Official Luthiers Forum!

Yes, I know, I have asked before. My last shaping effort leftmethinking that an angled or curved chisel would be ideal. So, lemme know.

What is a good chisel set.

Mike

My favorite two chisels are the curved bracing chisel and the skew chisel. Indispensable for carving braces.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

everybody has there own preferences on this one... I like japanese paring chisels...

Thats what I was looking for. Thanks!

Mike

If you've got the dough, a 1/2" Blue Spruce paring chisel is just the ticket. I have a cranked/bent chisel (Kirschen/Two Cherries), which I like for clearing glue, but I've never had a clearance problem with the blue spruce. I like the skews as well, but if I were to choose a single chisel, the Blue Spruce 1/2" would be the one. Luckily I don't have to choose, and have the full set + the two skews, my christmas present to myself last year.

I have to 2nd the blue spruce 1/2" paring chisel. I carved most of my 1st top with this, and loved the feel. I also have a 1/4" Blue spruce, and 1/2" and 3/4" LN chisels all wonderful. to use.

Glenn

Which set are you refering to?

Mike

Ack!

I kin buy me a geetar for them there prices. Me, i'l just find some sharp flint on the mountain and use that.

My only other choice is to mutter, "I believe in Santa!" constantly from now till Christmas... just maybe...

You guys sure have some expensive tastes. Remind me never to take any of you out to dinner.

If you're not in a hurry you can get an old set of Buck Bros., Stanley, Greenlee or Butcher chisels for a song on eBay or at garage sales. Turn of the century steel is excellent, easy to sharpen and keeps an edge for a long time. No need to spend an arm and a leg, and usually the handles are much more comfortable and ergonomic than new ones. The LMI curved glue chisel is excellent quality.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

Seems some use that curved chisel for shaping as well. For working curves, thats got to be the way to go. Right? Not just for glue removal?

I will look into those other chisels. However, I am going to get that LMI chisel (or Stew-Mac...)

Mike

I would get the LMI, much better quality. The SM (which I use) has a cheesy handle that absolutely needs to be reshaped and the back is hollowed like a Japanese chisel.
I've never used a curved chisel to shape braces, a 1/2" bench chisel held upside down and a couple of thumb planes seem fine.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

You are gonna laugh when you read this, but it never occured to me to turn the chisel upside down

OK, maybe I will splurge on a finger plane.

Mike

Mike buddy finger planes are to me indispensable. I think that I do 80% of my brace carving with finger planes and the rest with a nice LMI chisel and soon, hopefully, with my new Blue Spruce 1/2" paring chisel.

I carve with a 18mm Japanese, and I use both sides just as much. I have smaller chisels but for some reasons I like the big one. Unfortunately unless you take it slowly and with care it is easy to gouge the top, so yes a tiny finger plane is great. It's on my next shopping list.

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Build log

For a typical set of bench chisels I bought a set of Sorby's. I got the set with the nice octagon boxwood handles. Besides being a good set of quality chisels made of good 'ole Sheffield Steel they have that nice octagon handle. It feels good and it also stops the chisels from skating all around the bench when you set it down.

That being said.... you're in luck because there are so many great choices out there today. Like many others have said, look into some of the chisels made by Blue Spruce. I've heard they are an exceptional product. Back when I was shopping around for a new set, the Lie Nielsen Socket Chisels were high on my list. I would buy just about anything from LN. But there was some store (forgot which) that was having a nice sale with the Sorby's. The Sorby's were also high on my list, so seeing that sale sealed the deal so to speak.

Other chisels I've heard great things about but have yet to experience.... LMI chisels, Two Cherries.
Let us know what you decide.
-John

I am thinking about the LMI bent chisel and the Ibex violin plane from LMI (for now). Sound good?

Mike

Thinking about getting the Ibex 30mm, 10mm blade.... that good for brace work?

Yeah they would be fine. I use a 12mm and 18mm and like them just fine.

Once you've Ibexed, you won't go back. They are fantastic for carving bracing, I usually keep around the LMI curved or a Blue Spruce (which really does keep an edge very well) but by the time I'm finished with the Ibex, there's not that much to do. The Ibex just has such a good feel and they are little pieces of art as well....

Best
Bruce

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Bruce Herrmann
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

While we are at it, I'd like to throw in a plug for North Bay Forge's mini draw knife. I know its not for shaping braces, its excellent for shaving down sides and for carving necks. Great little tool that stays sharp a long time. I consider it one of the indispensable tools in my shop.

_________________
A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

Sounds like a good idea for another YouTube video.

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There's alot of good old carbon steel for sale on Ebay. I've noticed that prices have gone up, but you still can get great chisels for less than half the price of new ones that aren't as good.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

From my woodcarving book Chris Pye says that the bevel angle for the chisels is mostly determed by how high or low you want to hold the chisel for the most part. I keep wanting to spring for the double bevel chisel that Todd mentioned. I had it in my hand at Woodcraft but upon inspection I noticed the Tang was bent as the handle was off some and they haven't got a new one since.

Absolutely!.... Bevel up for shaping the sides of the braces, bevel down for shaping the ends of the braces...

Justin