custom chisels ideas please

[James carter]

toying with the idea of making some chisels ( brother has an engineering firm so have access to tool grinders etc )
So looking for ideas atm, is there anything anyone is struggling to get ? I was struggling to get mortice chisels a fee years ago but there seems to be a lot more on the market nowadays .Also struggling to find smaller cranked paring chisels . also is there anything that people atnt getting that they'd like say for example I think it's not acceptable that a lot of chisels don't come with a razors edge straight from the factory.I don't want to spend time sharpening something especially if I've paid a premium .
so any interesting ideas please and I have any success with the manufacture I'll send out some samples to interested people for testing feedback . thanks in advance James

 

[TRITON]

Draw lock chisels, skewed,swan necked mortice, or dovetail 'fishtail' are the only 'specialist' types i can think of.

 

[James carter]

Draw lock chisels, skewed,swan necked mortice, or dovetail 'fishtail' are the only 'specialist' types i can think of.

that's helpfull thanks for taking the time to reply !

 

[Against_The_Grain]

I don't want to spend time sharpening something especially if I've paid a premium .

Yes, but after a bit of use you will need to sharpen it anyway! The reason most don't put a razors edge on their chisels is because it's too time consuming and would make the chisels far too expensive, and the ones that do put a razors edge on do it so poorly you wish they hadn't done it because then you're spending time correcting their mess.

There's so many manufacturers of chisels, including the boutique and unusual ones, I'm not sure it would even be worthwhile starting to produce anything.

 

[James carter]

Yes, but after a bit of use you will need to sharpen it anyway! The reason most don't put a razors edge on their chisels is because it's too time consuming and would make the chisels far too expensive, and the ones that do put a razors edge on do it so poorly you wish they hadn't done it because then you're spending time correcting their mess.

There's so many manufacturers of chisels, including the boutique and unusual ones, I'm not sure it would even be worthwhile starting to produce anything.

perhaps but thats why i asked about things people were struggling to get .If nothing else it will be an learning exercise for me and my son as well who is autistic and has an interest in engineering . I originally wanted to make knives but his school have warned against that .the too expensive to aharpen argument doesn't hold with me as it takes me around 30seconds to put a secondary bevel on a chisel following Rob cosmans method . personally I'd rather they came sharp than in a rubbish tool roll or a rubbish box that I'm not going to use anyway

 

[James carter]

Yes, but after a bit of use you will need to sharpen it anyway! The reason most don't put a razors edge on their chisels is because it's too time consuming and would make the chisels far too expensive, and the ones that do put a razors edge on do it so poorly you wish they hadn't done it because then you're spending time correcting their mess.

There's so many manufacturers of chisels, including the boutique and unusual ones, I'm not sure it would even be worthwhile starting to produce anything.

perhaps it's always easier to find a reason not to do something than it is to find a reason to do something. Thats also why i asked about things people were struggling to get .If nothing else it will be an learning exercise for me and my son as well who has an interest in engineering or as he calls it making things . I originally wanted to make knives but his school have warned against that .the its too expensive argument doesn't hold with me as it takes me around 30seconds to put a secondary bevel on a chisel following Rob cosmans method .I just don't believe I should have to esp if we're talking top end chisels . personally I'd rather they came sharp than in a rubbish tool roll or a rubbish box that I'm not going to use anyway . if I buy a knife the more expensive it is the sharper it comes

 

[AJB Temple]

I would take a look at Lie Nielson tools. They limit their manufacturing as they don't want to over expand, and focus on local market first. Hence short supply in UK for many things. Their chisels are high quality, very expensive and supplied properly flattened and sharpened. if you could build a name for very high quality then you may well find a market.

Carving tools may also be a market. Again, the best brands are extremely expensive. The market size may be small but it sounds as if you are aiming for a niche as a cottage industry.

 

[Against_The_Grain]

.the too expensive to aharpen argument doesn't hold with me as it takes me around 30seconds to put a secondary bevel on a chisel following Rob cosmans method.

It is too expensive to do it properly, it may take 30 seconds on a pre-prepared chisel that has already been fettled flat and square, but most manufacturers with all their very expensive machinery struggle to produce the backs flat enough for fine use so leave them relatively rough and not flat, some like Ashley Iles purposely produce them concave because it is far easier than producing them flat and more desirable than convex.

To do it properly as you want to and earn money you would need to be charging in the region of £100 or more per chisel. I would recommend watching videos on YouTube of professional chisel manufacturers to see what you’re up against. I’m not being negative but realistic.

 

[AJB Temple]

A set of 4 Blue Spruce chisels from CHT is £425. Perfectly flat and razor sharp. Low volume manufacturer and very high quality. As that is retail price the cost of production is a lot lower. I compare with Japanese Artisan makers. There is a market for the finest quality tools but it is necessary to focus on building a brand right from the start.