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Balance, precision, handling, control... Sounds like a sports car? It's a chisel!

Review by Tom Adamski posted 281 days ago 582 views 0 times favorited 13 comments Add to Favorites
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Tom Adamski

228 posts in 311 days


Balance, precision, handling, control...  Sounds like a sports car? It's a chisel! Balance, precision, handling, control...  Sounds like a sports car? It's a chisel! No-picture-s Click the pictures to enlarge them

Well, not just any chisel, a Lie-Nielson bevel edge socket chisel!
Looking through the offerings at my local Woodcraft one evening, I spotted a beautiful set of chisels in a leather roll. Asking the salesman to open the case, I had a closer inspection. The feel was perfect, no uncomfortable bandings and they balance so well. The roll had 5 chisels in the set, with the smallest being 1/8”. Considering I do a considerable about of 1/8” inlay, I really liked these. I was taken aback when the salesman mentioned the price. At $250 for the set of 5, including the leather roll, I thought it a bit high and decided to look at some of the other chisel offerings.
I looked at Japanese, Sorby, Pfiel and others, most were less expensive and most offered more chisels in their sets. Yet, the Lie-Nielson’s where in my mind and I could not see myself buying the others and be as happy. Then, the salesman said it… “Tom, buy them and use them. If you hate them, I’ll take them back”. What could I say? Now a few months later, I have used them from chopping dovetails, paring end grain, inlay work, etc… And I love them. No regrets.

Buy the way, All 5 of the chisels were dead flat and razor sharp when I brought them home. I have only had to hone once in the last few months to keep that cryogenicaly treated blade razor sharp.

Since then I have purchased a Lie-Nielsen adjustable mouth low angle block plane and have been very pleased with it too, but that will have to be another review at another time.

-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.


13 comments so far

View Scott Bryan's profile (online now)

Scott Bryan

9950 posts in 362 days


posted 281 days ago

Tom,

I am sure this is a great set of chisels. Lie-Nielsen only manufacturers and markets superior tools that are well worth every dime that they cost.

Thanks for the post.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

View FrankA's profile

FrankA

136 posts in 319 days


posted 281 days ago

These will have to go on my maybe someday list. The only problem that it is a long list and a big MAYBE!!

-- Frank Auge---Nichols NY----"My opinion is neither copyrighted nor trademarked, but it is price competitive."

View mjlauro's profile

mjlauro

211 posts in 301 days


posted 281 days ago

The LN tools are by far the nicest I have ever used. I don’t own these chisels yet and I stress yet. But I have 3 planes and a spokeshave and they are just the most enjoyable part of my shop time.

View trifern's profile

trifern

5049 posts in 307 days


posted 281 days ago

Thanks for the review Tom. These are on my list.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

View cajunpen's profile

cajunpen

5345 posts in 606 days


posted 281 days ago

It’s a shame – the nice tools always cost the most – but generally speaking are worth it.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

View ShannonRogers's profile

ShannonRogers

264 posts in 328 days


posted 281 days ago

I have these chisels as well, and I second everything Tom said. They are scary sharp right out of the box and I have had very little touch up work to do to the edges in the last few months since I bought them. The block plane is on my list next. My local Woodcraft has a March madness sale this weekend and I think that LN block plane may just be mine at 15% off!

-- Check out my blog and podcast "The Renaissance Woodworker" at www.rogersfinewoodworking.com/blog

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

8645 posts in 414 days


posted 281 days ago

Thanks for the review. I have a L-N block plane that is one of my favorite tools.

-- Maplewood, MN

View Sir_Robert's profile

Sir_Robert

37 posts in 291 days


posted 280 days ago

Nice review, Tom. You are in excellent company: I don’t think I’ve ever seen a bad review about a Lie-Nielsen tool!
By the way—I noticed a faux pas in your photo that you’ll want to correct. Take advice from an old decoy carver: Always store your chisels handle first inside the leather pouch. Otherwise, you’ll poke holes through the leather and ruin it.

-- Sir Robert

View Tom Adamski's profile

Tom Adamski

228 posts in 311 days


posted 280 days ago

Thank you all for the reply… I truly enjoy using them. These are one of my few guilty pleasures.
Sir Robert, thanks for the tip… not seen in the picture are cover tips provided by LN and with them being socket style chisels; if I put them in handle first, sometimes the handles come out inside the pocket…

-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.

View John Gray's profile

John Gray

886 posts in 425 days


posted 264 days ago

Thanks for the post these chisels are on my “hopefully” list now

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

View Karson's profile

Karson

14323 posts in 940 days


posted 264 days ago

Great looking chisels. Thanks for the review.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View Chris 's profile

Chris

1261 posts in 531 days


posted 154 days ago

Tom,

It’s been a few months since you posted this review; How are they holding up?

-- Chris

View Tom Adamski's profile

Tom Adamski

228 posts in 311 days


posted 154 days ago

Chris,
They have been everything I had hoped for. With the exception of one quick honing, they kept their razor sharp edge even afer several projects with jatoba, panga panga and hard maple. Unlike some of the tools that we thought we had to have, that are now sitting on a shelf; these are earning their keep. I know the price tag is a bit steep, but they are high quality and are most likley the last set you’ll need to buy.

Tom

Buy the best tools you can afford and you’ll only cry once!

-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.

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