Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello again. I wanted to get everyone's opinion on what sizes of chisels to buy. Hopefully this isn't a topic that's been beaten to death...I couldn't find much in the archives.

Right now I'm kind of set on the Two Cherries chisels, and was looking at getting a 2mm, 6mm, 10mm, 14mm, 18mm & 24/26mm. Do you think that all of these are necessary OR even that I'm missing something? Which ones do you find to be absolutely indespensible? I also plan on getting / making a good glue clearing chisel (such as the LMI/Schneider).    

Here's the link to them...this is the best price I've been able to find so far.

http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/default.php/cPath/39_92 _212

Any and all advice is welcome! Thanks for your time.

Jordan

Hey Jordan,

Nice avatar BTW - thats one way to break in a guitar !!!

I use four or five chisels, none of them nothing special, just sharp !!! A 1/4 and 1/2 Blue handle marples, from a 4 pc set, the others dont see much use, plus a 30 mm that I got at Lee Valley, from a 5 buck specials bin - no name, but it holds an edge and is my main brace end shaver. Plus a round scoop for some heel carving, and then an 1/8 inch carver chisel to clear glue and finish from the nut slot - very handy.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

I'm a three chisel kind of guy.... well 5 actually if you count my glue clearing chisel and curved neck gouge for neck caring. My sizes are 5/16 & 1/2 and 1". They are three cherrie also and I like them just fine. The 1" is the one I use the most.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

So looks like we are close there Joe !! - my 30mm is my fave as well, close second is the 1/2 incher.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Tony,

I'm with you. If you are going to cut purfling lines and other such maddness with a chisel you may need more. But then that's why God gave us routers! (Oops!! sorry about the biblical reference. I'll be watching that!!)

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Hi Jordan, I have a full set (10 or 12 or something) of the Two Cherries chisels, they are decent tools (my favorites chisels are some old scandinavian ones, but they are probably pretty hard to come by over on your side). For starters I would probably get the 2 mm, 10 mm and 18 mm and expand from there if the need arises. Later you might want to look into long paring chisels for braces, short chisels for detail work, Japanes chisels etc. but that can wait. I clean glue with slivers of spruce and never felt the need for a glue clearing chisel.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Because I have so many chisel sets, I will be selling my full set of LMI's once the Luthiers' Auction is up and running.1mm and up.They are very expensive but the narrow ones,especially, are fine and no one else really comes close for the full range-And, frankly,elegant too.The truth is, for guitars, the full set is unnecessary, but one can't go wrong with a selection from their line. The wider ones require lots of work to properly flatten the backs for honing though.It's worth the effort.MT

2 (or 3), 6, 10 and 18mm would be my faves. I have the LMI's and use these sizes the most. I have all the narrower LMI's but I'm scared to use the 1mm - it has to be too flimsy    For the larger sizes, I often am using them in such a way that my couple of Sorby paring chisels end up being a more comfortable choice. I don't think I really use the LMI's bigger than 18mm.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

When I first started building guitars, I had a few chisels I'd inherited from my grandfather and I used them for a while, mostly the 1/4" and 1/2" sizes.

I went ahead and bought a 4-piece set of Marples (now Irwin) chisels, and later added the 1/8" size to the set. I have found the Marples chisels to hold a nice edge, and I have been happy with them.

For the sort of work I do, I have also found the need for a 1mm chisel. LMI is the only place I've found that sells a 1mm chisel, but I have balked at the price. I have found a good substitute, though -- a jewelers graver, which can be had in many sizes and shapes for about $10, including the handle.

For a glue "chisel" I use a piece of mahogany that is an offcut from a neck blank. It has a nice taper, and I have trued up one end on a sanding board so it is decently sharp. It works great for lifting off Titebond (or equiv) when it's become semi-dried.

I also have a cheap set of gouges that I bought at Sams Club or Costco (don't remember which) and that I use for rough carving the neck heel.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

Marples blue handle chisels might be worth more consideration. I know you asked about sizes, not brands, but that's my two cents.

