Dissapointment from Ashley Iles

[ColeyS1]

I've often thought a larger butt chisel would come in handy- 2.5" perhaps. I rang the number to see if they'd consider making a one off special and was met with "we're too busy at the moment" I've thought about it for years- I think it'd be particularly useful for paring moulds and using for hinges. I said well I don't mind going on a waiting list for 1-2 years and was surprised when she abruptly replied "no, that's not going to happen" I explained I've got over 20 of their chisels and it would have been nice if the larger one matched "um...no" was the response. How miserable !!!!
Oh well at least their so busy they don't have to worry about looking after their existing customers lol.

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[Lazurus]

How about getting a chisel from another manufacturer that fits the bill and put a Ashley iles handle on? Their loss for poor attitude!

 

[ColeyS1]

How about getting a chisel from another manufacturer that fits the bill and put a Ashley iles handle on? Their loss for poor attitude!

Yeah it's an option. To be honest I saw a wide one which made me think again of getting one made to match. It's old and rusty though....

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[Tasky]

Hate to break it to you, but generally the cost in time and effort for a company like this, to set everything up and make a one-off, just is not worth anything to them.... that you could afford, anyway. It'd be like asking Volkswagen to make you a one-off custom MkIV Golf, or something. Unless you'd be willing to spend several hundred (possibly even thousand) quid for just a simple butt chisel, you're spit outta luck I'm afraid. Better off finding a small independent maker of such things.

I once visited APEM and asked them about making me a custom joystick - They make the kit I use for PC flight sims, y'see.... they also make all the controls for every JCB out there, Aston Martin, many industrial controls, and a whole host of military kit.
Their basic upshot was that, unless I was ordering at least 15,000 units a month, it wasn't worth their time. They even offered to sell me the PC division of their business, which would have been a very good investment if I'd had the cash to hand... and it wasn't as much as you'd think.

But still, custom one-offs are a right royal PITA for anyone not geared up to it, and flippin' expensive for the customer. This is why I took up woodworking and making custom pieces for my own self.

I explained I've got over 20 of their chisels and it would have been nice if the larger one matched "um...no" was the response. How miserable !!!!
Oh well at least their so busy they don't have to worry about looking after their existing customers lol.

20..... is that all? There are teachers and schools and YouTubers out there with at least ten times that many. What makes you special?

Sorry to seem harsh, but a friend of mine tries that trick with both the car parts and computer parts suppliers he uses if ever they get something wrong, or (far more commonly) he wants a sly favour - It's always, "Do you know how much I spend with you every month? I'm one of your biggest customers"....
To be fair, he does spend about £4,000 a month on computer parts and probably twice that on car parts. But that is still small fry stuff compared to their actual biggest customers.

 

[ColeyS1]

Don't worry, that doesn't sound harsh [WINKING FACE]
It was more the way she replied that annoyed me a bit. It went from being " too busy at the moment" which sounded like it was a possibility to "that's not going to happen, um no" If she had started off by saying "we don't do one offs, sorry" than that would have been the end of it.

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[ColeyS1]

What makes you special?

Mummy told me I was ! lol



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[sunnybob]

I thought it was just because you went to a special school. :roll:

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Probably not special, just approved.

 

[Jacob]

I've often thought a larger butt chisel would come in handy- 2.5" perhaps. ....

What would you do with it?
I've got a 2.5" Marples firmer chisel (random ebay purchase) which is surprisingly useless. Basically you have to hit it 5 times as hard as a 0.5" chisel - it came with a shattered boxwood handle!
I wondered if it had a special purpose, or maybe just a display model sample. It was well finished with a bronze colour which has all worn off now.

 

[Tasky]

It went from being " too busy at the moment" which sounded like it was a possibility to "that's not going to happen, um no" If she had started off by saying "we don't do one offs, sorry" than that would have been the end of it.

I expect she was trying to be polite... and maybe gauge whether you meant a custom product to be made by the thousands, rather than just one single chisel.

