Stanley SW chisels.

[woodbrains]

Hello,

Just received a set of Stanley SW chisels in the post this morning. I have to say, I'm impressed, to a point. £140 inc. P&P for a set of eight at this quality is impressive. The sockets are beautifully formed and the flat faces are pretty darned flat with only the lightest of machine marks to stone away. The leather chisel roll is very nice if you transport them to site a lot, though not all of the chisels fit handle in, as I would prefer to do. The edge protectors are firm fitting, though, so slipping the chisels in blade first is OK. Not had a chance to take a stone to them yet, so can't tell as yet how the steel is, but if other reviews are anything to go by, should be good enough.

They soooo want to be dovetail chisels, they shout it out that they do, but I'm afraid they don't make the grade as is. Provided you don't mind thick lands, they look like they might be super value for the quality. For those that don't like plastic handles and want a good looking , light, manoeuvrable tool, I think these should be a consideration. The lands are certainly no worse than most other BE chisels, but these are so much nicer than the usual offerings. BE chisels with finer lands for dovetail work will cost 2 - 3 times the price, so I think these hit the middle ground quite nicely. I think I will work on the bevels to thin them out, gradually over the next few weeks, I have other chisels, so won't be stuck for something to work wood with until they are done.

Mike.

 

[bugbear]

They soooo want to be dovetail chisels, they shout it out that they do, but I'm afraid they don't make the grade as is. Provided you don't mind thick lands,...

Let Alf show the way:

chisel-handles-for-the-tool-challenged-t11907.html

She not only fixed a terrible handle, she made nice fine tapers on the sides.

BugBear

 

[woodbrains]

They soooo want to be dovetail chisels, they shout it out that they do, but I'm afraid they don't make the grade as is. Provided you don't mind thick lands,...

Let Alf show the way:

chisel-handles-for-the-tool-challenged-t11907.html

She not only fixed a terrible handle, she made nice fine tapers on the sides.

BugBear

Hello,

It was actually Alf's musings from a woodshop, that prompted me to get these chisels. That and the fact I just scrapped my trusty old Volvo for the princely sum of £140 . Coincidence, that'll be. I hope it gets recycled into more chisels!

Mike.

 

[G S Haydon]

Mike,

I too have noticed what good value these chisels appear to be. I look forward to finding out how you get on with them. The bit that makes me smile is the "assembled in sheffield from global components".

 

[Reggie]

Seriously, you guys are nuts, £140 for a set of chisels and you want to remove the handles because they're not good enough?

 

[woodbrains]

Mike,

I too have noticed what good value these chisels appear to be. I look forward to finding out how you get on with them. The bit that makes me smile is the "assembled in sheffield from global components".

Hello,

Yes, it is open to conjecture as to what that means. In actual fact, it says on the box 'Made in England - Quality Steel - with Global Components TM. I have read often, in Reviews and the like, that the blades are made in Sheffield. This may be true, but there is no reference to Sheffield on any literature on the box or inside, that I can find. The leather tool roll is of such nice quality, I cannot think of that bit being made in England for the price. Hornbeam handles suggest Europe, plastic edge protectors, now they could be made in England! It could be just an assembly job and packaging exercise. It is a bit disappointing if the steel is not made in Sheffield, but it might not.

Mike.

 

[woodbrains]

Seriously, you guys are nuts, £140 for a set of chisels and you want to remove the handles because they're not good enough?

I think you misunderstood, I was suggesting these chisels because they have nice wooden socket handles, as an alternative to horrible plastic ones. The only dislike I have of these, is the thick lands along the chisel edge, which I might do something with, The post Bugbear suggests deals with both horrible plastic handles, should you have them,AND dealing with the thick lands, which is the salient point in this case

£140 for a set of eight is good value, though.

Mike.

 

[G S Haydon]

Mike thanks for tidying up my quote on description. I think a packaging/branding exercise is behind it all. No problem with that, it's up to the end user at the end of the day. For the specification they are indeed good value. Jealous.

 

[woodbrains]

Mike thanks for tidying up my quote on description. I think a packaging/branding exercise is behind it all. No problem with that, it's up to the end user at the end of the day. For the specification they are indeed good value. Jealous.

Hello,

I'm not being pedantic, I was under the impression they were Sheffield steel too. They might still be, of course, but who can be sure? Any of the premiun chisels made these days are American/Canadian, so just as foreign, it makes little odds. Ashley Iles of course are excellent and British, but I dont like their handles much, though the blades are very good. It would be silly paying for this premium brand and making new handles. I suppose I could have got some unhandles AI's and made my own, but these Stanleys are stll cheaper, and I wanted to try some socket chisels. grinding narrower lands is probably as quick as making new handles.

