Cheap chisels? How to make them scary sharp!

If you're a woodworker on a budget, you need to watch this video.
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Links to chisels mentioned in this video►
-Stanley sweetheart chisels (my favorite): amzn.to/2WSgcae
-Narex chisels (best value): amzn.to/2SVjVm2
-Stanley Fat Max chisels (toughest): amzn.to/35QLIJy
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Links to other tools mentioned in this video►
-Worksharp CBN Wheels: woodturnerswonders.com/produc...
-Worksharp 3000 System: amzn.to/2WLTAYD
-Wet/Dry sandpaper: amzn.to/3bu9vjW
-Plate glass sharpening kits: amzn.to/2AhjQCF
-Inexpensive sharpening jig: amzn.to/2WnH3fh
-Spray glue: amzn.to/2yNUyeX
(We may receive a small commission if you use the affiliate links above.)
Other sharpening videos you may enjoy►
-Choosing the best sharpening method: • What's the best tool s...
-Faster sharpening by hand: • FASTER tool sharpening...
-Jig tips & making a sharpening board: • Clever jigs for faster...
-Making a strop: • How to make and use a ...
-Comprehensive strop tutorial: • The stropping myth and...
-Freehand sharpening: • You CAN sharpen freeha...
-Re-grinding & repairing a bevel: • Everything you need to...
-A CBN grinder stone tutorial: • How I changed my bench...
-A diamond stone tutorial video: • WATCH THIS before you ...
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[@robinvanlier]

"A pack of inexpensive chisels is like a box of chocolates. You might get lucky, or you might bite into a turd." I'm staying far away from wherever it is this man buys his chocolates lol

[@unitaryexile6549]

holy crap bro

[@BalgaBear]

holy crap bro

[@menerithgaming3162]

holy crap bro

[@TheAlanSaunders]

Harry Potter reference? "Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans" - from delicious to earwax and worse!

[@flyingscotsman1923]

@@TheAlanSaunders Are there Bertie Bott's Box Chisels???

[@richardgoebel226]

Shaving the hair off your arm is good for impressing the non-woodworking crowd. Shaving the end grain of soft pine is good for impressing woodworkers.

[@bobbyhempel1513]

What about shaving the end grain of white oak and hickory?

[@pettere8429]

@@bobbyhempel1513 does not require nearly as sharp a chisel. For soft wood a dull chisel will crush the fibers.

[@ifell3]

Shaving the hair off your balls with a chisel will impress any man 😅

[@david9783]

Dang, I've been a carpenter for 40 years, and always did my BEST, but watching and listening to you I realize that what I know wouldn't stuff an olive. So thanks for sharing your knowledge with me!

[@noi5emaker]

"what I know wouldn't stuff an olive" - haven't heard that one before. I have to use it at the next opportunity!!

[@veganpotterthevegan]

@@noi5emaker the wife already knows

[@sk13ppy]

I love your honesty and your olive phrase will be used by me too. All the best!

[@andreajava8402]

You are a natural-born teacher, for sure. You speak clearly, deliberately and efficiently...all without boring me to tears. I've taken several woodworking classes over the last few years, learning from very talented professional woodworkers. As talented as they are, their teaching ability doesn't come close to yours. Thank you for taking the time.

[@gabrielemagnabosco8926]

He clearly spends the time to prepare the whole presentation. Kudos to him, not many teachers do that, some just assume that being experienced in something automatically makes you a good teacher.

[@choskins4980]

"It could be a pain in the tuchus". I admire your commitment to not swearing. At the same time, it's humorous. Nice job.

[@jram1852]

Honestly, I love the channel because he keeps focus on us little guys, newbies, that don't have all those fancy tools. Thank you

[@JR-zv6qm]

Great vid. I'm a weekend warrior & this helped immensely. Thanks for the upload.

[@eagleonone]

It is very apparent that you devote a significant amount of time to prepare your presentations- which are always very objective and thorough. Always informative and appreciated.

[@Puggy1234ful]

I have been working with wood for about 15 years and that was the best description of sharping a chisel I have heard.. You said nothing new but I liked the way you said it..

