Replies

1. 
   9619 | Oct 03, 2008 02:32pm | #1

   Tony,
   I second your advice on the Small Starrett double squares.
   I like my Blue Spruce striking knife, Tite Mark marking gauge, Pfeil carving gouges, DMT diamond stones, Spyderco ceramic ultra fine stone, Bessey K clamps, Lie Nielsen # 5 1/2 and LA Adj mouth block plane, Biesemeier table saw fence,

   You mentioned a Record vice. Well, I spend two half-days a week at Woodcraft and I do some drooling. They have a very nice pattern maker's vice. I believe it is based on the Emmett, but am not an expert on these things. I may get that vice after I throw out my current workbench and get or make a real one.

   A tool that every woodworker should have is the old heavy original Delta tenoning jig. I forget the number, but it weighs more than 30 pounds, and is a beautiful beast. My brother found one in an old house he renovated, and gave it to me. I restored it. It doesn't do much, but it does it VERY WELL, like the starrett double square and the Biesemeier fence. Those Delta tenoning jigs were selling for over $400 when Delta stopped making them. You can still buy them on Ebay, but they get pricey.

   Anyone who doesn't own and use a Stanley #59 doweling jig is missing a lot of fun. I used one to make door frames for raised panel doors for years. My brother showed me how to use the jig back in 1968, and all of my joinery was made with it for a long time, til I found out what M&T meant. By the way, I never have had a doweled joint fail. Get one on EBay.

   Your questions are always thought provoking and fun.
   Mel

   Anyone

   Measure your output in smiles per board foot. 

2. 
   roc | Oct 04, 2008 06:11am | #2

   >tools that we would recommend others purchase, while still available

   With out a doubt these high end chisels (or other super high end Japanese tools).

   http://www.japanwoodworker.com/dept.asp?s=JapanWoodworker&dept_id=12795

   again the pictures are too small to see what they offer but see the paper catalog.

   This is actually the one I have (ebony handle) and a bit better pic

   http://www.japanwoodworker.com/product.asp?s=JapanWoodworker&pf_id=05%2E306%2E38&dept_id=12795

   I bought one of these, $300, because it is one of the most beautiful tools I have ever seen and I bought it as one would buy a painting. But then I began to make my monster work bench out of bubinga. Huge dove tails, hard hard wood. I used the hell out of this big paring chisel. It held an edge way past any other chisel. Had to steepen the stock sharpening angle a bit but still way better than any of my other chisels with same mod.

   That long handle is great for two fisted pairing down cross grain (wet it first) and the longer handle gives more precise control when guiding with one hand and pushing/ aiming with the other hand for precision paring.

   Only use a tool like this when you are at your best; rested, focused, reverent. That hard chippable steel ( Rockwel c 66 ) deserves your best and it WILL repay your discipline. Knock on wood I have had no chips in the edge. But when you pick up one of these you sense it is no plaything.

   Get these while you can. Very labor intensive to make. Who knows how long they will be around. The Ferrari 250 GTO sports car sold for $10,000 in 1959 when they were new. Now you can only get near one for around three million dollars. Do you see what I am saying here?

   Edited 10/3/2008 11:20 pm by roc

   Edited 10/3/2008 11:34 pm by roc

   
   

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   Edited 10/3/2008 11:48 pm by roc

1. 
   Tony Z | Oct 04, 2008 02:13pm | #3

   Intersting reply!  Thanks!

   I have purchased two Japanese chisels.  One was from Grizzly that was given away almost as soon as purchased.  The other was (I believe) a Matsumara from Japan Woodworker.  This one has performed very admirably for every task I have used it for.  It's no where in the same class as yours, but is still far better that most chisels (I have ALOT of vintage and modern chisels Western style chisels).

   I don't have a need for another chisel, but of the brand I already have, I would not hesitate to buy again and I would consider one of the high end chisels, "just to have"!

   Another tool for Japan Woodworker that should be added is their "fish marking knife".  As you can conclude, it is a marking knife that looks similar to a fish.  It is made from laminated steel and can be sharpened like no other marking knife and is easy in my hand.  This is a knife that should only be used with steel squares, as you can easily slice aluminum with it.  Another would be the Starret automatic center punch (lmed. or large size).  With this tool, you center where you want the mark and push to activate the internal spring mechanism.  Both of these tools are very reasonably priced.

   T.Z.

3. 
   roc | Oct 05, 2008 11:03pm | #4

   I feel better about buying my $300 chisel (not that I was feeling all that bad about it in the first place).

   My partner just got a place setting sent to her from her father. Interestingly it is called English Chippendale-Red/Pink Floral Pattern Scalloped. He sent a price list/source page to use to purchase more.

   A "small" coffee pot or tureen (without lid) is close to $400 each. Hey if the place setting adds up like this I say it is OK to spend a bit on the "collectable" tools to make the table and china cabinet.