A Test Before I Invest! - Testing out 30 different chisels

Рет қаралды 2,406

Bat Cave Creations

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 52

@ericrichter7933 18 күн бұрын

The second test looked really interesting! Thanks for putting this together

@BatCaveCreations 18 күн бұрын

That was my favorate test! Really gave me a feel for each chisel! And thank yiu! I'm glad you liked it!!

@MCsCreations Ай бұрын

Thanks for all the testing and comparison, dude! 😊 Merry Christmas! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

Thank you!! Merry Christmas!! You stay safe also!

@jajmcg Ай бұрын

Really happy to see Sorby on that list. I've collected a set of Veritas PM-V11 bench chisels over the years but I usually reach for a Sorby.

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

Its funny how we do that. Over time we learn what we gravitate towards. Sometimes I can't even pin point why lol Thank you for sharing!

@kennethspeed2019 10 күн бұрын

Lie Nielsen chisels didn't do exceptionaly well, and I'm sure they were pricey when I bought them quite a while ago. Not that I've ever had a problem with any decent chisel I've owned, but I have to say I prefer socket chisels and I like the feel of the LN chisels. One problem that I've had with them on rare occasions is that the handles shrink and loosen when the indoor air gets extremelly dry. I remember the sick feeling I had the first time a chisel fell off the handle as I was walking across a shop. Luckily, it was a wood floor so the chisel wasn't damaged and I wasn't injured by the falling chisel blade.

@BatCaveCreations 10 күн бұрын

You deff got lucky there and I've had that happen also! I have heard a few people suggest using hair spray to keep the handle in place better. You also bring up a good point, socked vs not socket. I have used both and I truly believe it comes down to preference. I can't say one is better than the other. LN did do pretty well in my testing, if I remember correctly they only needed to hit the strop. They were my users till I switched over to Blue Spruce. I picked then after testing a few other brands. It's been an adventure haha Thank you for sharing! It is good for people to see if they are trying to decide!

@mikel5582 Ай бұрын

The best chisel I own is a 1.5" bevel-edge vintage Buck. This chisel takes a licking and keeps on ticking. I came home one time and found that a guy we hired to lay some tile had helped himself to it and was bashing it into OSB with a claw hammer. As you might guess, I was close to doing 20-to-life after that. Other favorites are T.H. Witherby and James Swan. I have a bunch of highly-touted E.A. Bergs that just don't thrill me. I really need to downsize...

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

Oh man I would have been livid!! You showed great restraint tho!! Those are all great names, good steel!! I have noticed that chisels tend to multiply when you get one hahaha

@davidstewart1153 Ай бұрын

I have maybe seven sets. The first set are Marples Blue-Chip towards the end of the Sheffield years for hitting hard. I got the Narex Richter unhandled blades and made apple handles, graduated diameters for each size blade. That was fun and those have narrow side bevels for delicate work. Then I have firmer-style rectangular section old chisels, a lot them of Buck Bros. because I like their handle shape. I have a set of Ward butt socket chisels, another slightly larger Craftsman set, full size Union Hardware socket chisels, and a set of Marples sash mortise chisels with plastic unbreakable handles. I have a few orphan chisels that don't fit in any set and a few ones that are reserved for scraping glue or other chisel-ruining tasks. It's too bad more manufacturers don't let you make your own handles. It seems difficult but it's not. Those are my favorites.

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

Wow you have an awesome collection! I LOVE marpled blue chips. Had a set (2 actually) had to sell them during tough times but I did snag a set again for a good price, just gotta get them up and running. Buck Bros are awesome also! Really all the ones you mentioned have good steal! Great work getting those sets together!!!

@anthonyseiver7000 Ай бұрын

I wonder if the ultrarich hand tool woodworkers employ chisel caddies to help select the brst chisel for the job, sharpen it, strop it, and return it to the chisel rack after use.

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

That would be halarious!! Chisel caddies heck even plane caddies. "No 5 for you sir" hahaha

@michaelnorman5640 Ай бұрын

Would have loved to seen how the Zen Wu chisels fair? But I have the Narex Richter. And have been thinking of upgrading to the Zen Wu just food for thought. I am happy with the Narex for the time being. Thanks for sharing Jamie!

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

We had their Z-1 chisel in this test it is super thin like a dovetail chisel so it didn't do to well in the test being hit like the standard bench chisels :(

@Flanelman1 Ай бұрын

Rob Cosman has entered the chat. Lol. Honestly coming from the knife world too, I'm always surprised how seperated those two schools are. High end knives use machinist tool steels that woodworkers almost never see.

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

That is a valid point! I wonder if anyone has tested that. Knife steel for chisels. I don't know enough about metal and metal types to engage in a conversation about it tbh. But I would be really curious to see someone compare and contrast!

@lukedeaton Ай бұрын

I think pfeil use a knife steel in some of theirs? I've some made from K510, they're not what I like for furniture making but with a 35 degree bevel they're good for really heavy work

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

@@lukedeaton ah interesting. Why don't you like them for furniture making?

