LN mortise chisels

HOLD IT RIGHT THERE BILL!

Bob Hackett

>Stuff that cat back in the bag!

How long do you think all this old iron will around and available at reasonable prices if you keep this sort of thing up?

Besides,I know that you know that it`s physically impossible for a present day human to drive any vehicle that doesn`t have power steering and brakes,an automatic trans,etc.

I`ll bet the old Pete doesn`t even have carpet on the floor never mind AC.Go back to what you were doing everybody,nothing to see here!(nod,nod wink,wink say no more).

That was close.What were you thinking Bill?Do you want to spend the next couple of months writing tutorials on things like how to drive with your arm thru the steering wheel while shifting a 5&4 with a splitter?

Next thing you know there`ll be a big debate over which type of ether is best.Just leave things alone here will ya?

Like they told you in Benning,not everybody was meant to be a paratrooper.

Mainely,Bob-Who used to drive an Autocar gin truck in the Texas oilfield and only misses it alittle.

Re: More Tool Steel Sources

Paul Kierstead

>Thank you all for the help. I have been suitably told :) Ok, maybe it isn't *that* hard, but I think there is more to it then that. Lots of things in woodworking are easy to be well educated about, and easy to know, and sounds very simple but there are always that long list of gotcha's that seem to show up. I look at it; by the time I buy the steel, buy a torch, muck about with maybe a firebrick or whatever, buy peanut oil (or even Canola oil), screw up a few, etc. it will be many many hours of work and a fair few dollars. It is not the sort of "oh I could throw that togather from scraps in a few minutes", or at least it isn't for me and many others. $50 per looks like a good buy in comparision *for the number of ones I need* (lets say 3).

OTOH, I truly love using a tool that *I* made, so I have to admit to being interested. Maybe it is work pursuing...

Sigh. You guys are dangerous.

The LN Mortise Chisels aren't sash mortise chisels

Don Thompson - Cutler Ridge, Florida

>

Knock down that wall!

Bob Hackett

>You`ll be glad you did,it lets so much more light in.

MB

Home of the Infantry!

Edward Damewood, Northern Alabama

>Ah, Ft. Benning -- Home of the Infantry. I have nothing but fond memories, having spent 7th - 9th grades there. Of course, I wasn't in Basic Training!

I like the old ones too...

Tony - Memphis

>54 Chevy, all original, runs pretty good. Never been rebuilt. New paint back in the 70's.

Tony

But....but...but...

Bob Smalser, Seabeck, WA

>It's got power steering.

A 36" wheel and 23 turns lock to lock.

270 Cummins, 5 main and 4 on the Brownie, toploaders in the rear.

Wuz a log truck before conversion to a dump...geared low...and been in the family since 1975 or so.

Paint's on the agenda, but low on the list and I never seem to get down that far. I recently rebuilt the PT pump and rebushed the rear end. It ain't pretty but everything works just fine.

In 1979...

Bob Smalser, Seabeck, WA

>...if you wanted a decent mortise chisel, Japanese were the only game in town.

bridging the tool making chasms

bill tindall

>My tool making breakthrough was the discovery that the learning curve to tool making can be shallow. I call it the "paint by the numbers" approach, in reference to the artwork post below. Purists will sniff at this approach, but there is a specturm of motivation between buying tools and making them from chevy leaf springs. I found that I don't like working metal, but I am willing to do some to save some $$ and get some tools I otherwise would not have.

1. You can buy annealed tool steel from any of the multitude of places that sell stuff to machine shops. Often it can be bought in nearly the size needed.

2. Anealed tool steel can be shaped with a hack saw, belt sander and grinder. (that is all I have)

3. Useful tool shapes can be ground to shape; there is no need to know how to forge.

4. There are places everywhere that heat treat tool steel . A typical price is $40 for 25 pounds. Any machine shop will know where they are located, as well as the local knife makers. Or you can mail them.

The main point I want to make is that one does not need special tools, nor does one need to know how to forge or heat treat. And you won't go wrong buying cheap and readily available O-1 or A-2 tool steel. Better steels are available but a beginner does not need to go there.