 

[Sawdust=manglitter]

I got the 2” chisel for my birthday from the OH which is a beast

And its come in very useful since. I can see the appeal of a larger one, but your bordering on using an old plane blade as a makeshift chisel.

On that note, have you thought about approaching Ray Iles, who appears to be a small outfit (compared to Ashley Iles) and do smaller batches of different blades? Maybe he could help you out? And maybe if you bought a loose handle from ashley iles, then they’d sort’a match your set?

https://www.oldtoolstore.co.uk/contact-us-2-w.asp

 

[Harbo]

They are brothers I think or if not, related.
Ray is even smaller an outfit than Ashley Iles now run by Barry and Tony.

Rod

 

[ColeyS1]

Thanks guys ;@) I'm sure I'll manage for a few more years- sharpen up a bolster if I get desperate lol

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[Inspector]

Once you get much over 2" you're in the slick territory.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.a ... at=1,41131

Pete

 

[Trevanion]

I've really not been impressed by Ashley Iles at all. I've got a few of their tools (Only one of which I've bought) and I've always questioned their quality. I don't know what material they're using for the ferrules but it's really not up to the task at all, I've had several ferrules split and I've had to replace them with some more substantial brass. It's definitely not a decent quality brass they're using anyway. And as far as I know that's a common problem which for some reason they don't want to solve.

The one chisel I bought was basically to see what all the fuss was about and I'm not very pleased with it, to be honest. It was basically the bog standard 1" Mk2 chisel that they sell because I thought I could at least get some use from a 1" and it would be a good chisel just to test the waters. But honestly, I've seen better stuff from Aldi! First thing I did when it arrived was to give it a good look over and I noticed a few things, starting with the worst was that the back of the chisel was curved quite significantly, I'm talking you put a straight edge along the back of the chisel and there's a 1mm gap in the centre. Not a massive deal because you only use the front edge of the chisel but it really shouldn't of passed Quality control (If there is one). Next thing I noticed it was ground unevenly as in one bevel edge was to a sharp point and the other had a good 1mm flat on it, I know they hand grind their chisels but do they even look while they're doing it? Next thing was that the actual cutting edge was out of square by a good amount but at least they went at it with a buffing wheel to give some sentiment of a polished edge. And just to top it off the actual chisel was not central in the handle by about 1mm as well. I've given it some use and corrected some of the issues but I've found the steel not to be of stellar quality, Compared to my 100-year-old Marples ones it doesn't compare by a mile as far as edge retention goes which doesn't make any sense at all because surely in that time they've found better steels and better ways of heat treating them? Even my cheapy Kirshens are better.

I know if I called them and told them they'd probably replace it no questions asked but what's the point if I'm only going to get the same crap? I don't see how they can justify the price if it's built so shabbily.

 

[Sawdust=manglitter]

I've really not been impressed by Ashley Iles at all

Hi Trevanion. I personally have 4 of their chisels and have nothing bad to say about them. They have all been pretty flat already and hardly any work at all, and the edge retention seems pretty good so far. One of mine was a bit off centre to the handle, but nothing that would affect the usage. Where did you buy the chisel from, distributer or directly? It sounds like you’ve had a bad example!? I wouldn’t dismiss them based on 1 example

 

[ColeyS1]

I've got no issues what so ever with the quality of the steel. From memory the first bit was a little soft but they quickly got harder. I have had a few ferrules break over the years but I do give them a little stick now and then.
I recently changed this -

To this -.... for some reason I can't add the other picture. Anyway, I had so many near misses reaching for a chisel only to have a couple more fall off the shelf and nearly cut my legs, so I made a couple trays with dividers to keep them separate and in the right place.

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[ColeyS1]

works now...how bizarre.

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[Sawdust=manglitter]

Very neat! I could do with being that organised

 

[adidat]

Not trying to upset you but Robert sorby sent me a free 2" chisel as an apology, after I had received a Friday afternoon chisel from them.

They even selotaped my postage cost to the letter in small change!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Adidat