It had to be done!!

[Dodge]

Well I have been using my narex chisels for a couple of years and cannot fault the steel, but I have got to admit the handles don't do it for me - anyway had a little play today and this is the result

Traditional London Pattern made and turned from some lignum vitae - I will be replacing them all with staggered sizes - how they should be.

I know alot of people don't like the London pattern but I love them, this chisel now feels right in the hand.

What do you reckon - an improvement or not??

Will do the others tomorrow as ran out of time as was on pancake duty tonight!!

 

[iNewbie]

Whoever doesn't like them should get 'em-selves down to Specsavers... :mrgreen:

Wish I had the skill to do that. Lovely-jubbly!

 

[James C]

I really like these Dodge. Maybe I should make my own for my Narex chisels to stop me from buying a bunch of Londons from Ray Iles's website.

 

[Mister S]

It looks great. I've just bought a couple of Narex chisels to try them out - they seem to be really good for the money. But would definitely look better with handles like that of course! Thanks for sharing.

Pancake duty! I guess some things have to take priority

Steve

 

[Racers]

Hi, Dodge

Love London Pattern handles, and yours are very nice.

Pete

 

[Graham Orm]

Superb job! Very nice. =D> =D>

 

[Jamesc]

A great improvement, I am looking forward to seeing the complete set

James

 

[No skills]

Now if they sold them like that I'd buy a couple, better still if AI did them like that I'dm buy a couple of those instead

 

[Cheshirechappie]

MUCH better. A coat or two of oil finish and a few months of handling, and they'll glow!

By the way, I notice that you've not fallen into a trap that some do. Some commercial London pattern handles do not have the turned chamfer at the ends of the octagonal section, and the sharp corners thus left dig into the palms of your hands when paring. Chamfering them off with a chisel is easy enough to do, and makes the handle much nicer to use; but incorporating the chamfer at the turning stage as you've done is much neater.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Now if they sold them like that I'd buy a couple, better still if AI did them like that I'dm buy a couple of those instead

I think Ray Iles makes b/e chisels with various handle patterns of your choice fitted, including London pattern. They may not be on his new website yet, but they are on his 'Oldtoolstore' site. Robert Sorby also offer them.

 

[No skills]

Hmm tempting =P~ I have just won some old chisels with no handles that I need to do first, and I havent done that Mawhood gouge handle yet #-o

 

[No skills]

I really do think I have a problem with chisels

 

[bobbybirds]

How do the Narex chisels break down? Were they easy to take apart and reassemble? I would love to see a bit of a play by play of the process if you would be so inclined. I have a set that I would be interested in doing the same thing!

BTW... I love the shape of that handle of yours! 8)

 

[Paul Chapman]

Excellent job, Roger 8)

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Dodge]

How do the Narex chisels break down? Were they easy to take apart and reassemble? I would love to see a bit of a play by play of the process if you would be so inclined. I have a set that I would be interested in doing the same thing!

BTW... I love the shape of that handle of yours! 8)

Will try and get the rest of the set finished today, will take some more piccies

 

[AndyT]

More inspiring stuff!
These are not just chisels, they are Roger's chisels!

 

[bugbear]

The work is beautilful - but I wouldn't choose LV for handles.

It's brittle, and not (IMHO) nice that nice to look at.

It's merits are it's density and it's (almost unique) low friction behaviour.

For handles I'd prefer some more dalbergiae-ish.

making-best-london-pattern-octagonal-chisel-handles-t11412.html

But (again) your workmanship is magnificent.

BugBear

 

[Fromey]

You could go into full time business just selling handles like that, especially if they were tuned to common chisels like Narex and you wrote up a how-to guide. I'd certainly buy a set from you.

 

[Tom K]

The work is beautilful - but I wouldn't choose LV for handles.It's brittle BugBear

And yet was the wood of choice for bowling balls which get struck against each other repeatedly and often with great force. So how does that work?

 

[deserter]

The work is beautilful - but I wouldn't choose LV for handles.It's brittle BugBear

And yet was the wood of choice for bowling balls which get struck against each other repeatedly and often with great force. So how does that work?

My favourite mallet is LV.


~Nil carborundum illegitemi~