Popular Woodworking 2001-02 № 120, страница 33
bevel-edge chisel sets
* All hardness numbers are on the Rockwell "C" scale.The first number is the hardness 1 !/2" up from the cutting edge. ** Chisels not sold as set. Price is for Ratings are on a basis ofl to 5 with "one" being "unacceptable" and "five" being hardness of the metal measured ^V' up from 6mm, l2mm,20mm and 24mm chisels. "outstanding";W=wood;P=plastic ;Chisels in the cutting edge.The second number is the red are recommended;see the text for details. * All hardness numbers are on the Rockwell "C" scale.The first number is the hardness 1 !/2" up from the cutting edge. ** Chisels not sold as set. Price is for Ratings are on a basis ofl to 5 with "one" being "unacceptable" and "five" being hardness of the metal measured ^V' up from 6mm, l2mm,20mm and 24mm chisels. "outstanding";W=wood;P=plastic ;Chisels in the cutting edge.The second number is the red are recommended;see the text for details. Ashley Isles Editors Cho Available from:JesadaTools, 800-531-5559, www.jesada.com These British-made chisels had the best ergonomics of all the chisels tested.The 6"-long beech handle is slightly bulbous in the middle, and the 1 K" diameter allows you to get a good grip for striking or paring.The edge held up nicely, too. If you buy the set of six chisels, the price averages out to $13.33 per chisel — a good bargain for a set of lifetime tools. Buck Brothers Available from: home center stores, including Home Depot We had high hopes for this chisel. Many of us know someone with an old set of "Bucks" that has aged nicely. Alas, the modern version does not live up to the legend.Though the chisel's handle is designed to be struck, it is far too short to be struck comfortably. We predict lots of blood blisters on your index finger and thumb. man the handle is an odd shape. However, once we got the chisel set up (which was quite a chore) the edge held up surprisingly well.The handle is a little slippery, especially when your hands are sweaty, but overall these chisels are a good bargain at less than $7 each. Crown/WW Supply Available from: Woodcraft,800-225-1153, www.woodcraft.com; or Woodworker's Supply, 800645-9292 These British chisels were easy to flatten, easy to hone and easy to hold. However the cutting edge was also easy to destroy.These nice-looking chisels had the softest metal of the entire bunch, and that edge quickly became unusable during our test.Woodworker's Supply carries these chisels under its own label. lacquer and add a coat of oil to get a better grip. Despite our issue with the handle, the cutting edge fared well in our tests. Overall,these are quality chisels. Footprint Available from: Craftsman, 800-377-7414, www.sears.com/craftsman We weren't impressed with these chisels right out of the package.The polypropylene handles seemed a bit crude, and the blades needed a lot of workThat said, some of us found these chisels very comfortable to hold, and the cutting edge held up OK in use.Though not as polished a tool as the Marples Blue Chips,the Footprints would still make a decent set of mid-priced bench chisels. E.C.E. jWitoriChoiced Available from:Craftsman, 800-377-7414, www.sears.com/craftsman These are the funkiest-looking chisels in the bunch.The blade is short and crudely finished and Available from: David Warren Direct, 800-724-7758, www.ecemmerich.com These nice German chisels have handles made from hornbeam, a European hardwood that is tough and difficult to split. However, like several other chisels in this test, it suffers from what we call "lumpy handle syndrome." Basically,the handle needs sanding to remove the slick finish. Luckily this is a simple task for you to do. Sand off the Freud For a local dealer, contact Freud at 800-334-4107 When we started flattening the face of these chisels we were stunned by how flat they were. However, when it came to cutting wood, the Freuds didn't hold up as well as we hoped. Our testers found the handle a little short, but com-fortable.And the handles suffer from "lumpy handle syndrome" (see the E.C.E. review), but that can be easily remedied. 44 Popular Woodworking February 2001 |
