Hand Tools
david weaver
that you're probably not interested in, but...
I had those KI chisels at one point. They are excellent. I used them to make a bunch of drawers, and each time I hadn't used them, they sat for a while. At that time, they were $300.
I don't remember why I sold them, probably just general turnover (something I need to do again), or it might've been that the apex on them makes them relatively uncomfortable if you're getting your fingers on the chisels cleaning out the last little bit of waste in corners (see comment below about grinding, too)..
Since then, I bought four cheap chisels and ground 1" of the lands off - as in 1" of distance from the edge to the point where I stopped grinding on the sides. None of those chisels were more than $10 (two old butcher chisels and two narrower cheap "buck brothers" firmer chisels).
None is as good of a chisel as the KI chisels, but I like them better in use. I could probably sit here and elaborate on why I like them better, but it would be just a bunch of pointless text if I could figure out how to express it. I just like them better- they're not precious and I don't have to take particularly "good care" of them. I dropped the KI chisels on the floor twice - once because I had the roll upside down, and another time one or two rolled off my bench. Each time, I had a lot of hand grinding to do, and the profile is not impossible, but it's less of a thrill to handle because of all of the sharp lines on it.
The other practical option is old english tang bevel edge chisels. Not newer chisels that have fatter sides (some of the later boxwood marples and greaves, etc, are not so delicate), but older ones. They are generally delicate enough to do that kind of work, but not one trick ponies. the AI chisels (which seem to be in and out of stock) are also superb. I just finished a plane wedge a bit ago with one and didn't bother to get a paring chisel out - they are perhaps the best overall chisel that I've used. Not the "highest quality" (but they are definitely high quality), but the right shape and weight, great balance of sharpenability and edge holding, and they'd do the dovetail work you're talking about.
Messages In This Thread
- A lands question for Rob Lee.....
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- Re: Plus 1 for Skew Chisels
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- Seaton chisels
- You had me go check...
- Re: A lands question for Rob Lee.....
- Re: A lands question for Rob Lee.....
- Re: A lands question for Rob Lee.....
- Re: A lands question for Rob Lee.....
- Re: A lands question for Rob Lee.....