Official Luthiers Forum!

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first class high carbon steel.

They had carbon before, also, but there was something else to the formulation that made for finer grain or something. Been a while since school, but there was something to it.

Steel also relaxes for years, and it does indeed change slightly wit seasoning. But you're right that top notch steels today are very good, anyhow. My favorite chisel came from Lee Valley, so it's not antique steel, for sure. Unfortunately, the line was discontinued, and I don't even know who made this one, but it wasn't their most expensive, either.

 

My daughter (at my request) bought me this sharpening DVD from Lee Valley.  It is almost 2 hours of one-on-one detailed instruction/information and I highly recommend it.  For 20 bucks it may be your best tool investment.

Prior to this I took a 2 hour sharpening course at Lee Valley and learned very little.  This was because the students brought in tools that were so dull the instructor spent most his time preparing their beat up tool for use on waterstones.

Back to the DVD.  It is great!.  After watching it I spent 125 on 2 waterstones and an chisel/plane blade angle holding jig and misc supplies.

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Rick Hubka
Chemainus BC Canada