@lukedeaton Ай бұрын

They dont seem to hold a super sharp edge very long, but with the higher angle the less brittle steel holds up better than A2 or PMV11 for heavy work. I'm not an expert on steel so YMMV. They're also big clunky chisels so not as nice for fine work

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

@@lukedeaton good to know! Thank you!!

@tylerbloom8889 Ай бұрын

Jamie i am curious you tested a veritas butt chisel? What grade of steel was it?

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

It was pmv11 it would be higher on the list but the IPE test really hurt the edge :(

@MegaDraws24 Ай бұрын

Eyy shout out to Ashley Isles! I have a few of thier carving gouges and theyre great! Bit difficult to sharpen as with all gouges but great users!

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

I have heard great things about their carving tools also! One day I'll get a set of those. I have seen people make custom strops for the different gouge profiles. Cut an indent and bump (super technical terms here...) with a slightly wider gouge then add leather. But I am no a carver so I'm sure peope have better advice! Lol

@tomk3478 Ай бұрын

It's funny you released this today since James updated his chisel chart earlier today, too.😁 And it's really funny because I'm looking to update my chisels from my regular Narex ones. They're OK, but they don't hold an edge nearly long enough for me.

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

I saw that right after I posted :( I was gonna post one on tape measures but Christopher Swartz posted a Substack blog on it yesterday so I went with this one hahah oh well The regular Narex were my 2nd set of chisels, they almost made me give up chisel work tbh idk if mine had an issue but they didn't hold an edge at all not even in sugar pine. Yours sound better than mine were but I know what you mean!

@tomk3478 Ай бұрын

@@BatCaveCreations I wouldn't say mine are better than yours. I'd say that I have a gift for understatement and a lack of experience that gives me really good context one way or another. 🤣

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

@@tomk3478 haha that is fair! Deff try a diff brand and ull see!

@tomk3478 Ай бұрын

@@BatCaveCreations That's the plan. I'm just trying to decide what I want to go with going forward. :)

@michaelthompson5875 Ай бұрын

I purchased one of the Veritas PMV-11 bench chisels (3/8 inch) on factory seconds sale from Lee Valley and I also bought an Ashley Iles butt chisel (also 3/8 inch). Honestly my hands are not large and the size and weight of the Ashley Iles are nice. With the bigger top-heavy chisels (i have a set of the pre-Richter Narex premium chisels), I noticed some fatigue if i were doing a lot of chisel work. The Ashley Iles also seem to sharpen quickly ans hold an edge ans are half the price of the PMV-11. I'm probably going to go with those.

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

This is a great point about balance too. It's important! It's one of the reasons I went with Veritas for my mortice chisels and not Blue Spruce. The blue spruce have a metal but and that makes them super top heavy. I may end up getting a set of Ashley Iles also maybe keep the blue spruce for hardwood and Ashley's for soft wood. Not sure yet cus I also have a set of vintage marples haha

@michaelthompson5875 Ай бұрын

@BatCaveCreations Just looking at the Blue Spruce mortise chisels and holy cow those look heavy. Unfortunately Veritas mortise chisels are "temporarily unavailable." I've actually been eyeballing the Ray Iles English mortise chisels (the "pig sticker" style ones) from Tools for Working Wood. If I get any cash for Christmas I may pick one up. I will say the old Narex chisels I habe work just fine. Where I'm stuck is that at the time I bought them metric was the only option. I'd prefer imperial so that my chisels match with ALL of my other tools. I'm probably being OCD but that's how I'm justifying this. Thanks for the great content. I live not far from Pittsburgh so I may try to attend your event this coming spring!

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

@michaelthompson5875 I didn't know Ray Iles had pig stickers! I thought they weren't made anymore ill have to check those out, thank you! That was also my issue with the narex lol everything I have is imperial so the metric was never lining up I hope you can make it! It is going to be fun!

@chris-C8 Ай бұрын

I'm very interested in the MHG chisels. What is the side bevel like for reaching tight spaces, tails, tenons, etc.? I have the Narex Richters, which I like a lot, but I need a secondary set at a lower angle for dovetails in softwoods. Anyway, great video, Jamie.

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

I was impressed with them, held well, and really narrow sides. My only complaint was the handle shape/size but they are wooden so you can change the profile if needed. I don't know how they will perform at a lower angle but I was impressed. And thank you!!!

@katimaboy Ай бұрын

Did you try a magnacut chisel ? Seems to be holding their edge forever !

@timelyrain Ай бұрын

@@BatCaveCreations If you have the Zen-Wu Z-1 chisel its magnacut

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

Ah I didn't realize even the Z-1s were magnacut I thought only their top of the line ones were haha thank you!!

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

@katimaboy I didn't realize the Z-1 chisel was actually magnacut. The z-1 was very thin and I think that hurt it in this test esp against the IPE and cherry because of the chopping. It did do well against the dowel tho!

@timelyrain Ай бұрын

@@BatCaveCreations yea magnacut is not designed for chisels, but it's popular in humid weather areas

@BatCaveCreations Ай бұрын

@@timelyrain I didn't know that! I do love the lake erie plane iron. Holds an edge for a long time!!