Replies

1. 
   Eef | Dec 18, 2009 02:33pm | #1

   hi don,

   that is a very beautiful set! are those handles original to the chisels? they look home-made. i do not know the answer to your question. there is a great deal of expertise on the matter here. i have several old chisels and they are all used in the shop and take an edge quite nicely.

   welcome.

   eef

2. 
   dboetb | Dec 18, 2009 03:23pm | #2

   Eef,

   Most of the chisels had no handles when I got them so I made new ones. I made them out of some oak and ash I had on hand and cut up some old belts for the leather on top. I found an article in FWW on making new handles and used that as an example.

   I cleaned up the metal a little to get the rust off but haven’t had time to sharpen them yet. Some of the chisels are not marked, some have the Diamond Edge on them and a few have the Stanley mark. The largest one is 1 ½” the smallest 1/8”, the 3/8” was missing

   I plan to put them to good use in the shop.

   Thanks

   Don

1. 
   RalphBarker | Dec 18, 2009 07:34pm | #3

   Nice job on the handles, Don.

   Sorry I can't help with any info on the chisels themselves. I suppose you'll find out soon enough after sharpening them, though.

3. 
   lwilliams | Dec 18, 2009 07:45pm | #4

   Don,
   My guess is you'll find
   Don,

   My guess is you'll find them around RC 62 but judging a tool's quality by its Rockwell hardness is like predicting a kid's behavior by shoe size. There's just so much more to it. I wish woodworking catalogs and writers didn't put so much emphasis on hardness.

   If your tools have been well cared for and not abused, I believe you'll find them equal to or better than the majority of chisels on the market today.

4. 
   derekcohen | Dec 18, 2009 09:05pm | #5

   Hi Don

   You have done a beautiful job with the handles, both with design and with execution.

   With regards the steel, this is always going to be a case of "anything is possible". Some of the blades are well used, and the question remains whether they were ground gently or viciously over the years. All that heat on HCS may (or may not) have altered their temper. Further, how variable was the steel's hardening in the original set. I have experience quite a wide range in those that I had had my hands on over the years. For example, some of my Witherbys were wonderful and others woeful.

   You are probably the best gauge of the steel's hardness - how easy are they to hone and do they hold an edge well for as long as a reference chisel that you own?

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

5. 
   dboetb | Dec 18, 2009 10:32pm | #6

   Thanks all for the compliments on the handles, like I said I took it from a FWW article so they really get the credit. I’ll be focusing on the sharpening as soon as I get the Christmas presents finished.

   Don