Fell for the expensive chisel set and it wasn't worth it

Saved up for months and dropped $400 on a set of Japanese chisels from a woodworking show in Portland. First time I hit a hidden nail in some reclaimed fir, the edge chipped like glass. My old $30 set from the hardware store would have just dented. Still use them for softwoods but man, what a waste of money for rough work. Anyone else get burned on fancy tools that couldn't take real abuse?

3 comments

3 Comments

ray56223d ago

Forty dollars per chisel sounds about right for good white steel but that's bench chisel money not beater chisel money. Those Japanese laminated blades are thin and hard on purpose for cleaner cuts in end grain, they just can't take the same abuse as a cheap chrome vanadium chisel.

thomasb4123d ago

Grabbed a set of Narex for beater chisels and never looked back.

rivera.hannah23d ago

Narex are fine for the price but calling them beater chisels is interesting. Are you actually using them for mortises and prying apart joints, or just as your everyday user that you don't cry over if you drop them. Because that's a big difference. For me a beater chisel is something I'll whack with a steel hammer to chop out a rusty hinge, not something I'm keeping a good edge on for dovetails.