Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Ashley Iles chisel question
John Meikrantz
>Does anyone know of the difference between the Ashley Iles chisels sold by Museum of Woodworking Tools and those sold by The Best Things? The Museum set has bubinga handles, and The Best Things set has a lighter colored handle, maybe boxwood? These look like the handles on the Ashley Iles carving tools that I've seen. Just wondering if there were any differences in size, weight, etc. and if the bubinga handles were a "special" type.
Thanks,
John
Beech vs. Bubinga
Christopher Schwarz
>John,
Joel at Tools for Working Wood carries the bubinga handled tools. The ones at The Best Things are beech. I have a set of both and can attest the steel is the same. The bubinga sure looks nicer, though.
Also be aware that Ray Iles, the son of Ashley Iles, sells a line of London-pattern chisels with octagonal handles with Ashley Iles steel blades. I've only seen a picture of these, but they tested well in a recent UK woodworking magazine.
And I can attest that the Ashley Iles chisel is one tough cookie. I've had a set of beech handled ones at my bench for five years now.
Chris
Re: Beech vs. Bubinga
John Meikrantz
>Thanks, Chris. How is the PW chisel review coming?
John
Re: Beech vs. Bubinga
Christopher Schwarz
>John,
It's on hold today until I can get a Barr chisel in hand. It was supposed to be here Friday, but I think the UPS guy must be a woodworker....
Other than that, the most I can say at this point is I'm still trying to get the black swarf out from under my nails and I'm going to need a knuckle massage when it is all over.
I plan to run a short review in PW and the full-blown three-page treatment with all the juicy details in Fine Tool Journal.
Chris
Re: Beech vs. Bubinga
CBT
>Chris, can't wait for the review. What month do you expect the mini-review to hit? Will you include LN, Barr, and AI?
CT
Re: Beech vs. Bubinga
Christopher Schwarz
>The review in PW will be in the August issue, which mails out to subscribers in mid-June. It does include AI and Barr (I hope) plus some pricey Japanese steel.
Chris
Re: Beech vs. Bubinga
John Meikrantz
>Chris,
Have you ever tested/used Stubai chisels? I have heard some good things about them, but they have pretty limited availability in the States.
John