Making tools is a great club project. Our club is about to undertake a tool making project involving dozens of tools.

Not a Sorby!

Brent Langdon, Sterling VA

>I have a Sorby 1/2" Sash Mortise chisel and those LN chisels look to be MUCH more beefy than the Sorby. I have some of the Hirsch chisels on my wish list but those LN's are a heck of a lot nicer looking (but also $20 extra per chisel).

- Brent

Re: bridging the tool making chasms

Dennis McDonaugh

>Bill, I don't doubt its easy to start, but you have to have an INTEREST in making a tool. Lots of us don't want to make a tool, no matter how easy it is.

But How

Dan Clermont in Burnaby

>Hi Bill,

I understand the process of making the metal part but am curious how one would make a good handle that will take the abuse without splitting?

To make a handle you would need a lathe wouldn;t you?

Can you elaborate?

I still think as expensive as they are the LN are good value as they are A2 steel which IMO holds an edge longer then High carbon

Thanks,

Dan C (ducking and running)

Handles

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>Dan, no, you don't need a lathe to make a handle. A drawknife and/or spokeshaves and/or files/rasps are all you really need.

Pam

Re: Handles

Dan Clermont in Burnaby

>Damn, you ruined my oppurtunity to buy a lathe.... HHHMMMMPPPPHHHH

Dan Clermont

Re: Handles

Dan Clermont in Burnaby

>Damn, you ruined my oppurtunity to buy a lathe.... HHHMMMMPPPPHHHH

Dan Clermont

Re: Handles

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>:) Well, it's probably a bit faster with a lathe once you know what you're doing, maybe the handles are a bit more regular, and they'd probably be a bit more alike.

Pam

Uniformity?

Bob Hackett

>If you make them all the same then you have to lift them and look at the blade to tell them apart.

I prefer to make them all at least alittle different so I know by the handle which one I`m grabbing.Sure does save time and frustration.YMMV.

How about it Chico?

Mainely,Bob

the 15 min handle

bill tindall

>Handle is made in 2 parts. Use router to make grove to accomodate steel. Steel should have square end that butts against end of groove. Use epoxy to faster together. Mash in vice while epoxy hardens. Band saw profile. Use 3/8 round over bit in router to round edges. Use hand tools and extend handle making time to 20 min.

I have pounded these handles with dead blow hammer into oak and I see no sign of failure.

not round-oval

bill tindall

>For me the advantage of the pig sticker is the oval handle that provides a tactile sense of chisel orientation. When I used the monster Two Cherries I sawed the sides off the handle to make it oval.

Re: the 15 min handle

Dan Clermont in BUrnaby

>Very interesting Bill,

Do you have pics of your chisels and what thicknesses of steel are using on these little babies?

Thanks,

Dan Clermont

where did the picture go

bill tindall

>I'll try again. The picture was in the preview.

answer to question

bill tindall

>I didn't notice that the picture didn't attach in early post; don't know why as it was in the preview. Anyway, I used 1/2" thickness CPM 3V tool steel. I am sure that the more readily available O-1 or A-2 would make an acceptable chisel as well, though they are not as tough. (with the very tough 3V I can use a 25 degree bevel and not worry about the tip breaking. Makes for better penetration) I cut slices according to the width of the chisel I wanted to make. Except the 1/4 ", in which case I used some 1/4 " thickness and cut a half inch strip from it. After sawing the rough blank, the edges were ground smooth on belt sander. The anealed metals sand very easily using a 50 grit zirconia(blue) belt. Sides were relieved about 2 degrees, again using belt sander.

Re: bridging the tool making chasms

paul womack

>Lots of us don't want to make a tool, no matter how easy it is.

Err. OK.

But is it OK by you if some us do want to talk about making tools?

BugBear (who makes wooden tools, and has never heat treated)

Re: bridging the tool making chasms

Bob Hackett

>"Those who believe they can do something and those who believe they can`t are both right".

Mainely,Bob-Who much prefers to hang out with the optimists.

It`s easier and more satisfying to support sound beliefs than it is to attempt to change unsound ones.