[@ninnusridhar]

I think this idea applies to most things. While we commonly say when you begin go cheap, buy the expensive stuff later. But the problem there is if you get something so bad that it puts you off the hobby or job entirely, it's just sad. This is what happened with my first knife. I got into cooking a couple years back and so wanted a new knife. We got a cheap chef's knife and it sucked the life out of me. But since it's food I have to cook anyway, I stuck with it but hated every moment. Then I got a more expensive carbon steel knife and a whetstone to go with it. I have enjoyed every minute of working with it. If I had started with this, I would've improved so much more in this time So the general rule applies, Google extensively, ask people in the know and get as good a thing as you can afford.

[@SteelWorksGuy]

I've never even thought about starting woodworking but you had me wanting to go buy some chisels, lol.

[@flyingscotsman1923]

Clear, concise, easy to understand; so glad I found your channel.

[@christopherwheeler688]

As far as I can tell that was thirteen minutes of narrative without a cutaway or edit. It takes a great speaker to do that PLUS it's all good information. Well done, James.

[@kwik5150]

My Aldi chisels are every bit as good as my expensive ones. They take a super edge that doesn’t last quite as long but is a lot easier to bring back.

[@MathIsGreatFun]

I completely agree. I am a hobbyist woodworker and have never owned sets of chisels or hand planes that cost me more than a few bucks. Yes, they do require some work and maintenance. However, after having built over two dozen guitars, ukuleles, banjos, and other experimental stringed instruments, I have yet to see a need for anything more expensive. While I completely get that tool-grade steel has a better life (and that quality is quality), I also appreciate the idea that it is not about what you have, but about what you can do with what you have. That said, if one makes a living as a craftsman, then we are on another plateau altogether.

[@rickprice407]

Aldi is a serious exception due to the metal used.

[@mrz80]

I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around the notion of buying chisels at the cheapest grocery store in town :D

[@andrewnawarycz3026]

Got a whole lot of chisels recently inherited from my old man who was a pattern maker. Think I hit the jackpot with a couple of tool cabinets of Ashley Iles and Marple chisels gouges and turning tools all tip top condition. They're going to be a great help in the future 👍

[@e.t.preppin7084]

I love me some sharpening. Knives and chisels. I appreciate the chisel recommendations. I keep sharpened cheap chisels around for certain purposes and I keep my good chisels for finer wood working

[@jurikristjouw]

I paint the cutting edge with a blue sharpy, once that is gone, I know that it was used so I can pick a newly sharpened one when I need fine work. Also I know when one of my kids or wife "borrowed" a tool from the shop...

[@plenta96]

I didn't spend a thought on chisels. Now I want to become a weekend woodworker for chisel reasons

[@johnflores6314]

I wish you were my neighbor. My skills are elementary and slowly escalating, but you'd have me as audience and beer hander for life!

[@Etrehumain123]

(before watching) I never be able to properly sharp a chisel or knife, even after youtube tutorial and stuff, I hope to learn more here, thank you !

[@hashidatackey8758]

It’s ok, when I started sharpening, I couldn’t sharpen properly as well

[@bensander4276]

Pick up a cheap honing guide. It makes it way easier!

[@gregmislick1117]

@@bensander4276 the cheap honing guide I picked up turned out to have the hole drilled in the guide wheel off center !! Now, if you want to have a sharpening challenge.... (fixed it by running it against the grinder wheel and it took the high side off and got it round enough for the work it does - primary bevel angle)

[@edreusser4741]

I went to the Harvey distribution plant today. I wanted to feast my eyes in admiration and also trade for some parts. I told them that it was on your recommendation that I purchased a Harvey Ambassader 14" bandsaw, the jointmaker pro, and all of the bells and whistles they offer. They explained how please they were with the relationship with your shop. I was talking to Hunt, who said that one of the things they particularly liked was that you were really honest. They felt like they earned everything you liked and looked forward to hearing places they could improve on. The equipment from them is delightful. The jointmaker pro and the V2 Fence is like something from a different dimension. Just handling it makes me feel all warm and good inside. There is just something about that kind of superb quality that really gets to me.

[@limanovember8435]

"Chinesium" LOL Asian approved

[@thomaslindroos1667]

AvE

[@AmigaA-or2hj]

I’ve brought some Indian made chisels from a bargain store in the U.K. They were worse!!!

[@fleyua7176]

Some of these "Chinesium" chisels are actually very good steel if you are willing to pay a higher price.

[@jasonknarr2220]

+1 for using the word 'Tuchus'!

[@taiwanluthiers]

If you have a bench grinder you can make flattening the back easier by grinding a hollow into the back. You can also grind the bevel on a bench grinder then use the 1000 grit sandpaper to give you a secondary bevel. You can get a sharp edge quickly this way.

