Chisel problem...

[woodbloke]

Can anyone please tell me where this chisel and this one were manufactured? TIA - Rob

 

[Oryxdesign]

They both say Sheffield England on blade?

 

[speed]

i have a oldish set of the red/yellow ones and say made in sheffield.
i got a 1/12 at chrimbo to add to the set and it just says irwin/marples on the blade.

 

[wizer]

It appears from this, that they may not be actually made in Sheffield.

 

[woodbloke]

I've tried to do a bit of Googleisationing and can't find a link to where they're made...Joseph Marples, Record Marples, Marples Ridgeway, Irwin Marples (I thought Irwin were now Chinese) so it's all very confuzzling :? - Rob

 

[Oryxdesign]

Does the quality seem the same?

 

[Paul Chapman]

Rob,

Why not 'phone the company and ask them http://www.irwin.co.uk/contact.php

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[speed]

not sure on quallity yet as the old 1" is the one i always go for, but
i think the old ones stay sharper for longer, i even put one thro; my hand

they are really good on site tho not often they need sharpening, the blue handles are sposed to be the upgrade to red/yellow combo?

 

[head clansman]

Hi rob

Most likely come under the Irwin/ marples umbrella but where there likely to source them from well thats anyone guess more than likely some third world country probably the far east china Taiwan , maybe even India and their still likely to carry the Sheffield brand as well seeing there being made for them. hc

 

[woodbloke]

Does the quality seem the same?

Short answer...no . one is much better than the other :wink:

Paul - that's a good idea, I think I may well give Irwin a shout on the 'morrow - Rob

 

[Max Power]

Record and associated companies were bought out a while back by Rubbermaid [an American company] who promtly closed the Sheffield factory and moved production to the far east. Having used a couple of the more recent "Marples" branded chisels I can assure you that the edge holding capability is grossly inferiour to the older English made versions

 

[woodbloke]

recent "Marples" branded chisels I can assure you that the edge holding capability is grossly inferiour to the older English made versions

This is what I found in my recent tests, the yellow acetate handled chisel (an old one made in Sheffield) was far better than the newer Irwin version - Rob

 

[bugbear]

recent "Marples" branded chisels I can assure you that the edge holding capability is grossly inferiour to the older English made versions

This is what I found in my recent tests, the yellow acetate handled chisel (an old one made in Sheffield) was far better than the newer Irwin version - Rob

Of course, quality and hardness changed even when chisels were made in the Sheffield - older ones are high carbon steel, prone to rust, rather hard, and great edge holding,

Later ones get chrome and vanadium, giving (some) rust resistance. They were also a little softer, making them easier to sharpen, and more prone to ding than chip and edge. This also gives less good edge retention of course.

These changes were deliberate, and targeted the tools more at site work and DIY than cabinet making - nothing to do with the Far East.

BugBear

 

[Vann]

It appears from this, that they may not be actually made in Sheffield.

Err... wrong Marples I believe (William Marples = Marples/Record/Irwin/Rubbermaid)

Cheers, Vann

 

[woodbloke]

It appears from this, that they may not be actually made in Sheffield.

Err... wrong Marples I believe (William Marples = Marples/Record/Irwin/Rubbermaid)

Cheers, Vann

True. There was William Marples, Robert Marples etc as a bit of Googlizing will soon testify (most of which ceased trading in the 19th or 20th cent), but is there a current Marples company (not Joseph Marples) still making chisels in Sheffield...and the answer is probably no (if you can find a link I'd be very grateful) - Rob