many that I will just never use!
Rex Krueger
2023-04-17 20:16:56 +0000 UTCMy mom is improving. Thanks!
Rex Krueger
2023-04-17 20:16:22 +0000 UTCThere are very few chisels in that style. The Stanley Everlasting come to mind. The distinction isn't so important with chisels.
Rex Krueger
2023-04-17 20:15:05 +0000 UTCI own 3 Richters, a set of the Narex mortice chisels (they were on sale and I had gift vouchers) and various vintage chisels. There is ALWAYS an excuse to buy more tools.
Ian Hampson
2023-04-16 19:13:53 +0000 UTCNice vídeo, Rex. I do have a vintage English set of chisels, I bougth when started this as a hobbie in pandemic lockdown times. I don’t really use them a lot. My wife gave me the Stanley sweet heart set, (like them, but they doesn’t feel as good as my favorite ones, a set of Bahco 425-083, very nice and sharpened as a razor from the factory, and proudly made here in Spain. If needed only set, would be this. Of course, I have not tried Narex or other brands. Best regards from the. Canary Islands.
Josué Nodarse
2023-04-16 17:12:32 +0000 UTCI can certainly identify with this large collection of chisels all types picked up over the years with I would say four that I actually use on regular basis. I am also the same with planes and saws!
John Byron Coombes
2023-04-16 08:10:21 +0000 UTCI found a really cool handle-less stanley chisel for 50 cents a while back. The steel is in good shape, I polished the back a bit and no serious pitting. The cone is stuffed with compressed hardwood from a handle that broke off who knows how long ago.. what's the best way to clear everything out?
Zack Rose
2023-04-16 03:25:28 +0000 UTCI bought a set of Ashley Iles chisels before the Richter came out. Good price and a quality chisel. Flat backs, and a good edge ready to hone. Each took me less than 5 minutes to make ready. But I do have a chisel problem. I sure appreciate seeing wild-caught versions of these chisel types. Especially when they are held up side-by-side like you did.
Meryl Logue
2023-04-15 23:42:58 +0000 UTCMy problem with chisels is that I hate to see a good blade wasted. Hence I have a drawer full of orphan chisels and knives that get only occasional use. But that will become my kids problem sometime in the future. Thank you Rex and best wishes for a great weekend.
Matt Evans-Koch
2023-04-15 22:25:02 +0000 UTCRex, I appreciate the Education of chisels! Finding information that you just shared is priceless. I really think if you want a great set of Chisels, you need to look into the “Lie-Nielsen” . Every thing you talked about and hold a great edge. I like your idea of less is more for everyday work.
Blake Webber
2023-04-15 21:28:04 +0000 UTCI just have a set of cheap HF chisels. Being a blacksmith, if I need more chisels, I can simply make them, which I may do if I ever need a 1/8" or a cranked chisel. That said, I am planning to make a router plane in the style of last week's video, so not sure I would need a cranked chisel.
Robert Dennett
2023-04-15 21:24:07 +0000 UTCDeffo tin opening, heavy paint remover and general batterer!
Gareth McMahon
2023-04-15 17:44:44 +0000 UTCIs it ok if I just like all chisels? What I think that I really need to do is to raid your chisel drawer! LOL!
Michael Gross
2023-04-15 15:20:03 +0000 UTCWell this video answered questions that I didn’t know I had. I have to admit that I have somehow acquired a lot of chisels and carving gouges. I don’t even go to tag sales. I’m always telling my wife we don’t need more stuff to manage. I should look at myself. But I do want one of those cool timber framing chisels.
Richard C von Brecht
2023-04-15 14:44:14 +0000 UTCI have that set too. They work very well.
Bradley Barth
2023-04-15 13:22:20 +0000 UTCThere is some snobbery around keeping chisels razor sharp and pristine, but if we're honest we all need a couple of beater chisels for those dirty jobs.
Brian Taylor
2023-04-15 13:19:18 +0000 UTCIf you're on a budget, or you want different handle ergonomics, Taylor Toolworks has unhandled Narex chisels for $10. (Despite the similarity in our names, I have zero association with Taylor Toolworks other than having made purchases from them.)
Brian Taylor
2023-04-15 13:16:20 +0000 UTCA man after my own heart. "We wanna buy more stuff!" Once again, you drove home the point that I have everything I need except discipline to regularly get in the shop and do stuff instead of buy stuff.
Sean McGown
2023-04-15 12:58:14 +0000 UTCMy wife bought me a new set of Stanley Socket chisels and I use them all the time. They are 1/8" to 1". They were very sharp right out of the box. I keep several old plastic handle chisels for scraping off glue squeeze-out and several dirty jobs around the shop.
Skully Wood and Metal
2023-04-15 11:46:46 +0000 UTCI have a gozillion chisels of many shapes, sizes, styles, constructions, etc. I have a fascination with them - especially mortise chisels, corner chisels, crank-necked chisels, Swedish steel chisels, butt chisels, ... Well, you can see that your video has been issued much too late to save me from myself. It's okay. When I die someone will be getting some real bargains! :D
Curtis Lee Zeitelhack
2023-04-15 11:41:31 +0000 UTChope your family member is doing better...
Marc Barash
2023-04-15 11:31:21 +0000 UTCI've seen full tang chisels... are these just cheapies not worth using? A little sad you didn't go over half-tang vs full tang (assuming that it's the same as from the knife world) Or are full tang chisels more of a modern thing?
Jeremy Denslinger
2023-04-15 11:22:09 +0000 UTC