Also, I really like LONG chisels - patternmaker's chisels, I think they're called - ?? I have a 1/2" wide Crown brand that I use more than any other chisel.Todd Rose38871.7019328704

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

I've bought a few of the Marples, and for the price you can't go wrong...They work fine & hold an edge (Sheffield Steel). I did recently get a set of Narex, from Highland Hdwr. However, they were on sale at the time for $39.00 I think, and have since gone up. http://www.tools-for-woodworking.com/index.asp?PageAction=VI EWPROD&ProdID=754
Although, the ones I use most are the 1/2" or 5/8'.

One Forum member here, turned me on to these for scalloping braces:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=49944&cat=1,41 504,41539&ap=1

LMI's are real nice but, come w/ a price:
http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?CategoryName=C hisels+%26+Gouges&NameProdHeader=LMI+Chisels
In the end, you usually get what you pay for!RichB38871.7112731481

Kirschen (2 cherries) has a cranked chisel as well, have one for clearing glue. I use a regular chisel 'upside down' for scalloping and such. I like my Kirshens, I do keep an eye out for old chisels, but they do fine. I've got a 2mm, 3mm, 8mm and 12mm, which is a good selection for me. Plus the cranked one (thanks Russ!) which is 20mm. Haven't felt the need for anything larger, to be honest.

My truly paring length chisel is the LMI "glue clearing chisel"- wouldn't you know, it is a Ron Hock blade. Don't get no better than that!MT

[QUOTE=Miketobey] My truly paring length chisel is the LMI "glue clearing chisel"- wouldn't you know, it is a Ron Hock blade. Don't get no better than that!MT[/QUOTE]

That's my brace scalloping chisel!

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

That's what I use it for too. It is certainly so much more than some clean up tool.But, I think that is how they are sometimes described. I put a nice finish on the maple handle,final honed and stropped; bevel up or down,it slices through spruce, and any wood with control and ease.

[QUOTE=TonyKarol] Hey Jordan,

Nice avatar BTW - thats one way to break in a guitar !!!

[/QUOTE]

Only if it is an Ovation

In a pinch, you can always grind a bevel and back onto some allen keys, give them a quick lap and hone and you have a selection of the very small size chisels cheap.

These will hold a good edge, probably better than you would first imagine, just be careful not to blue the edge and your sweet. Good idea if you have the time to spare but not the MO.

Allen keys also work well as replacement cutters in Stanley router planes like the little No 271.

Cheers

Kim

I think I could probably get away with three sizes if necessary. 2mm, for pufling channels etc, 25mm for cleaning and flattening joints and an 18mm paring chisel for part of the brace shaping. Everything else is a luxury. I do however have a range from 1mm up to 35mm. All my chisels, apart from the Henry Taylor paring chisels are vintage Sheffield made.

Colin

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

What sizes? Duh....as many as your wife will either approve or not notice!



Seriously, I would suggest having two or three each of the 1/2" and 3/4" (so you always have a sharp one), and then an 1/8" and a 1 1/4" or so.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

John, are you sure you not becoming a little bit obsessive?

ColinColin S38872.4017476852

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

Hesh, I'm actually not a very organized person, but as you know (probably better than any of us), the more stuff you have in a small space, the more organized it needs to be if you expect to accomplish anything.

Colin, no.    

Some guys like coins or stamps or baseball cards. I like chisels (and industrial robots).

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

John, you could have replied this to Colin : How about your PLANES SIR?

Um. speaking of planes -- Jordan, a good plane or two -- or three -- make that four or, um, even five or more -- are also pretty durn necessary when it comes to making guitars out of pieces of wood. What are your plans in that regard?

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

Thanks for responding guys. After doing a little bit more looking around I'm more confused than when I started

Someone in an archived section said that Narex (from czech.) is a decent quality chisel for the money. I thought that since I haven't really used chisels that much I should work my way up slowly (not too slow though). I will undoubtedly screw them up trying to sharpen them the first couple of times. Highland Woodworking has a set of four (6mm,12mm,20mm,25mm) for $19.99. They should be okay to start with...if not I'll have use for them elsewhere.

I'm still going to get a Two Cherries 2mm chisel, and a Hirsch 20mm cranked trimming chisel for glue clearing.

Planes....well I was only planning on getting an English Stanley 60 1/2 low angle, and an Ibex 30mm x 10mm flat sole. Hopefully that will be sufficient for a little while.

Thanks for all your input! You guys seriously crack me up (ie. John Watkins 8,459 hand tools). I'll let you know how everything works once I get them.

Jordan