Dovetail chisels

Re: Dovetail chisels

dennis mcdonaugh

>Bob, I bought a Japanese dovetail chisel and like it a lot. The triangular section makes it easy to get into corners. I have had no luck with Japanese bench chisels so it was a surprise that I liked the dovetail chisel. I wouldn't buy a lot but one a 3/16 and 5/16 work really well.

Re: Dovetail chisels

Jack Guzman from Maine

>They're not the same as LN but Two Cherries are some pretty nice chisels.---jack

Re: Dovetail chisels

paul womack

>If you're in a hurry with dovetails try a Leigh; otherwise I'd just sit 'n' wait, and do something else with your prime shop time.

There's always something fun to do in a woodshop...

BugBear

Re: Dovetail chisels *LINK*

Hank Knight from SC

>Bob, you might want to look at the Ashley Iles American Pattern chisels at Joel's place (see link). I ordered a 1/2" one to try out for dovetails and I like it a lot.


http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=toolshop&Product_Code=IL-100-20.XX&Category_Code=TMT

Re: Dovetail chisels *LINK*

Nevil Bevel

>Try Rosewood Studio. They have some Two Cherries carving tools that they use as paring chisels on dovetails, and they work real well.

Nevil


Two Cherries Dovetail Chisel

Just dovetail chisels?

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>Sounds like your wanting to upgrade your bench chisels. If so I'd wait for the LN's.

If your looking for dovetail chisles for this specific task I'd recommend Japanese ones. I have several of them and their nice for DT work.

Re: Just dovetail chisels?

Bob Powers

>From what I have read about Japanese dovetail chisels, they are meant for paring, not chopping. Am I right? If so, I think I'll try a couple.

Also, looking at chisels on the Japan Woodworker web page, I see them priced from not much to the value of my children's inheritance. Any advice in that area as to specifics?

Which one(s), Dennis?

Tony Sade (Charleston, WV)

>

Re: Dovetail chisels

Alan Hamilton

>Bob,

I supplanted my Marples chisels* with a set of Hirsch from Lee Valley. I couldn't be happier with them. My good old Marples took a very good edge and stayed sharp quite long enough, but my Hirsch chisels are wonderfully better. They are a delight. I recommend them without reservation.

BTW, if what I'm told is true, and many say it is, Hirsch and Two cherries are exactly the same--except for their handles and the decals: that is to say, the serious bits are exactly the same. And the good news is that Hirsch cost quite a bit less than Two Cherries.

Alan

*Mine are not Blue Chips. Mine have red and yellow translucent handles. I don't know if the business parts are different from Blue Chips.

How I do it... *LINK*

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>I saw, cope out the waste then pair (sp?) with DT chisels. Lots of people hit them with hammers too. It's a personal preference. You'll only need 1 or 2 depending on the size of and type of DT's your cutting. Here's a link to the ones I use, if I were to buy them again I'd go for these:

http://www.hidatool.com/woodpage/chisel/dovetail.html

No, their not cheap but they'll serve you well for a long time.


The ones I use...

Wait for the LN!

Martin from Granbury, Texas

>Bob,

Wait for the LN chisels, they are worth it!

Usually the wait has been less than they say. It seems they give a worst case scenario.

I had two cherries before, and sold them when I got the LN's. I liked the TC, but I love my LN's!

Martin

Remove "5" for correct email.

Re: Dovetail chisels

Nevil Bevel

>Yeh right well I think $24.95CDN is a prety good deal

Japanese dovetail chisels

George Bustamante

>There are Japanese dovetail chisels for paring and others for striking. The ones for striking have iron hoops on the ends of the handles, the paring chisels do not. I got my dovetail chisels from tools for working wood. here is the link: http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=toolshop&Product_Code=MS-JACHC73.XX&Category_Code=TBBCND

George Bustamante

Re: Which one(s), Dennis? *LINK*

Dennis Mcdonaugh

>These right here!


