Who remembers Nooitgedacht chisels? *LINK*
Derek Cohen (in Perth Australia)
>I am mostly a user and appreciator of vintage chisels - for paring and bench use I gravitate to Bergs and Witherbys. But I am something of a chisel junkey (there now .... isn't admission the same as treatment? :grin:), and own other types as well.
I have set in my workshop that I bought very cheaply. About 5 or 6 years ago, after several raved about them on Badger Pond, I bought a set of 8 Nooirgedacht chisels on eBay. I think that I paid about $28 for them then. Talk about a bargain. Good Swedish steel on Dutch handles (that are very similar to the Bergs' in design - see insert).
Their main use for me is as firmer chisels as the sidewalls are too thick for dovetails even though they are bevelled. The blades are long and they have a nice balance, so they do come off the rack to be used for paring. They are tough when hammered, and hold a good edge. The backs of the blades were flat, or easy to flatten, and the worst that could be said is that there were milling marks that needed to be removed. Even the finish on the (Beech?) handles has not been enough of an issue to warrant removal.
Martin Hagen posted a bit about their history on the Porch a few months back (but this did not elicit much discussion). Link below.
Alas Nooitdedacht are no more. The factory closed down some years ago (which is probably why these chisels were sold so cheaply). I have not seen them on sale for some years. When they do pop up on eBay, the ones I was aware of have sold for a few times the original price.
I wonder who else recalls the discussion on Badger Pond, or bought a set, and what your experience has been?
Regards from Perth
Re: Who remembers Nooitgedacht chisels? *LINK*
#2Well, I remember them...
Scott Burr in Ben Lomond, CA
>Somebody flooded the bay with them and a few other places a while back. If I recall they were Two Cheeries clones, or made by the same company.
I also think some of the Nooitgedacht had their handles not placed correctly compaired to the Two Cherries.
Re: Who remembers Nooitgedacht chisels? *LINK*
#3I do
Andrew F in Australia
>Hi Derek,
I bought two sets - my father in law has one and I got one - they were soft steel and folded over in use. I sold my set, they used to last about as long as the infamous Marples Blue Chips - the Bergs are far superior.
Cheers,
Andrew
Re: Who remembers Nooitgedacht chisels? *LINK*
#4Re: I do
Derek Cohen (in Perth Australia)
>Gee Andrew, I am surprised. I wonder if the quality was hit-and-miss. My set really has good steel.
Great chatting with you across the country last week.
Kind regards
Derek
Re: Who remembers Nooitgedacht chisels? *LINK*
#5Re: I do
Neal in San Jose
>I bought two sets when they were all all over ebay. The steel in mine seems somewhat soft; showing up as a need to sharpen often. I haven't had problems folding an edge. A bigger problem is that I don't come very close on pronouncing the name! I bought two sets so that I could grind special shapes. So far I have made two sizes of dovetail chisels. I made a 3/8 first, then decided I'd like a smaller one, so I made a 1/4. When I get a round tuit, I'm planning on making a couple of skews. One other advantage is that they were so cheap, I don't mind loaning them out.