[@keycommander971]

Paul sellers done this type of video 8 years ago good tips great video 👍🏼

[@bensander4276]

Another tip from a new woodworker to others. I have one chisel. Its what I could afford when I bought it, but I didn’t think about it too much. It is a one inch dewalt side strike beating chisel (with the steel cap). If you are a new woodworker, I recommend you don’t get one of these. It’s a fantastic chisel, and holds a very nice edge, but the side strike feature means one long edge of the chisel is also sharp. As a new woodworker who doesn’t know how to use a chisel well, I have cut my hands with this long edge many times and it won’t be long till I do worse damage with it. Knowing these recommendations, I will definitely be getting some different chisels soon!

[@nicolle2126]

i stumbled into your channel and i have to say you are such an amazing instructor! Like it really struck me how great your delivery and presentation is, and how effortless i was able to follow along

[@laernulienlaernulienlaernu8953]

I love using a freshly sharpened chisel, pushing it through instead of smacking it with a hammer.

[@tonyn3123]

When I traveled across the country to my aunt's home, she needed some work done on the deadbolt mortise. I ran to Lowes and picked up an inexpensive Buck Bros chisel. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the sharpness of that chisel. Since then I have heard several good comments about Buck Bros when on a budget.

[@bradyritter2193]

T N soak them in acetone and rub them with steel wool. Just put the blade in, though.

[@tonyn3123]

@@bradyritter2193 Brady Ritter, What do you mean by put in acetone and rub with steel wool. I am confused.

[@gregmislick1117]

@@tonyn3123 to remove the shellac like substance they coat them with to maintain that shiny look - it's fine for staying shiny, but nutz if you want to use them like chisels. I have a set of the Buck Bros - they will hold an edge, they will cut hardwood well, they won't stay supper sharp for extended periods - they are inexpensive, but good(enough)

[@tonyn3123]

@@gregmislick1117 Ok, I understand and agree completely. Being in CA I didn't have anything to clean them with, but my work was minimal. I have since given it away when I got home and my buddy still loves it.

[@tonyn3123]

By the way....I gave it away because my go-to is a 10 piece set of Freud chisels my family bought me in the late 70's for Christmas. I have really enjoyed a quality chisel set through the years.

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

Like.your channel. I am an amateur woodworker. I have a random collection of chisels ..I have experienced poor results with my efforts to have sharp usable blades. Just started watching. Here goes..

[@kearneyfamilylondon68]

Brilliantly clear exposition of what to do and why to do it

[@edmiller4149]

Boy , are my chisels sharp now. Stropping next. Thank you so much!!

[@vieuxacadian9455]

Well said Sir . I also use wet /dry paper , but hot melt glued to a machinist granite surface plate . I will strop afterwards as well . Even the budget chisels can surprise .

[@cranegantry868]

I'm not a woodworker but loved this.

[@detexoutdoors2509]

This is the best video I have seen on this topic! Comprehensive, but not boring.

[@josephjankowski1153]

This video is 100% spot on. I worked in a high end furniture restoration shop for 4 years and used a variety of chisels. The Irwin Marples chisels will perform great for all but the hardest of woods, but they do dull more quickly than more expensive chisels, and will require more frequent sharpening. They are fairly soft, and don't chip easily, though. Easy to sharpen too. I have a set of the Stanley Fat Max chisels that I use for carpentry when I need something I can bash around, but don't enjoy them for detail work at all.

[@MoranGuyVideos]

For outdoor projects when you need to clean a dado or half lap joint , I found the cheapest I can find are doing good job . Usually I'm working with pine not any hard wood. I have irwin and stanley sets as well as buck bros set from HD.

[@garyreneker6226]

Thanks for all the little how-to details that others don't mention.. For one, flattening the chisel backs.. Your teaching is very understandable.. While watching I thought that you were either a very good VoTech teacher, or learned from a very good teacher.

[@notamouse5630]

Around 3:30 the best solution may be to take a dremel to the back center of your chisel, then you know its concave.

[@rljay1941]

I really appreciate your common sense approach. What you suggest will get the job done and not take hours to accomplish! Thanks

[@316woodworks9]

I want to see a video about how you learned so much info. I always end up any project with your videos. It's amazingly wonderful to see you wisdom and expertise consistently.

