It would depend on what the coating is but, if it's something like
cosmoline, kerosene do a good job. It will have to soak a while (30 minutes)
in extreme cases but should soften it to the point that it can be easily
wiped off.

"Jonesy" wrote in message
ups.com...
I thought about that but I remember reading an article that said if you
don't take the coating off it gums up your sharpening equipment. I
intended on sharpening them afterwards.


Leon wrote:
"Jonesy" wrote in message
oups.com...
Does anyone know what takes the protective coating off quickly. I've
tried lacquer thinner and it worked very slowly but I still ended up
scraping it off.


Sharpening will remove it. New chisels should be sharpened and their
backs
should be flattened.