Question about woodcarving chisels

[trout]

I have a few where the brass collar has a small crack. Would this affect anything? The handle still seems to be attached very firmly and nothing is loose.

 

[wrench3047]

Not in short term, the collar is there to keep handle from splitting. That type will split over time without the collar.

 

[ctb]

I'm surprised it split. That's a top name chisel. Henry Taylor, right?

 

[reptilezs]

if you want a cheap fix just wrap it in stainless wire or hose clamp

 

[woody 73]

I can give you some tips but first that happens more often then you think, I have a few wood lathe turning tools that the metal band has split open like that. Second yes indeed that Henry Taylor tool is top notch.

Now for a woody tip:

what woodworkers do is to buy a short copper pipe and cut off a few small pieces and when you fit it over the end just take a punch and give it a tap on the side and you now have a new metal band. Some people shine it up on their wood lathe but I just let them get dark in color with age.

If you need any help I seem to remember a few YOUTUBE videos on the subject of fitting the copper on the tool in question.

Hope that helps you out

 

[turbowoodworker]

I can't tell from the picture but is that a gouge or a chisel? The gouge for carving would be pushed by hand or lightly tapped with a mallet. A chisel is made for harder striking. Obviously your answer will impact the longevity of the tool with respect to that split/crack.
Do you have the whole set and are the others cracked or intact? It may not be a crack but a split ring.

 

[woody 73]

Not sure how the link thing works but I found one youtube video of what I was trying to tell you above:

09 RJF Ash tool Handle in 15 min.mpg
By Richard Ford

That video should help if you want to go the copper pipe route or you can spend a few dollars and buy a small package of metal bands from a woodworking store to fit your chisel.

woody

 

[reptilezs]

 

[woody 73]

Thank you for your help with that link, that was what I was referring too by the copper pipe method.

 

[buco]

I'm sorry to ask a stupid question, but why do wood chisels need to be made of wood? Wouldn't metal make more sense?

 

[woody 73]

Good question some wood chisels have a solid steel shank extending the whole length but they are enclosed in some form or another, mostly see through plastic with a steel cap.

I would venture a guess it has to do somewhat with the weight of the tool, shock value of hitting a solid bar stock all day long and added expense of an all metal chisel. I know if I had to lug several solid steel chisels in my tool belt all day long it would kill my back.

 

[neophyte]

I'm sorry to ask a stupid question, but why do wood chisels need to be made of wood? Wouldn't metal make more sense?

Wood handles are traditional on woodworking tools. Despite that fact, some manufacturers have offered solid steel chisels and gouges at times for tasks that may prove more abusive such as timber framing, and construction use.

The reasons for wood handles may have to do with one of the following reasons.

Wood insulates. Woodworking requires a great deal of control of the cutting edge. In really cold or hot weather, a solid steel chisel might prove uncomfortable on a persons hands to work with for the amount of time a typical woodworker may have to.

Cost. The high quality steel needed to produce the best cutting edges for chisels used to be expensive. Some chisels used to be have a high carbon still edge laminated to a softer wrought iron body to use less steel. Japanese chisels are still made this way.

Vibration. A solid steel chisel wold likely vibrate more in use which would not be as good for the nerves in a persons hands. Vibration is a current safety concern, and some European power tool manufacturers actually list an estimated rating for their tools.

Skin reaction. The iron when held next to skin may cause allergic reaction in some people. I believe the berber or tuareg blacksmiths traditionally made knives and swords so the users hand did not touch the steel blade. I believe kukri knives from Nepal were also traditionally made this way, although some newer designs aren't.

Also, a lot of woodworkers used to make jigs and other tools out of wood for their own use so if a handle failed they could simply make a new one in any free time they had.

 

[trout]

Thanks for the responses.

It is a Henry Taylor curved gouge. Until about 10 years ago my dad used to run a small business honing and reselling them and I have inherited everything he left over when he stopped doing it, about 200 chisels. Of them about 20 have a cracked collar like this. I thought nothing of the crack as it seemed to have no effect on how tight the handle was and already sold about 1/2 of them. One person had complained so I wanted to know how much it really mattered. For now I will put the cracked ones aside. Thank you.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Refer to my previous post. Those may not be cracks if they are gouges meant to be pushed by hand rather than hammered on. Can you post more pictures, both of the other tools and the whole tool?

 

[ctb]

Thanks for the responses.

It is a Henry Taylor curved gouge. Until about 10 years ago my dad used to run a small business honing and reselling them and I have inherited everything he left over when he stopped doing it, about 200 chisels. Of them about 20 have a cracked collar like this. I thought nothing of the crack as it seemed to have no effect on how tight the handle was and already sold about 1/2 of them. One person had complained so I wanted to know how much it really mattered. For now I will put the cracked ones aside. Thank you.

If you're into the secret santa thing they'd make a great gift. (I just switched denominations and our Christmas is in July!)

 

[rlitman]

Refer to my previous post. Those may not be cracks if they are gouges meant to be pushed by hand rather than hammered on. Can you post more pictures, both of the other tools and the whole tool?

They are cracks. I have a set of a dozen "Acorn" gouges, and all 12 show this same "crack" to some extent or another, right next to where the ferrule is dimpled. On one or two, the crack doesn't make it all the way across the ferrule though, so I am sure they were a continuous cylindrical piece of brass when manufactured. The markings on mine are at least 50 years old, but the manufacturer is the same, as is the way they appear to have been made.

I suggest you contact Henry Taylor, and see what they have to say.
http://www.henrytaylortools.co.uk/contact.html
Perhaps you could purchase replacement ferrules. They seem to have been using the same sort of ferrules for a long time now, and the manufacturer clearly still has them available. It seems that they would be really easy to change once cracked like this.

 

[woody 73]

I like that advise from the above Member by all means contact the company and show them your pictures and see what they can do for you.