[@alexandrevaliquette1941]

0:52 FULLER the Yellow and red chisel, this is what I have. I'm so proud to see my tools featured here!! Then, came the rest of the video... Thumbs up anyway.

[@DeDraconis]

I just bought a really cheap 3-Pack from Wallyworld. But my intention is to use them as beater chisels (for things like scraping glue and gunk off of stuff, including metal surfaces that would ruin an edge). Basically the things I would feel bad abusing a good chisel doing.

[@tomsardo6984]

Thanks. Glad you are fully recovered from the accident. Stay safe and healthy.

[@timdouglass9831]

Lo these many years ago, back when the earth was young and so was I, I had a cheap chisel that I used a lot. (I think it came in a set of 4 for 99 cents at the dime store) It was soft and would take a razor edge but would dull by the time you got it moved through the tough air to the workpiece. In frustration and ignorance I heated the edge red hot and dunked it into a can of used motor oil. Viola! That thing was now hard like glass! Took forever to get it sharp but it still took that razor edge. It worked really well for me for many years, despite the fact that it was ridiculously easy to chip the edge. Alas, it has been lost in the chaos of life over time, but it gave me a bit of insight into why I wanted good steel for cutting tools. Excellent video as always!

[@Rusty_ok]

I have a few of those “chisel shaped objects”. They have been designated for opening paint cans.

[@mac243877]

My wife went to open a tin of paint with one of my Naren chisels..... still married but only cos it was my fault for leaving them hanging over my bench in my wood shop .... my bad ???

[@mac243877]

Narex narex bloody predictive text invented by a female no doubt

[@genelomas332]

@@mac243877 you know you can edit your comments.. ;)

[@hoperules8874]

Rusty Gun Mmmm...until I got older most of my "tools" were--old butter knives! Did pretty much anything you needed done around the house (including hammering a nail to hang a picture & flexible putty knife)!

[@bacicinvatteneaca]

@@mac243877 ok sexist

[@stevenrayhoward]

Absolutely a fantastic video, James. Chisel sharpening (and finger cutting at the table saw) seem to be my two nemesis in my woodshop. I know not why I'm intimidated at jumping in and starting the process of sharpening my chisels! Years & years ago, folks would bring to me their knives, hand axes and hatchets for sharpening... never a problem. I just need to do this and you have now eliminated any excuse I might think up, Thank you. Oh, the table saw and my fingers? That's because I've been found guilty of being just plain stupid! Twice now - yup... it's seems to be true: no cure for stupidity!

[@loganvanderwier8866]

Well, you still have 8 fingers to really learn your lesson with lol

[@emperious1]

Hey, I love your honesty and the way you deal with haters. Thank you SOOOOO much for continuing to post during this time!

[@Aircraftmechanical]

I have never done any woodworking besides whittling some sticks with a pocket knife but I got hooked on your videos. You're an amazing teacher, with a very precise and comprehensive way of conveying knowledge without being overwhelming all whilst being charming, charismatic and gripping. People like you with channels like yours are what make YT great in my opinion. I'm really impressed.

[@farmerbob4554]

I bought a 6 chisel set from Harbor Freight for about $10. I had to return the first set because one chisel had about 1/8” ground off on the side of the edge. I started flattening with 220 wet/dry and progressed to 400, 600 and then 1000 plus a strop using a leather belt and polishing compound. Spending about an hour on each chisel I got them razor sharp and they seem to hold an edge really well. I prefer the HFT to Stanley Fat Max that I cant get as sharp.

[@jlw35cudvm]

I started with those cheap chisels. After 2 years I am still flattening them. Recently upgraded to Narex for now and they’re great for me in my garage. Admittedly, I also invested in a set of diamond stones. Great combination! I have you to thank for the tips James.

[@jurikristjouw]

Somehow they just do not stay flat, also true for diamond plates.

[@gregtaylor9331]

For those on a budget (or just cheap like me) I was able to obtain some scrap granite from a counter top manufacturer. (He essentially allowed me to check his scrap bin. I wound up with an oval shaped "sink cut out" about 12 x 18 with a smooth surface and rough edges. I looked at it with a straight edge when I got it home and couldn't see light under it so it is flat enough for my sharpening work.

[@David-hm9ic]

I found a granite sink cut out at a Habitat for Humanity "Restore" for $5. Not free but easy.

