Replies

1. 
   saschafer | Mar 13, 2008 01:30am | #1

   One thing that strikes me as odd is that the maker's mark is imprinted directly on the handles, rather than on a glued-on paper label. I've never seen that before. The mark is also upside down: Paper labels are usually applied so that the writing is the right way up when the chisel is held cutting edge down (as in normal use); these are inverted.

   If you look closely at the edge, you'll notice that the line that divides the hard steel back from the soft front runs straight across, parallel to the edge. In a high-quality Japanese chisel, the hard steel wraps around the sides, so that the dividing line has sort of a squared-off U shape.

   The high-quality Japanese chisels that you can buy in the US are largely hand made, which explains their high prices. These are probably mediocre-quality mass-produced chisels, likely not even made in Japan.

   -Steve

    

1. 
   Blueline | Mar 13, 2008 01:36am | #2

   Not be well educated on Japanese chisels I was going on the assumption that these are of mediocre quality at best. I thought I would ask never the less. Do you happen to know the difference between blue and white steel?

1. 
   saschafer | Mar 13, 2008 01:55am | #3

   Yes: White steel comes wrapped in white paper, and blue steel comes wrapped in blue paper (seriously--that's where the names come from).

   As for technical differences, the blue steel contains tungsten and a higher chromium content, so the white steel/blue steel difference is sorta kinda like the O1/A2 difference.

   There is some discussion of the differences here: http://www.woodworking-forum.com/woodworking/White_and_Blue_Japanese_Steel_936937.html

   -Steve

    

1. 
   Blueline | Mar 13, 2008 06:01am | #4

   Thanks Steve for the info, I've heard of the paper aspect before but not the content of the steel itself. Thanks for the link as well.Steve
   SF Bay Area

2. 
   mvflaim | Mar 13, 2008 03:07pm | #5

   this ebay link is an auction. The current bid is $49.95 but with two days left these chisels will end up going for a much higher price. just a FYI.

    

1. 
   Blueline | Mar 13, 2008 11:52pm | #6

   Yeah, I realized that it is an auction. Finding out that these are less than desirable quality chisels I'll let some other sucker part with their money.

1. 
   mvflaim | Mar 13, 2008 11:53pm | #7

   they're probably chinese made to boot.... 

1. 
   Blueline | Mar 14, 2008 12:55am | #8

   ****LOL****you made me laugh really laugh with that comment! That would be especially ironic wouldn't it? Somewhere in the orient other than Japan would be a safe bet, eh? Would should a person expect to pay for say a 6-8pc Japanese chisel set (a set that's actually made in Japan).
   My preliminary research estimates from the low $200's on up, correct?

1. 
   mvflaim | Mar 14, 2008 03:54am | #9

   Japanwoodworker.com has Japanese chisels for about $50.00 a piece on up. so 8 x $50 is a minimum of $400.00..  it'll be interesting to see how much the guy on ebay gets for his...

   he does have another auction for the same chisels with a Buy it Now for $230.00... even that is questionable on genuine Japanese chisels.

   I'll see if I can hunt down Chinese made Japanese chisels.. is that an oxymoron???

    You can buy 10 piece on amazon for $139.00.. http://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-G7102-Japanese-Chisels-pc/dp/B0000DD636/ref=pd_sim_hi_title_3                 apparently they' re made in Japan

   Edited 3/13/2008 8:59 pm ET by mvflaim

   Edited 3/13/2008 10:13 pm ET by mvflaim

3. 
   flairwoodworks | Mar 14, 2008 08:38am | #10

   If you scroll further down the page (just before Shipping and Handling), you'll find a "Buy Now" link which takes you here.  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310028097101&ssPageName=MERC_VI_ReBay_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stores_IT&refitem=310030080618&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=active_view_item&usedrule1=CategoryProximity&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget&_trksid=p284.m184&_trkparms=its%3DS%252BI%252BSS%252BSD

   It appears to be the same set retailling (not auctioning) for $229.99.

   Chris @ flairwoodworks

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

4. 
   mvflaim | Mar 16, 2008 04:35am | #11

   here are some real chisels... bid quick!

    

   http://cgi.ebay.com/10-pc-Japanese-Oire-Nomi-Bench-Chisel-Set-Wood-Tool_W0QQitemZ190203772000QQihZ009QQcategoryZ13871QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

    

1. 
   saschafer | Mar 16, 2008 06:01am | #12

   Well, those chisels went for a good price (assuming they're good chisels--I'm not familiar with a maker named Kireajihoken, and the photo of the label is so out of focus as to be useless). The description is incorrect in two respects: These are not the ones that were rated #1 in the FWW test (those were Matsumura chisels). And the box they come in is paulownia, not balsa.

   There's another identical set being auctioned: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190205131793

   -Steve

    

1. 
   mvflaim | Mar 16, 2008 06:06am | #13

   Hi steve,

   I wonder what inspired the seller to state "Number one rate by Fine Woodworking" if it wasn'taccurate. Seems fraudulent if the seller knew it wasn't true. I have no clue about the quality of those chisels. I've never heard of that guy either.

   Mike 

1. 
   saschafer | Mar 16, 2008 06:11am | #14

   Well, they look vaguely like the ones that were rated #1--you know how those Japanese chisels all look alike. ;-)

   And the ones in the article weren't identified very precisely; they were just "white steel chisels from Japan Woodworker." You'd have to go to the Japan Woodworker web site to determine which of the ones they sell were the ones used in the test.

   -Steve

    

    

5. 
   shopclown | Mar 16, 2008 06:14am | #15

   I have bought a few Japanese chisels off ebay but they were older with the makers mark present. I did buy one chisel at ####low price, you get what you pay for, the chisel was crap could not hold a edge at all . I ground it down to nice awl. Don't but them.All I own are japanese chisel ,save youre money and buy a good one you won't be disapointed.