'bout to buy a couple mortise chisels for chopping some deep mortises
and don't know what to buy. Seems like i've heard some bad poop on
Sorby but don't know anything about the Hirsch. I like ordering from LV
but i want good chisels.

All recomendations are appreciated.

thanks jack

"Jack Gray" wrote in message
...
'bout to buy a couple mortise chisels for chopping some deep mortises
and don't know what to buy. Seems like i've heard some bad poop on
Sorby but don't know anything about the Hirsch. I like ordering from LV
but i want good chisels.

All recomendations are appreciated.

thanks jack


Jack -

Hirsch is the same as "Two Cherries".... so that gives you twice as many
options for searching/soliciting reviews....

Cheers -

Rob

Jack Gray says...

'bout to buy a couple mortise chisels for chopping some deep mortises
and don't know what to buy. Seems like i've heard some bad poop on
Sorby but don't know anything about the Hirsch. I like ordering from LV
but i want good chisels.

All recomendations are appreciated.

thanks jack

I like my Sorby chisels better than any other I have tried so far. They
are nearly ready to go out of the package. Not so for Hirsch or Two
Cherries. They have an annoying plastic coating that I remove with
paint stripper and require some serious honing time to get them in top
shape. Especially frustrating were backs that were far from flat,
possibly from the high polish they are given at the factory. I have no
idea why they do this. If anybody knows, I would be glad to hear it. I
like the way they cut now that they are up to speed, and the edge
holding seems fine, but I didn't like how much work it took to get
there. I'm planning on trying a few of the more sane priced Japanese
chisels next and see if I like them.

I never heard what the knock on Sorby chisels was, just some vague
comments to the effect that they aren't what they used to be. All three
of mine were nearly flat out of the package and had nice, crisp
machining.

"Hax Planx" wrote in message

I never heard what the knock on Sorby chisels was, just some vague
comments to the effect that they aren't what they used to be. All three
of mine were nearly flat out of the package and had nice, crisp
machining.

Good to hear, and timely. I own one Sorby, a corner chisel, and had budgeted
funds as late as last week to purchase more Sorby's, two at a time, until I
had a full set.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 5/14/05

'bout to buy a couple mortise chisels for chopping some deep mortises
and don't know what to buy. Seems like i've heard some bad poop on
Sorby but don't know anything about the Hirsch. I like ordering from LV
but i want good chisels.

All recomendations are appreciated.

thanks jack


I bought this Henry Taylor set, great price:
http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com...ath=39_172_231

I had read that the Sorby steel is loaded with too much "silicon" or some
such, which makes it softer and more shock absorbing, this was from an
old chisel review in a magazine from about '95, in which the steel of all
the chisels was chemically tested for content. One would need to sharpen
more often. These HTs have thick steel ferrules and hoops on beech handles.

I have not used them yet so I cannot report on their edge holding qualities,
Andy Dingly said: "Henry Taylors are what Robert Sorby should be"...
that was the final straw and I bought 'em.

But If you get them, tell them to make sure the blades are straight inline
with the handles, I have had two replaced.

However, despite the over polished backs of the Two Cherries and Hirsch,
they are famous for being the best steel in chisels from anywhere in Europe,
the rockwell "C" test for hardness is 62 which is excellent. You'd sharpen
less often and because of that they take a very fine edge much easier and
faster than cheaper gummy steels. So even if you have to do a lot of work
to flatten the backs it might be better in the long run for quality of use.

--
Alex - newbie in woodworking
cravdraa_at-yahoo_dot-com
not my site: http://www.e-sword.net/

Jack Gray wrote:
'bout to buy a couple mortise chisels for chopping some deep mortises
and don't know what to buy. Seems like i've heard some bad poop on
Sorby but don't know anything about the Hirsch. I like ordering from LV
but i want good chisels.


I bought a Japan woodworker 1/2 Matasushima (sp) chisel last week.
I've not honed it up yet, and will be my first mortise chisel. On the
10th I head for Cosman's class in Canada with a woodworking friend. He
bought a full set of Hirsh for the class.