[@jamesfredlund9150]

Very informative. I'm glad I found this video.

[@gabeaqui111]

Beginning woodworker here. Happy to see my Irwin Marples made the list! Time to go get some sandpaper and get to sharpening. Much appreciated for the video as always super detailed!

[@jgraham007]

Thanks so much for this video. You've convinced me to return the cheap Chinese chisels (say that three times fast) I just bought at Harbor Frieght, and invest in some good ones. You are an amazing resource.

[@k4kfh]

Honestly, the Buck Bros ones from the orange box store in the US are pretty good for the money...they're made in America and they seem to hold an edge alright. They need some work, but it's doable.

[@MadMonk67]

I agree. I bought a 1/2" to try it out and it's been working great. Didn't have too hard of a time flattening the back and it holds an edge pretty well. I like them so much I bought a few more in other sizes. I also made the investment into some steel diamond-coated plates instead of sandpaper. They ain't cheap, but they are great.

[@danielsunnqvist19]

Thank you for so much great information in the perfect pace! Now I wanna buy my first chisels and try it out 🤣

[@BB-wj8dv]

I was gifted a 6 piece set of Narex Chisels, the dark brown handled ones and I've used them for about 3 years now, they've handled everything I could throw at them. Granted it did take quite a bit of work to get them flat, my 0.5" and my 0.125" chisel were quite a lot more work than the others for some reason. Now that they are flat, they stay sharp for a good while. My shop works almost entirely on Walnut, so everyone else's mileage may vary. All in all, if the premium brands are really that much better, I might have to pick one up at some point to try. However, for now I'm content with my narex set.

[@alexprokai9256]

Another day, another lesson! Nice work👌

[@catfishcave379]

I have the Narex set and I love them.

[@williamfitzer4805]

I bought a 1” kobalt chisel for a construction project. I did the typical prep steps. I was surprised at how sharp it was and how long that edge lasted.

[@TheAsphis]

Hey, thanks for cool video on sharpeneing subject, rly needed to see this to confirm some information spreding trough the youtube :D and I am happily surprised about recomendation of narex chissels! Narex is our neighboors Czech company and all of ther tools are realy above avarage to proffesional level. Even their power tools are great. Thanks again and greetings from hearth of Eourope - Slovakia :)

[@terrijuanette486]

Thank you for another great video! This is very helpful - especially knowing how to tell if a set should be returned. That's gold!

[@learemington1700]

Ive been using the sandpaper method for a long time for these types of things but your glass plate was a good addition. I work on high pressure air compressors (5000 psi) and use class as my flat medium. Our valves are like coins and i use several grits of lapping compound to perfectly mate the surfaces good enough to hold that pressure metal to metal. Glass is the best medium.

[@JGMc23]

Been watching your videos for a while now and I just wanted to say they’re always very helpful, easy to watch and have just the right bit of entertainment. Thanks for the work you put into making these, they’re sincerely so great

[@dpbjlee83]

my wife used my cheap set to remove mortar from bricks - looks like I'm getting some good ones for Father's Day - always worth the time to watch - Thanks

[@indalcecio]

Did you get those yet? Can I borrow them? I have some paint cans to open and some flathead screws to take out

[@indalcecio]

Don't worry Ill sharpen them on my bench grinder before I give them back; this gives them a reall cool rainbow color afterwards too!

[@davidlampkin1484]

Excellent presentation as usual, thanks for helping us to have the opportunity to become better wood workers,

[@jons2447]

Thank you, Mr. Nubs!

[@lexboegen]

There's another good use for cheap chisels...leave them where someone else who lives in your house can find them, if they can't tell the difference between a chisel and a prybar. Keep your better chisels in a harder to find location, and the cheap ones as sacrificial lambs.

[@cobberpete1]

🤣🤣🤣

[@David-hm9ic]

Someone at work asked to borrow my pocket knife, back before they were forbidden at work. First thing he did was start to pry something with it. I stopped him. He was REALLY offended and a complete jerk over me not wanting my good knife used as a prybar. I offered a screwdriver and he said. "No, I wouldn't want to hurt it." Any time someone asks to borrow a knife now, my first response is, "What do you want to do with it?"

