Cold Chisels

[tutti57]

I have the green set from HF that came comes in the soft roll. They are lifetime warranty. They have worked for for me but I'm wondering about the difference in the premium brands on this one. It's a huuuge price difference. I think the HF were $15 and the others are closer to $200. What am I missing out on, if anything?

Sent from my Moto E (4) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[cowboy73]

The HF chisels are soft. They don't hold an edge for as long as the more expensive ones. If you only casually use them, and know how to sharpen them, the cheap ones will be ok for diy use. Not great, but just ok. Cheap cold chisels also mushroom easier and faster. Quality chisels like Mayhew aren't terribly expensive. Maybe $10-20 a piece. Unless you are using them a lot, pick up a couple of good ones in a couple of sizes that you find yourself using the most frequently.

 

[tutti57]

That's a good tip. Thanks.

Sent from my Moto E (4) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[dr_clyde]

Steel quality and heat treat would be the primary difference, and then more subtle things like parabolic head, shank to handle transition, size, grind angle, etc.

I would not want cheap chisels or punches. Even the best quality ones fail. You are smashing a small piece of metal with a hammer, repeatedly. I have Matco (mayhew, but with truck service) Starrett, and Snap-on. I have been very happy with all, if I could do it all over again, I'd get SO for everything. They are extremely high quality, and have better length and design than the mayhew. The truck service is very handy, as the tiny punches bend and break easily no matter the brand. One crooked hammer blow and you've bent your 1/8" pin punch.

 

[rlitman]

...I would not want cheap chisels or punches. Even the best quality ones fail. You are smashing a small piece of metal with a hammer, repeatedly...

This. If I could be confident that the only issue with HF chisels is that they were soft, I'd consider them. All chisels do need re-grinding from time to time.

But if there's any possibility that I end up with a batch that's brittle, I wouldn't take the chance.

 

[nelstomlinson]

But if there's any possibility that I end up with a batch that's brittle, I wouldn't take the chance.

That would require the heat treating to go wrong, which would require that the Chinese do heat treating ... so you're probably quite safe. Heat treating is invisible, so it's unlikely they are doing it.

China makes tool-shaped objects, not tools.

 

[Zewnten]

I have used the HF professional punches and chisels with the hand guards on them and they held up quiet well, probably as well as any Wilde or Mayhew have for me, but honestly I have the biggest set SO makes and there's not enough of a difference in durability to justify the $700 price increase above the HF and definitely not vastly superior to all the USA made punches and chisels for under $10/ea

 

[Jtels85]

I purchased an Irwin 12 pc. punch & chisel set from Lowe’s awhile back and they’ve held up great so far. I was in a hurry and didn’t haven’t time to drive another 15 minutes to Menard’s to get the Wilde set. For $35, I can’t complain. They’ve held up great to everything I’ve put them through. I’d buy again without hesitation.

 

[Jtels85]

I have used the HF professional punches and chisels with the hand guards on them and they held up quiet well, probably as well as any Wilde or Mayhew have for me, but honestly I have the biggest set SO makes and there's not enough of a difference in durability to justify the $700 price increase above the HF and definitely not vastly superior to all the USA made punches and chisels for under $10/ea

$254 for an 11 Pc. set? $700 for a 20 something pc. set? Holy ****. That’s ridiculously stupid. I’m surprised anyone would pay that much. That markup ain’t even worth the warranty and truck service. For that price, they better come with a complimentary reach around.

 

[woody 73]

In case you might need any more information today:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=270810&highlight=punch+chisel

 

[Rabid Badger]

You can order directly from Wilde for pretty reasonable prices.

https://www.wildetool.com/

 

[ChrisLS8]

Steel quality and heat treat would be the primary difference, and then more subtle things like parabolic head, shank to handle transition, size, grind angle, etc.

I would not want cheap chisels or punches. Even the best quality ones fail. You are smashing a small piece of metal with a hammer, repeatedly. I have Matco (mayhew, but with truck service) Starrett, and Snap-on. I have been very happy with all, if I could do it all over again, I'd get SO for everything. They are extremely high quality, and have better length and design than the mayhew. The truck service is very handy, as the tiny punches bend and break easily no matter the brand. One crooked hammer blow and you've bent your 1/8" pin punch.

Snap on is the Mayhew 150 line

 

[2mJps]

A good place to get the best punches and chisels that money can buy is fleamarkets,yardsales and the junk tool bin at pawn shops. If there ever was they dont make them like the used to this is it.

 

[Tinner]

Snap on is the Mayhew 150 line

No it's not, they make their own.