Mike.

 

[G S Haydon]

Mike, I did not think you were being pedantic at all, Its a job to remember the branding when its not a simple "made in sheffield".

 

[marcros]

Mike thanks for tidying up my quote on description. I think a packaging/branding exercise is behind it all. No problem with that, it's up to the end user at the end of the day. For the specification they are indeed good value. Jealous.

Hello,

I'm not being pedantic, I was under the impression they were Sheffield steel too. They might still be, of course, but who can be sure? Any of the premiun chisels made these days are American/Canadian, so just as foreign, it makes little odds. Ashley Iles of course are excellent and British, but I dont like their handles much, though the blades are very good. It would be silly paying for this premium brand and making new handles. I suppose I could have got some unhandles AI's and made my own, but these Stanleys are stll cheaper, and I wanted to try some socket chisels. grinding narrower lands is probably as quick as making new handles.

Mike.

Have you looked at the Ray Iles Bevel Edged chisels. The handles IMO are much nicer. I only have a 1/18" one though, so cant comment on the lands because that size isnt really typical. Based on that one though, I will get the rest of the set when i have the opportunity.

 

[woodbrains]

Have you looked at the Ray Iles Bevel Edged chisels. The handles IMO are much nicer. I only have a 1/18" one though, so cant comment on the lands because that size isnt really typical. Based on that one though, I will get the rest of the set when i have the opportunity.

Hello,

1/18" wide chisel! How fine are your dovetails? Wow.

If the Ray Iles are Ashley's with different handles, the may well be superb, are they the London pattern ones? Horses for courses, but I wanted something lighter in this case. I do like the Iles chisels though. Probably should have gotten some, but my Volvo bought me the Stanleys outright!

Mike.

 

[marcros]

Have you looked at the Ray Iles Bevel Edged chisels. The handles IMO are much nicer. I only have a 1/18" one though, so cant comment on the lands because that size isnt really typical. Based on that one though, I will get the rest of the set when i have the opportunity.

Hello,

1/18" wide chisel! How fine are your dovetails? Wow.

If the Ray Iles are Ashley's with different handles, the may well be superb, are they the London pattern ones? Horses for courses, but I wanted something lighter in this case. I do like the Iles chisels though. Probably should have gotten some, but my Volvo bought me the Stanleys outright!

Mike.

Lol. I just found the 1/16" a bit big!

They are the London pattern ones, and I think that they are the Ashley's with different handles, although I am not 100% sure on that, and dont have the Ashleys to compare them with.

I like the looks of socket chisels- i have a few that i want to re-handle when i get the skills/lathe/time. They are old stanley's of some form. The ones that you bought were a good buy I think- time will no doubt tell.

 

[woodbrains]

I like the looks of socket chisels- i have a few that i want to re-handle when i get the skills/lathe/time. They are old stanley's of some form. The ones that you bought were a good buy I think- time will no doubt tell.

Hello,

I suspect yours are older Stanley 750's. I wonder if the socket is close enough to my new ones to copy? I'll turn you a few handles, if you'd like. Can you find out the angle of the taper in the socket and post a template, should they not be the same?

Mike.

 

[marcros]

i will have a look, thanks and check angles.

I have a couple of original handles if not. They are Defiance i think- marked "Stanley D Made in USA". I dont know if the angle is constant across all of them. It "should" be!!

 

[woodbrains]

Hello,

I have just found out, that the blades of the new Stanley 750's I have just got, are made in Sheffield, hurrah! Apparently, my informant went on a factory tour and saw first hand how they are made.

The Stanley defiance socket chisels, I have researched, are not held in high regard, though what does that matter? A nice set of handles will make them more useful than having none at all. that is for sure.

Mike.

 

[marcros]

I struggled to find anything definitive about the D marked chisels. I would guess that they are defiance, but have also heard the argument that the steel is likely the same as for the other chisels that they made at the time, ie the 720's, 40's and 50's.

I am lucky that i am a hobbiest, and one that uses routers etc where possible. Even if they are poor, I dont do enough with chisels to require sharpening that often- I could understand how a regular user would be frustrated. I have yet to use them in anger. To be honest, i bought them as i saw them on ebay, because I liked the look of them.

Great news on yours though.