[@SuperSpecialty]

@@David-hm9ic Know what you mean, met a few people like that. I call them IBs... Ignorant Bastard: ignorant, because they don’t know any better & basterd, because they only care about their purpose (& yes I know the real definition)! So, I’ve learned to let them know the borrowing rule: 1) daily issue only i.e. not to be kept in their possession for later-on, 2) returned in the same condition it was given to you or replaced with a new one. Violation of either or both rules, means you’re not my friend & don’t bother me!

[@AmigaA-or2hj]

Some idiots use chisels as screwdrivers!

[@ethanpayne4116]

Rex Krueger just put out a video where he found a set of diamond stones for cheaper than the required packs of sandpaper. The stones performed just fine so as long as the price stays that low then it looks like there's no need for new woodworkers to start on sandpaper. Pretty surprising stuff!

[@nazareensword2014]

Thanks for the great video. I have bought a set of 7 Narex Richter chisels, but there is no 1 1/4 inch in the set so I bought one of the base Narex line and it's really good too. I'll be getting a 2 inch as well. Cheers.

[@nejsanerkin4474]

I use a single or pair of rare earth magnets with eyelets to hold the tool especially plane irons when flattening the back.

[@timothyvolkers5343]

I am not quite following what you are talking about when you're using rare earth magnets to flatten and sharpen the backs of your plane blades. Can you possibly be more detailed with your explanation so I can understand better. I am almost done restoring my great grandfathers #5 hand plane I just need to finish flattening and then sharpening of the planes Iron/Blade. So any tips or help with doing the trueing up and sharpening the blade is appreciated since this is my first hand plane restoration

[@DwightMS1]

Great thorough explanation.

[@michaelbritton9778]

I learned a bit about chisels that I didn’t know before very interesting I’m sure in future I will follow your advice thanks

[@dobman2011]

you're a force stumpy, 101% thorough as always.

[@kitb9948]

Thanks, really helpful for the beginner!

[@watermain48]

Thanks James.

[@dashdriver3711]

Great presentation! Thank you!

[@9and7]

Actually happy to see a healthier SN...great job a hope it stays that way!

[@theeddorian]

I had a problem with the Stanley "Fat Max" chisels. The edges tended to crumble and chip, which was an immense nuisance. As regards sharpening stones, I like the Norton double-sided India stones. The coarse side will flatten or establish a new bevel very quickly. The fine side will clean it up enough to use a strop on. They are also pretty inexpensive and will pay for themselves over sand paper fairly quickly.

[@timdouglass9831]

I like the Norton stones for cooking knives, but for chisels and plane irons they tend to get uneven too quickly. Unless you have a diamond plate to flatten them you end up with round edges that cut badly.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

Great information James. I have the cheap chisels and use the flat surface system I watched you show and I have had great luck with sharpening. Thanks for sharing with us. Fred.

[@wdtaut5650]

Stanley sells multiple models of the FatMax chisels. The one you show is the 'good' one. The tang goes the full length of the handle. Mine were made in England. I can chop mortises in walnut with them.

[@MWard-zk4wg]

Well done! Well done indeed!

[@classydays43]

Bought me a set of cheap chisels. They're flat and seem to hold their edge well enough to cut the grain on greenish pine, but I imagine I'd need to hone the edge more often than I would a better quality set as the sharp corners around the sides could be filed. I initially bought them thinking I wouldn't need them, but I should have bought a better quality set because I use them all the time.

[@glencrandall7051]

All good information James. Thanks for the suggestions for chisels. I just checked and the few chisels I have are Marples. I guess it's time to start thinking about something better. Thank you for sharing. Please stay healthy.

[@stephenwalsh3629]

Excellent instructional video! I greatly appreciated your perspective on chisel brands and trade offs. (As an aside, I enjoy your pace of instruction and acting style. Just on a lark I turned the playback speed to 1-1/4X and found it just as engaging.)

[@tonylenge424]

Great information, thanks. I have found many old chisels at estate sales for next to nothing. Good steel and made in USA.

