Warren in Lancaster, PA
Bill, you have used my name as someone who needs tougher chisels. Your explanation is that my mortise chisels become dull from chipping and that the wear is very different from that on a plane.

Well, I have a surprise for you, Bill. I got out my 30X loupe and examined my mortise chisels this morning. There is no chipping at all on their edges. No chipping and no rolling, only smooth wear like one might expect on a plane iron. I guess it could be from the way I sharpen the chisels. It could be because of the type of chisel I use. It could be because of my mortising technique.

I described my technique on this forum several years ago. It is similar to that of Ian Kirby and Toshio Odate in that most of the cutting is done at 60 degrees to the direction of the fibres. At that time you dismissed this type of mortising and offered a technique which cuts at 90 degrees to the fibres, certainly harder on the edge. In addition I use a very controlled and gentle technique for removing waste. This technique would not work for mortises cut in your style.

My chisels do not appear in your photographs; your "data" does not include any of my work. A better heading would be "Why Bill Tindall needs tough chisels"