[pianotech] Of Chisels

David Skolnik davidskolnik at optonline.net
Sat Oct 9 07:36:01 MDT 2010


So, Terry,
Good information, but you could perhaps clear up one source of 
confusion.  Is the graphic you supplied meant to support the use of 
Japanese style chisels?  If so, it's a somewhat questionable 
marketing strategy.  For the more science-oriented among us, I 
suppose you'd have wanted include one that depicts your skills with a 
more conventional, or inexpensive tool, to demonstrate the 
difference, though perhaps you ran out of volunteers.  Or was this 
just a by-product of the sharpening process? Honestly, I can't figure 
out how you can do that with a chisel, Japanese or otherwise, unless 
your point is how well they remove sutures.
I would say that that digital photo's a keeper, though, if this is a 
habit of yours, I'd tattoo some digits on those digits.

Heal well.

David Skolnik
Hastings on Hudson, NY

Meanwhile, being serious,  here's another interesting and perhaps 
useful web-site:
http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/



>Bottom line is that I do believe that "good" chisels are better than 
>"cheap" and worth it for the professional woodworker.
>
>My Japanese chisels are like these Usu Nomi - Japanese Paring 
>Chisels: 
><http://www.fine-tools.com/usu-nomi.html>http://www.fine-tools.com/usu-nomi.html
>
>I can get these things so sharp it's scary.......
>
>[]
>
>
>Hope this helps.
>
>Terry Farrell
>
>On Oct 9, 2010, at 5:11 AM, David Boyce wrote:
>
>>Speak to me of chisels, folks.
>>
>>What makes them able to take a good edge or not?
>>
>>Over the years I've bought "bargain" chisels, and sharpened them to 
>>what felt like a good edge, only to find that they wont cut wood by 
>>hand unaided but have to be battered with a mallet.  it daunts 
>>one's confidence.  The other day I was enlarging a mortice in 
>>the  front door of my mother's house so as to fit a new lock, and 
>>as ujsual was struggling with a cheap chisel.  Then I dug out a 
>>couple of my late father's old chisels, very churned-up at the tip, 
>>but  a decent make (Marples) and sharpened them, to find that they cut well.
>>
>>What is the difference in the metal?  Why don't some cut even 
>>though they feel sharp to the finger?
>>
>>Many years ago, back in nineteen-canteen in High School, I got an A 
>>in the woodwork exam.  But we were never initiated into the 
>>myteries of cheap v. good chisels.
>>
>>I await pearls of wisdom, knowing that on this list i am bound to get 'em....
>>
>>Best,
>>
>>David Boyce.
>
>
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