[@genelomas332]

My 32mm Stanley bash chisel is going on 7 years old now.. I use it every day on site.. It's gone through 3 inch nails while doing house framing, been used as a pry-bar in all manner of situations, and has been dropped nose first from various heights directly onto concrete more times than I care to admit, and now it only takes me about 20 minutes to rebuild the tri-bevel (25-30-35 degree) using my honing guide, 600 grit diamond plate, then my 1000/6000 waterstone (how did I live before getting a waterstone I'll never know), then stropping on the back of an old leather belt. It then slices paper like a laser beam.. All up I think it's about a quarter inch shorter than when I bought it. great chisel and only cost 10 bucks!! I also have a 7-piece set of Marples, but with the blue and clear handles, and full length shafts and steel end caps.. right out of the pack they were _really_ sharp.. the waterstone and strop made then even better.. Hanging on the tool wall I have a 3-piece set of old red resin-handled Stanleys which I've had for 23 years.. I haven't touched them in over 2 years, and haven't used them on timber in over 5. I barely even touch the 4-piece set of no-name yellow handled chisels anymore, except if I need to clean old mortar off bricks, or to chisel up tiles from a floor, or to open a paint tin.. ;) I'm considering melting them down and making a big knife from the steel.. might chuck in an old file or 2 so it holds an edge.. ;)

[@timothyvolkers5343]

The last bit if your comment sounds like fun the bit about melting down your unused chisels. I like watching blacksmithing videos along with my woodworking videos. I'm definitely in the woodworking category but blacksmithing looks like a whole lot of fun as well though. Good luck with it if you ever decide to go through with it

[@geraldbrooks2763]

Cheap chisels are actually good for new woodworkers because you have to sharpen them so much. You get really good at sharpening before you know it

[@timothyvolkers5343]

I have started doing hobby woodworking only over the past couple of years and I have a cheap chisel set from good ole Harbor Freight. I had good luck with the set I picked up there and the set worked very well with some harder plywood I was working with to make a nativity set during Christmas time. At first the chisel set didn't do well at all but then I remembered that I never truly flattened sharpened and polished them yet. I did do a slight bit of sharpening the Cheap Harbor Freight set right after I purchased them. But there was a night and day difference in using the set after I did a complete service too the H.F. chisels. Also the set has remained fairly nice even after there use with the nativity scene and one or two other small projects.

[@uiop545]

excellent instructions; very informative; many thanks :)

[@Grneat3884]

Really enjoy your videos. Please consider a video on troubleshooting tips and tricks of the Tormek SE 77 jig. It's a difficult tool to get calibrated for square edges.

[@gregorylashley4985]

Great video! I don't do enough woodworking to make the more expensive chisels worth it but this video will definitely make my cost-effective (not cheap) chisels from HFT work well for me. Thanks for the lesson.

[@rmsg7504]

I just do rough work and would never spend all that time sharpening. I just buy cheap chisels and use them until their dull then buy more cheap chisels. Like $8 US for a set of 3. they last anywhere from a few weeks to 6 months. Like you said sometimes you get a turd and other times you get lucky and get a nice tempered set. I save the old chisels as I have down time during the year and might resharpen them on a cheap belt grinder I got for $40 but that remains to be seen as I just keep getting in a hurry and buy more chisels. I don't know the first thing about wood working but I do install locks, adjust strike plates and hinges a lot as well as a few other handyman type things. If I get more into it I would try the chisels you suggest. I had some fatmax but didn't like them so would try the Narex. Great video and thanks for all the links.

[@mastermetalshredder]

Awesome video, thanks for posting!

[@olivier2553]

Thank you very much for this tutorial, I found it super useful. Mostly common sense tricks like using different direction strokes on the back of the blade for each grain of sand paper: of course, but until you have tried it, you would not know how it makes your life easier. I have one chisel, of brand El Cheapo because here in Thailand, tools are expensive when compared to the cost of life, but at least, now I can use it.

[@GARRY3754]

My belt sander has come in handy to sharpen a chisel on site. But it was rough carpentry. Still effective if needed. Watch your fingers.

[@simonhopkins3867]

Second hand chisels are a good option.

[@TheTsunamijuan]

I would suggest adding some dishwashing soap to your wetting mixture for sandpaper. It Helps lower the loading of the paper. Though in a situation like this a cutting oil or even wd40 can help too.

[@timothyvolkers5343]

I know master woodworker Paul Sellers like using Windows washer fluid on his diamond stones for the same reason as dish soap water mixture like you mentioned.

[@ivans9655]

Nice tips! Thank you.

[@greghetzler9266]

Super cheap temp tiny wood chisel! Working on some miniature wood frame models. Had need for 1/8th inch chisel, non-exist. Bought 80-Cent straight screw driver ground to shape, heated tip red, bent to shape and filed. Torched to red again and oil quenched. Stone sharpened worked great. Now have extra paint can cleaners :).

[@elguapo1507]

Thanks very much indeed! 👍