I have never seen chisels like these.

[derekcohen]

Good luck with Kiyohisa. I have a set of slicks .... which are just superb! However they were a 3 year wait when I bought them about 10 years ago. Currently I understand the wait time is 6 years or more for any of his chisels.

Incidentally, do you know how a Japanese chisel handle is fitted? It is a combined tang and socket. Don't forget that the chisel also needs a hoop. There is quite a bit of work involved in handling the chisels from scratch. I recommend that either you get the chisels with fitted handles, or purchase a cheap Japanese chisel to pull apart for practice.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[Lemwise]

Good luck with Kiyohisa.

I didn't say I'm getting Kiyohisa blades. I said Watanabe is going so to see if he can get me a good deal on 5 blades. Any of the blades made by the blacksmiths Watanabe knows is fine by me.

Incidentally, do you know how a Japanese chisel handle is fitted? It is a combined tang and socket. Don't forget that the chisel also needs a hoop. There is quite a bit of work involved in handling the chisels from scratch. I recommend that either you get the chisels with fitted handles, or purchase a cheap Japanese chisel to pull apart for practice.

Yes, I know it's socket and tang construction. I'm going to turn the handles myself and a buddy is going to make the ferrules and hoops on his metal lathe. It shouldn't be that much work if we're precise in our measurements. It's not rocket science, just a simple chisel.

 

[Lemwise]

This morning I got an e-mail from Shinichi Watanabe because he found some old blades for me if I can afford them. The sizes are 9, 12, 15, 21 and 24mm made from White #1 steel and the brand is Masanari. He told me these blades were made in the late 70's and that they have age hardened. I had no idea steel could become harder by aging but Watanabe tells me this is most certainly the case. Given his reputation and knowledge of steel I don't doubt what he tells me. Anyway, he also told me that the hardness is of Kiyotada level (apparently Kiyotada made ridiculously hard blades) and that blades this hard and tenacious are no longer made. The price is a bit steep though so I have to think it over a bit. I'm probably going to buy them because this is a once in a life time opportunity.

 

[Lemwise]

.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

This morning I got an e-mail from Shinichi Watanabe because he found some old blades for me if I can afford them. The sizes are 9, 12, 15, 21 and 24mm made from White #1 steel and the brand is Masanari. He told me these blades were made in the late 70's and that they have age hardened. I had no idea steel could become harder by aging but Watanabe tells me this is most certainly the case. Given his reputation and knowledge of steel I don't doubt what he tells me. Anyway, he also told me that the hardness is of Kiyotada level (apparently Kiyotada made ridiculously hard blades) and that blades this hard and tenacious are no longer made. The price is a bit steep though so I have to think it over a bit. I'm probably going to buy them because this is a once in a life time opportunity.

I have some older high quality steel chisels that probably have age hardened. They still sharpen very well but are a little more tedious to resharpen. Swedish E A Berg Steel chisels.  I don't think there is any particular value to chisels being that hard. For the most part the edges become brittle and when you get a nick in the edge it only takes more work to resharpen it.

Modern "hard" chisels are usually crap.

Personally I don't buy into the whole "high end - high priced chisel circuit". I have a few supposedly great Jap chisels and some are quite good but I still haven't found a single one that is _better_ than my old vintage E A Berg Steel chisels, they sharpen beautifully, hold their edge and are easy to resharpen. Can't ever think I need "better" and they pop every now and then for a song on the second hand market. I  have about twenty at the moment and they will last me throughout my professional life.

The chisels in the start of the thread is not something that would interest me. Overworked design - for what purpose? A "simple" chisel can be beautiful but part of it lies in the quality of cut and steel.

I paid about the same for the whole lot of my high quality steel chisels as two high end Jap chisels would cost and I wouldn't trade a single one of them for a Jap chisel. Not knocking the Jap chisels though - but I don't find them special nor very cost effective. The set posted earlier in the thread sure look nice though!