What brand to get- larger chisel sizes

[Sparky]

Hello all

I asked this question on another forum and I did not get a rousing response so I thought I would ask my fiends across the pond.

I want to get a 1 1/2" and a 2" bench chisel since I tend to reach for the largest chisel possible for the job at hand.
Right now I have and love a set of Barr cabinetmakers chisels from 1/4 - 1". I have these because I was sick and tired of bad steel (I'm a pure neanderthal) and I wanted a chisel that could take a very hard days work with the ability to outlast me.

So according to your expert opinions should I just spend the money for more from Barr or should I get those sizes from ashley Iles.
My hesitation with Barr is the price but the up side is they fit what I want in a chisel and I would have a complete set which I do appreciate
My hesitation with Ashley Iles is that they are a tang chisel and I am not sure if that will last as long as I would like. The up side is the quality steel and the price is much more reasonable than Barr.

Any thoughts would be greately appreciated.

Thanks
Peter

Ps. there is also the possibility of two cherries but I like the AIs better and if anyone has heard any rumor about Lie Nielsen coming out with larger sizes that could be a possibility as well. I thought I heard someone say something about this a while back...but maybe I was just dreaming it.

[Alf]

Peter, seems to me you're really already sold on the Barrs ;D However I would say that worrying about the longevity of tanged chisels is a non-starter - they last just fine and usually even when royally abused still have enough handle left to protect the tang. Unlike socket chisels, whose handles frequently seem to fall out even when looked after.

Cheers, Alf

[Sparky]

Thanks Alf

I am generally sold on the Barrs but I really like your response since I am looking for someone to talk me out of the high price tag. Remember less money spent on these tools means more money for other tools...like a nice setup for the new (to me) hand cranked grinder that I just got off the bay.
All I really am curious about is the strength of the tang handle which as you say is quite sturdy so...that might be what I need. And after all if I buy from Joel over at TFWW I won't have to worry about returns if the odd chance comes up that I don't like them.

Thanks
Peter

[afterglow]

Hi Sparky, and welcome.

I once heard a saying that went something like, "Buy the best and just cry once". Of course, you could replace "the best" with "the ones you really want" in that sentence!

In my opinion it really comes down to what matters most to you - price, useability, having a complete set, aesthetics etc - everybody has a personal way of viewing this so it's unique to you.

One way you might consider is to sit with your eyes shut and to imagine your Barr chisels sitting beautifully in your workshop and then the AI ones sitting next to them. How do you feel in your gut?

If you're happy with the feeling, go with the AI. If not, stick with what you love

Cheers,

Lee

[mrgrimsdale]

toobyefore said:

Peter, seems to me you're really already sold on the Barrs ;D However I would say that worrying about the longevity of tanged chisels is a non-starter - they last just fine and usually even when royally abused still have enough handle left to protect the tang. Unlike socket chisels, whose handles frequently seem to fall out even when looked after.

Cheers, Alf

yes deffo - you can bash and mis-use a tanged plastic handled chisel for many years without doing any damage. Wood not so good - but I'd expect a socket chisel with wood handle to last a bit longer than a tang - if you don't lose the handle.
I bought a set of Axminster cheapos (6 chisels £17 or thereabouts) a few months back for the same reason - the wider sizes. Absolutely nothing wrong with them except they don't look very nice!

cheers
Jacob

[engineerone]

slightly off topic, today i spent some time sharpening 14 marples for a mate.

the last one i did, i did not clean up properly and having left it after a workout on the tormek, at around 17.30, i went back to it about 22.00 and rust had started these are newly made irwin marples, only bought about 3 months ago.

if you can't even stop them rusting in 5 hours, how the hell are they gonna keep an edge for any length of time.

as for the original posting what about some japanese chisels in these big sizes, they seem more readily designed for the kind of walloping you would expect in these sizes.

paul

[Sparky]

Thanks Paul

that's not a bad idea, one that I had not thought of, I'll take a look as some Japanese chisels.

Lee

That 'meditation' is spot on. I think you helped me make my mind up.

Thanks
Peter

[dunbarhamlin]

The real stinker with AIs is set up time - backs rippled like Blackpool sands at low tide. Have recently acquired the 3 larger AIs, and while two took maybe half an hour between them (though still with hollow patches in the faces), the third has been a real B.

[afterglow]

Peter said

Lee

That 'meditation' is spot on. I think you helped me make my mind up

Phew, that's my good deed for January done then, I can relax a while now. Actually, I have so often bought things in haste myself and then got a real sinking feeling in my gut when I sit down and simply know, right from the moment I open the packaging, that I have not bought what I really want. That's why I thought you might find it helpful. I have to restrain myself and do it these days to avoid buying more stuff I don't really want.


Dunbarhamlin, you've given me a smile as wide as a Cheshire cat with

backs rippled like Blackpool sands at low tide

;D ;D

That has to be the saying of the month, so I can stop looking for that too

Cheers,

Lee

[mrgrimsdale]

dunbarhamlin said:

The real stinker with AIs is set up time - backs rippled like Blackpool sands at low tide. Have recently acquired the 3 larger AIs, and while two took maybe half an hour between them (though still with hollow patches in the faces), the third has been a real B.

Hmm, so why didn't you send them back? If a new chisel takes longer than 5 minutes to set up then it's faulty IMHO and not fit for it's purpose.

cheers
Jacob

[Alf]

What I didn't say was I took a different option when I wanted a wide chisel and went with one the Chinese ones at Workshop Heaven (can't get the direct link to work, sorry). They look as weird as a weird thing, and are really best for chopping being a little short for many paring situations, but the one I have is actually very good, takes a good edge and didn't take an age to prep at all. Plus you can get 'em really, really wide too.

Cheers, Alf

[dunbarhamlin]

mrgrimsdale said:

Hmm, so why didn't you send them back? If a new chisel takes longer than 5 minutes to set up then it's faulty IMHO and not fit for it's purpose.

Hi Jacob - glutton for punishment, perhaps?
Went in with open eyes - already had several other AIs, which are fine once sorted. The two quickish ones were a pleasant surprise.
I don't go Japanese as I like to use the faces to set up cuts at 90 and 45.

;D Glad it appealed, Lee.

Cheers
Steve