Japanese dovetail chisels

Re: Just dovetail chisels? *LINK*

Dennis Mcdonaugh

>These Japanese dovetail chisels have hoops


Japanese chisels

Re: Japanese dovetail chisels

Frank D. in Montreal

>George,

I was thinking of getting a small set of those, but am still debating whether to get them or the LN chisels. Are you happy with them? My fear is that they might chip a little because I scrape a lot when I do half-blind dovetails. Any feedback appreciated.

Frank

Re: Which one(s), Dennis?

Dennis Mcdonaugh

>I didn't buy the "Master Chisels" BTW

Re: Wait for the LN!

Jim Galvin

>I ordered a set and they said 4-6 weeks got them in less then 3 weeks. They are nice......

Jim

Re: Dovetail chisels

Bob Miller

>It depends on your method of removing the waste. If you chop, then Ashley Iles American Pattern chisels have a real nice balance. If you remove the waste with a fret saw and paring, I'd get a good paring chisel. I have a few Ashley Iles beveled edge bench chisels I use for paring. As was pointed out by another poster Joel at "Tools for Working Wood" sells both Ashley Iles chisels as well as a few others brands.

I have no connection with Joel, etc... except as a very satisfied customer.

Re: No

William Duffield, on the Cohansey

>As far as I can tell, there is no equivalent. All the other options discussed have one or more serious drawbacks for which the L-N has come up with a better alternative. Only one minor point: If I had my druthers, I think I would prefer the shape of the Ashley Iles handles, but definitely not the material, which isn't as strong as the L-Ns when you need to strike them. The latest PW Arts and Mysteries article by Adam Cherubini with visual demonstrations by Chris Schwarz clearly shows why the shape of the AI chisels should have an advantage. DT chisels need to be both struck and pushed. Striking rings bruise hands and shoulders. So to do the whole job with Japanese chisels, you'd need two sets, one for chopping and one for paring. Now, when you compare prices, the L-Ns are a real bargain.

Re: No

Bob Powers

>You people are so helpful. Does everybody agree on the same choices? Of course not. But as I read all the responses, it enables me to understand people's opinions as to compromises, negatives, and positives.

Even though I was swayed toward the Japanese chisels earlier in this thread, my thinking now is that I will continue to use my Marples chisels until the L-N's arrive. The Marples that I have used for the last fifteen years certainly aren't going to turn dumb on me.

Thanks so much for your advice.

Re: Dovetail chisels

Bill Murphy/Reading,PA.

>I have a set of Marples Blue, Two Cherries and the Ashley Iles American Pattern chisels. I use them all, but for dovetailing, I love the Ashley Iles, the feel is just right for dovetailing.

Bill Murphy

Reading, PA.

Agree ..

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>Note that I cut out the waste with a fretsaw then pare the remainder. But there are times when I need to chop as well. So I keep two sets of chisels for DTs: Matsumura Japanese dovetail chisels, which are used when I need to strike the chisel. These are ground at 30 degrees. And a set of Berg chisels, which are used for paring. They are ground at 20 degrees. Although hooped, the Bergs have rounded handles ends and are comfortable to push.

Keep in mind that the chisels you purchase need to have low shoulders to get inside the dovetail angles. The LN chisels fit the bill here, but many other types do not (e.g. my Witherby chisels are not suitable as I would term them bevel-firmer chisels).

Regards from Perth

Derek

Re: Japanese dovetail chisels

George Bustamante

>Frank

I really like my set of Japanese dovetail chisels (the iron hooped, striking type), but I consider them, along with my paring chisels, as supplements to my bench chisels. I would not have bought them in lieu of a good set of bench chisels. I have not had any chipping problems, but I do not scrape and I use a pretty steep bevel angle. I do not own the non-hooped paring version, nor have I had the pleasure of trying the Lie-Nielson chisels.

I really like Lie-Nielson's products, and I really love the idea that they are making a socketed chisel design. If I did not already own a nice bunch of Japanese firmer and bench chisels I would give them a try. That said, I think they limited the utility of the chisels by not setting hoops or ferrules on the top of the handle. I prefer to use a 375g steel hammer instead of a wooden mallet, and the lack of a hoop or ferrule makes that a risky proposition for the long-term integrity of the handle.

George