Chisels

[Ron Nossaman]

>Howdy,
>
>I am wanting to dive deeper into bridge cap replacement.  I was
>wondering if anyone could recommend where I might purchase some
>high quality chisels for notching.  I haven't found anything
>locally as of yet that I am really impressed with.  I need
>something that will hold a good edge and in which I can use for
>many years, (I hate cheep tools).  Any leads would be most
>appreciated.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Rob Goodale, RPT

I've bought both new and old, and I seem to have better luck with the old
ones. By primary notch carver is an old Winstead socket chisel that I
bought for under a buck, put my own handle on and sharpened to a profile I
wanted. It's 7/8" wide, 6.5" blade length, and overall about 12" long. The
proportions suit my grip, stance, and style, but requirements will vary
with the user. There isn't a single "best way", or tool for the job, since
individual approaches are so varied. I recommend shopping old chisels at
garage and estate sales so you can cheaply try out a bunch of different
sizes and shapes to see what you like without ending up with $300 worth of
expensive new hardware sitting in a drawer for the next fifty years because
they didn't feel right to you in use, even though they're first rate tools.
It seems to me that the old socket chisels tend to be made of a better
grade of steel than the stamped and tanged stuff because they were
generally more expensive and intended for more serious abuse. They usually
won't have handles, and the hard part is finding one that hasn't had the
socket pounded to a steel mushroom by some paragon of mechanical subtlety
at some time past because it was easier than replacing the handle.

The perfect chisel for you is out there somewhere, and it isn't necessarily
new or expensive. Shop around a little.

Ron N