Official Luthiers Forum!

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

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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

The LMI chisel is a Hock blade. Some of the finest steel you can buy.I have used it for so many things. If things settle down a bit this weekend, I may get to use it on some top braces- trying to restart my walnut OOO.
     For fine bevel chisels worth the money, google Tools for Working Wood and check out Ashley Iles' bevel bench chisels. Or, The Best Things for AI bevels with octagonal handles and a bit lighter feel in the full length chisels. Very good high carbon steel and workmanship for the price.
     I have a fair size selection of parers from some of the old USA makers, Witherby, Pexto et al and the "cast steel" in those is a delight to hone. On many of them, the handles rise above the feel of present day tools. Only thing close is my set of Lie-Nielsen A2 chisels. I ordered mine with bare hornbeam and finished with a replica Stanley 750 shellac.MT

Thanks buddy, I'll check it out.

Homeboy

I have the LMI Chisels. I love 'em. They hold an edge that is very keen. They range from 1mm to 25mm. They are balanced and as Mario said seem to be an extension of your hand. Between them and my Sandvik scraper I use them alot.
I find them so very good. I use some older Sandvik chisels for cleaning glue. I also use Record hand planes that I have had for years. I would not mind trying the Lee Valley low-angle smooth and block planes. Has anybody used these planes?

Thnx for all the replies. I have decided to buy the Two Cherries in a variety of sizes. I have had the Marples for a few years now and they have been fine for me though I have no other frame of reference, these being my first chisels. It's time to move on. Sharpening them has not been a problem. In fact I learned to do this properly and have had good success putting a fine edge on them. The trouble I am begining to see is that they don't hold the edge quite as long as I would think they should. That said, touching them up is quick and easy.

I decided on the Two Cherries after reading the posts here and elswhere on the net. It came down to the japanese (Matsumura) and the Two Cherries. I chose the Two Cherries because I wanted a traditional western chisel and because of the reported chipping trouble on some low end japanese chisels. The japanese chisels also are reported to be a bit more difficult to sharpen.

I think in the future I may buy a couple of japanese chisels just to try them out.

RCoates38996.959537037

    I found the two cherries to be harder than my one japanese long handled paring chisel, but I don't know if that was a blue steel. My favorite so far to my own surprise is a nice wood handled Marples 3/4". Looks like the same blade as those blue ones. It might just be the handle I like, but it seems to hold a really nice edge too. Others I have are: stanley (old and new), sorby, sandvik, craftstman (old and new), buck bros., HIBBARD, crown, fulton...
   Those new Lie Niesons are modeled after Stanley everlasts, but the guys at Japan woodworking say people prefer Japanese. There are so many different Japanese makers though. They're kind of like custom guitar builders, in that they are independent crafts people. Some go for $40 and others $200 each. I bet if I had a $200 chisel it would be my favorite, but I know I don't need it. It's more about how you sharpen what you have. In fact I find having some cheap beater chisels to be as important as having quality ones. I find it useful to round off the edges of a beater, for when I don't want that sharp corner to accidentally dig in (which is pretty often actually).    

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.

Always the one to beat a dead horse...

Here's some good info/opinion on japanese chisels...

No horses were actually killed in the making of this post...