Page 4 of 4

Re: Debating chisels...

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 11:35 pm
by djwong
I have a 7.5mm Zenshō-saku, and 15mm Ōuchi-saku mortise chisels. Their use has been limited to practise in douglas fir and live oak. The Zenshō is blue steel. I am not sure about the type of steel for the Ōuchi. The Zenshō came with a 35° bevel from the factory. The Ōuchi had a 30° bevel, and was crumbling quite badly, so I partially increased the bevel to 35°. I did not want to waste too much steel, so I only changed the bevel enough to allow me to find the bevel when sharpening.

Image

Re: Debating chisels...

Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2015 12:03 am
by Brian
My recent Ouchi gouges are white steel #2, is that a recent Ouchi or vintage? I believe the older ones are often white steel #1.

Thanks for supplying info on the cutting edges. I think 35 is fine, so hopefully the yamahiros can support that sort of cutting angle or even more shallow if I can get a little greedy.

Hehehe, figure you guys might get a kick out of this;

Image

Re: Debating chisels...

Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2015 12:31 am
by djwong
The Ouchi is vintage. I was lucky enough to pickup additionally a 12mm and 18mm at the same time. I don't know about white steel #1. My first bench chisels were Ouchi's from Japan Woodworker in the '80's. Pretty sure they are WS #2. Shortly after that purchase, I took a 25 year hiatus from woodworking. No connection to the quality of the chisels...

Are those chisels your Koyamaichi's with ebony handles?

Re: Debating chisels...

Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2015 7:47 am
by Brian
Oh ok, they must have been using both steels all the way through.

These are Kikuhiromaru's, vintage from the late 80's with rosewood handles. White steel #1, been putting them to use lately, they're very nice to use. The edge holds up nicely. Getting them prepped has been quite a chore however.

Re: Debating chisels...

Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2015 9:45 pm
by djwong
Brian,

Can I ask what bevel angle you have your Kikuhiromaru chisels set? I only have a couple of white steel #1 chisels - "sword steel" from Imai. They are second hand, and came with near 20 degree bevel angles. I have raised them to 25, and may raise them to 30. They do not like chopping late wood in Douglas fir.

Re: Debating chisels...

Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2015 10:39 pm
by Brian
I set all mine to 30. I use a fairly heavy hammer in hardwood.

Re: Debating chisels...

Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2015 11:56 pm
by djwong
Thanks Brian.