New Japanese chisels - advice needed

[Paul D]

I ahave just received a set of 5 Kumagoro chisels from Axminster costing £119

they look a reasonable quality except that the edges are slightly crowned but more disturbing none are perpendicular to the edges in effect they are all slightly skewed by about 1-2 degrees. I rang Mr Axminster who promptly sent out another set which are exactly the same. They are unable to advise me whether this is the norm for this brand/type of chisel so I am unsure whether to crack on and hone and polish them to a 90 degree edge or assume they are a bad lot and get a refund - anyone any advice preferably within the next 10 days so I can return if necessary!

Paul

 

[ByronBlack]

Personally, I would just hone them straight, 1-2 degree's isn't a lot (i've repaired worse), and if you are going to flatten the backs and put a good edge on them you can do it as part of the honing process, it doesn't seem a lot of work really.

 

[Ironballs]

I'd agree, doesn't seem much

 

[TheTiddles]

Does that mean you have two sets now? Hone and forget, what a bargain!

Aidan

 

[Paul D]

thanks all believe it or not this is the first set of chisels I've bought new since I started playing with wood 15 years ago and I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something; I'm well used to straightening out old chisels i guess I was not expecting to have to go through the same process again!

Paul

 

[Harbo]

The problem with Japanese chisels is they have hollow backs which can be very close to the cutting edge. Grinding away too much reduces this edge which has to be recreated with a round headed hammer!

Rod

 

[ByronBlack]

The problem with Japanese chisels is they have hollow backs which can be very close to the cutting edge. Grinding away too much reduces this edge which has to be recreated with a round headed hammer!

Rod

That shouldn't be necessary, as you flatten the back and continually hone, you'll flatten out the hollows to a cutting edge anyway.

 

[Harbo]

Byron - have a look at Chapter 7 Sharpening in Toshio Odate's book "Japanese Woodworking Tools".

I was wrong about the round headed hammer though - Toshio is shown with a flat headed one! The Japanese also have a special tool for controlling the tapping.

Rod

 

[ByronBlack]

I'll have a look rod, although I'm sure many on this forum have said a number of times and explained it me logically that it is not nessacary, I'll have a search around the forum and see if I can find the info - thanks for the book reference, i'll check it out.

Cheers,
BB