me chisels have gone funny.

[Escudo]

What ho all,

Sorry to give this thread such a silly title. (Not very technical I know ).

However, my chisels (Fairly cheap Marples set with imitation hornbeam handles painted red and yellow :wink: ) are showing a kind of grain, almost like wood.

I tried to clean one with a scotch pad and wd40 but it had little effect. The grain seems to run through the steel.

I don't think it will affect performance, but they look awful, I think it is a kind of rust, any ideas? I suspect that if I made some effort to clean them up it would reappear later.

Esc.

 

[MIGNAL]

I'm almost tempted to say Damascus steel. . . but I have my doubts.

 

[stevel]

Sounds like the type of steel you used to get in italian cars in the eighties! :lol:


Steve

 

[ByronBlack]

People pay silly money for that effect on Japanese chisels - sell them on ebay as 'authentic handmade japanese chisels (honest guv)'

 

[Benchwayze]

They have probably been as close to Damascus as I have, and I have never visted that area of the world!

Put that very fine wire wool, in a fireproof contaner, set light to it, and let it burn itself away. (It will do this just as a cigarette burns away. )

You will be left with Jewellers' rouge, which is great for polishing chisel and plane-irons.

If the grain appearance vanishes, great. You will have nice shiny chisels, ready for honing.

John

 

[Escudo]

Thanks for the comments gang,

I will give that wire wool trick ago and report back.

Have been mulling over just getting some better chisles. It is not difficult to convince yourself that you need better quality tools.

The Lie nielsen ones look good, and the Kirschen set good value.

I may have to give myself a pay rise.

Cheers, Esc.

 

[paulm]

Check out the Blue Spruce offerings as well http://www.bluesprucetoolworks.com/tool ... il_Chisels

Maybe you need the LN's and the Blue Spruce !!!

Cheers, Paul.

 

[Escudo]

A quick report back,

The burning of the wire wool tip was good advice BW. I put the wire wool in my woodburner, it went black and made my hands dirty but the chisel came up like silver after I gave it a good rubbing.

However, the grain of the steel is still there but it is only cosmetic and doesn't affect performance.

Thanks for that tip mate.

I seem to remember that Waka was a fan of the blue spruce chisels. I searched past posts and they seem to be of equal quality to the LN ones.

The cocobolo handles look divine but are not for bashing with a mallet, perhaps I could reserve that pleasure to my old marples set made in Japan or Syria by the way not sheffield. :lol:

Cheers all, Esc.

 

[CONGER]

Escudo... I reckon you have found Saint Paul's chisels. He lost them on the road to Damascus. 'BAY... worth a fortune.

Seriously, I would sell them on the 'bay; you will prolly get enough to enable you to upgrade.

-gerard-

PS... the best, cheapest, easily available, 'fine' polish around is... cheap toothpaste. No kidding!

 

[Escudo]

I am planning a trip at the weekend to team up with Woody Alan to discuss chisels and other related woodworking issues including my rare and valuable holy chisels.

Esc.