 

[KnurledNut]

A good place to get the best punches and chisels that money can buy is fleamarkets,yardsales and the junk tool bin at pawn shops. If there ever was they dont make them like the used to this is it.

+1
Tons of good quality steel, often hidden behind rust.

 

[dr_clyde]

Snap on is the Mayhew 150 line

That's a negative, ghost rider. They look very similar, but the Mayhew don't have the parabolic heads the SO ones do.

SO makes their own punches and chisels.

Mayhew is the same as Matco, however. My Matco dealer is very good, and I was happy to pay the premium to have the warranty, truck service, and to support my local dealer.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

As noted, cheap punches and chisels are either butter soft or glass brittle. Good way to hurt someone.

I have had good luck with my SO, Mac, Mayhew, Wilde and Starrett. Wilde is nice, and very affordable.

 

[rlitman]

That's a negative, ghost rider. They look very similar, but the Mayhew don't have the parabolic heads the SO ones do...

Wrong. Read about the parabolic feature on Mayhew’s product page here:

https://mayhew.com/pro-150-line/

 

[ChrisLS8]

I have 2-3/4s for work one SO I got as a gift and the Mayhew I got on Amazon and to my eyes they look identical. The SO has a very slight bit more rounding to the head but that is it

 

[dr_clyde]

Wrong. Read about the parabolic feature on Mayhew’s product page here:

https://mayhew.com/pro-150-line/

Ok, cool. Didn't see that. Learned something today.

They still don't make SO's punches and chisels, SO makes their own.

Mayhew makes very nice tools, I like them a lot. They would be my first choice for non-truck punches and chisels.

 

[dr_clyde]

I don't have a Mayhew branded punch in front of me, but the 150 line is known rebadged for Matco. I had ordered a Mayhew set for the shop where I last worked, and they were identical to the Matcos I have.

Here it is next to the SO. At first glance they look very similar, but you can see some very clear differences, especially on the head.

I might order a mayhew 3/16" long punch off amazon just to have, I use that size a lot, then I can do a proper side by side.

 

[ChrisLS8]

I don't have a Mayhew branded punch in front of me, but the 150 line is known rebadged for Matco. I had ordered a Mayhew set for the shop where I last worked, and they were identical to the Matcos I have.

Here it is next to the SO. At first glance they look very similar, but you can see some very clear differences, especially on the head.

I might order a mayhew 3/16" long punch off amazon just to have, I use that size a lot, then I can do a proper side by side.

Just make sure to get the 150 line cause tbh the standard *****. Pro is better but still off mark. Usually you can find em super cheap on Amazon as an "add on item"

 

[rlitman]

I don't have a Mayhew branded punch in front of me, but the 150 line is known rebadged for Matco. I had ordered a Mayhew set for the shop where I last worked, and they were identical to the Matcos I have.

Here it is next to the SO. At first glance they look very similar, but you can see some very clear differences, especially on the head...

I might order a mayhew 3/16" long punch off amazon just to have, I use that size a lot, then I can do a proper side by side.

I don't own any Mayhew or Matco punches or chisels to compare, but the picture on Mayhew's website shows the same top as found on my (25+ year old) Snap Ons, which is not flat like your Matco. It could be they changed design over the years. Anyway, even if Mayhew is the OEM for Matco, they do make many lines, AND, there's no reason to think that the 150 line is identical to any re-branded line.

Anyway, back to the OP, the biggest difference in price is in brand and reputation. But it may still be worthwhile to buy the more expensive tools.

Yes, the quality alloys used in the better tools (such as S2 in the Mayhew 150-Line) costs more. There is probably several dollars worth of steel in EACH 150-Line punch. And yes, better quality control (which is required for a consistent heat treatment) costs more (probably adds another dollar or two to each tool when you consider the whole QA process). There's also the fact that you're buying American (which does add a value to me). Does that all add up to the enormous price difference (considering a reasonable markup)? Not nearly. But the peace of mind that you won't have a chisel shatter and leave you with a compound fracture tips the scales for me.

Or just pick the flea markets and buy anything with a decent brand that's under a buck. The old chromed square shank Craftsman chisels and punches were quite good. The new red hexagonal ones are softer, but I still feel safe using them.

Just make sure to get the 150 line cause tbh the standard *****. Pro is better but still off mark. Usually you can find em super cheap on Amazon as an "add on item"

Yeah, the standard cheap ones are about as lousy as Dasco. Soft as cheese. Still not as dangerous as HF in my mind though.

 

[ex-x-fire]

A good place to get the best punches and chisels that money can buy is fleamarkets,yardsales and the junk tool bin at pawn shops. If there ever was they dont make them like the used to this is it.

Yep, I usually get 1 or 2 good ones each time I go.