The Hirsh are a bit large for my taste in just holding them, I have not
used them yet. After the class I hope to have tried a few different
mortise chisels and see which I prefer.

I can tell you the Japan woodworker bench chisels definetely get
sharper and hold their edge better than my vintage 720's do for
dovetail work. The Japan chisel honed on 1000 grit Shapton by hand is
sharper than my 720 up to 8000 with a jig.

Alan

In article , says...
"Hax Planx" wrote in message

I never heard what the knock on Sorby chisels was, just some vague
comments to the effect that they aren't what they used to be. All three
of mine were nearly flat out of the package and had nice, crisp
machining.

Good to hear, and timely. I own one Sorby, a corner chisel, and had budgeted
funds as late as last week to purchase more Sorby's, two at a time, until I
had a full set.

I can't compare brands, but I've got two Sorby mortise chisels and I
have no complaints. At the time I got mine (a few years ago) the best
price I could find was at:

http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/M...creen=PROD&Sto
re_Code=toolshop&Product_Code=WS-MCCHIS.XX&Category_Code=TBMC

You can either put the URL together or start at the base address and
work your way to the "Heavy Duty" Sorby chisels.

--
BNSF = Build Now, Seep Forever

On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 09:48:41 -0500, Jack Gray wrote:

Sorby but don't know anything about the Hirsch. I like ordering from LV
but i want good chisels.

I have a Hirsch from LV. As another poster pointed out, the Hirsch comes
with a coating. That's lacquer, to prevent rusting during shipment and
storage. It comes right off with acetone. Some of the ugly
yellow paint comes off along with the lacquer. Mine did take a lot of work
to flatten the back. Perhaps someone who has owned both Two Cherries and
Hirsch can comment--maybe they're not exactly the same.

I found that a secondary bevel of 35 deg was adequate for hard maple.
At any more acute angle the tip bent.

That huge handle is really nice when whacking a deep mortise.

--
"Keep your ass behind you"
vladimir a t mad {dot} scientist {dot} com

thanks for the input. I think i'll try a couple of the Sorby's. i'll
post a review on them after i use them some.

happy trails
jack

Australopithecus scobis says...

On Thu, 30 Jun 2005 09:48:41 -0500, Jack Gray wrote:

Sorby but don't know anything about the Hirsch. I like ordering from LV
but i want good chisels.

I have a Hirsch from LV. As another poster pointed out, the Hirsch comes
with a coating. That's lacquer, to prevent rusting during shipment and
storage. It comes right off with acetone. Some of the ugly
yellow paint comes off along with the lacquer. Mine did take a lot of work
to flatten the back. Perhaps someone who has owned both Two Cherries and
Hirsch can comment--maybe they're not exactly the same.

I have one of each and they appear to be exactly the same to me.

On Fri, 01 Jul 2005 08:32:46 -0500, Hax Planx wrote:

Perhaps someone who has owned both Two Cherries and
Hirsch can comment--maybe they're not exactly the same.

I have one of each and they appear to be exactly the same to me.

Thanks, Plankx.

Jack Gray wrote:

'bout to buy a couple mortise chisels for chopping some deep mortises
and don't know what to buy. Seems like i've heard some bad poop on
Sorby but don't know anything about the Hirsch. I like ordering from LV
but i want good chisels.

All recomendations are appreciated.

thanks jack

Jim Wilson was making some very nice beefy
mortising chisels that he sold through Steve
Knight's site. RC 62, backs flat, sides square
and flat and thick. The bevel to sides edge is
sharp enough to siice the sides of the mortise.
It will also slice your finger - DAMHIKT.

Though Jim's site says he's quit making them
I recall a post that he's started making them
again. Go to his site and drop him a line.

http://www.paragoncode.com/toolmaking/mortise_chisels/

charlie b

ps. If you get a mortising chisel stuck in
a mortise, when you're tugging and
pulling - keep your chin out of the
exit path. If not, you WILL literally
see stars. DAMHIKT..