Tell me about my chisels

[Shawn Swafford]

On my quest for affordable tools I picked up these 13 Marples chisels in sizes 1/8 - 2 inch and would like to know about the quality of them etc. I am familiar with the Blue Chips that you guys mention all the time but haven't seen these before. I think they have boxwood handles on them. I bought them from a seller on ebay who had only one size listed. I asked if they had any more and he had what you see here. I bought all he had. I picked them up for $48 shipped and they are brand new. Some are marked hand forged and the others aren't. I ended up with extras in 1/8, 1/2, 1, and 1 1/2". I'll probably keep them as I will always have extra sharp chisels ready to go. I am only missing the 5/8 and 1 1/4 to complete the set. Thanks for your help.

Shawn

[Marc Hills]

Hi Shawn:

I don't know for sure, but I'd wager that the metal in those chisels is substantially the same as the well-regarded Blue chips. And I must say the boxwood handles certainly look beautiful. The handle design, without leather washers, bolsters etc. won't take a tremendous amount of abuse however. Whatever you do, don't use a hammer on them. A wooden or better yet a rawhide mallet will maximize their life.

I think you did great; those chisels will certainly last you well past the point where you might begin to appreciate something even better.

Your next step is to settle on a sharpening system. Waterstones, scary sharp, oilstones, diamond hones, ceramic sharpers.... There's a whole gamut of possibilities, each with their proponents. The best advice I can give is to on one and stick with it. Any will give you a terrific edge, but it takes time to get proficient at any particular sharpening method. Don't abandon one system for another, at least not for the first year or so.

HTH,

[Keith Christopher]

I have the set of blue and let me tell you scary sharp does just that scary sharp. nice chisels.

[Bob Smalser]

The proof is in their use. No telling, otherwise, as that design has been made for decades. From here, the steel finish looks better than the new ones and I suspect you may have a real bargain there.

I has a set of 1970-vintage Footprints identical to those that were great chisels I used almost daily until recently when I replaced them with Swans and Witherbies...which are prettier, but don't really work any better.

[Shawn Swafford]

Thanks guys. I had a feeling they were probably just rehandled blue chips. I think for the money they will make a real nice set. Thanks for the input.

[Herb Blair]

Shawn,
You got a bargain! I have several of the same type (not a complete set) of the same chisels. They hold an edge well, should work well for you. I wish the Irwin (who bought the Marples brand) would make them again. For less than $4 a chisel you didn't go wrong.

[John Dingman]

Shawn,


Very nice! You did real good. I sent you a pm.

John

[Shawn Swafford]

John, I sent you a p.m.

[Louis Bois]

Shawn,

I have an identical set...minus the 1/8...and I use these regularly in the shop. They're great chisels...rehandled blues or not, they do keep an edge relatively well and simply need minor rehoning once in a while when using super hard woods. Excellent buy!!!

[Maurice Ungaro]

$48? I hate you.

Maurice

[Shawn Swafford]

$48? I hate you.

Maurice

Now I KNOW I did well