What chisels are your favorites

[jtpotter]

I'm a newb and just trying to figure out what chisels I will be needing to build my first rifle.
I am going with a pre-inletted (barrel & lock) stock in the Lancaster school. I am also going to try to carve (not on the stock, just yet!).
Also, and this question has probably been asked, where do folks like to get their pre-inletted stocks?
My questions are:
Type of chisels for inletting - size, shape, brand
Type of chisels for carving - size, shape, brand
Where to buy pre inletted stock
Thanks for your replies, I've been lurking this forum (actually, I can't stay off it) for awhile, excellent info!
Thank you

 

[Black Hand]

Keep in mind the "pre-inlet" can mean many things. In most cases it means that the inlets are close and you will still need to do the final fitting. It is VERY unlikely that the parts will drop in....

 

[Col. Batguano]

I've found that a couple of sets of the micro-carving chisels I got from either Rockler or Woodcraft very handy for futzy little adjustment inletting, and for very small inletting like barrel lugs. Bigger chisels for bigger adjustments.

 

[Bruce Bogart]

You should check out the Soligen chisels on the TOW site. Not upper crust fancy chisels, but good enough servicable chisels at a decent price. For inletting a few straight chisels will do most all your chores. If you see old chisels at flea markets etc, most can be sharpened and used at an even more attractive price point. Oh and get a good knife too.
Precarved stocks can be had from several places. Others need to chime in here.

 

I'm building from a pre-carve as well right now, and some of the chisels I have used the most are my 1/4", 1/2" and in a few cases the 1/8" chisel. One chisel that I found fantastic for the barrel channel (to clean it up as it was not level) was a cranked neck chisel that I found at an old hardware store. It was used, but in outstanding shape. It looks very similar to the one below.

Make sure you spend some time researching how to keep these suckers sharp, as I was plagued by not having them sharp enough in the beginning. This past weekend, a friends dad who is a wood worker spent some time with me to show me his method for sharpening.

 

[jdkerstetter]

Hmmm! Crank neck chisel. My that's a great idea. How did you ever arrive at that one. :wink:

I bet a narrow one would work slick for cleaning up the barrel channel.:grin: Enjoy, J.D.

 

A platypus told me. Yes, the 3/8" one was perfect for the barrel channel. I wish I would have had it when I started the barrel channel clean up as it would have saved me a ton of headache's.

I wish I knew the maker of the chisel as I just love the weight and balance of it. I'd like to pick up a few more in different sizes and the long flat part just allows me to skim the channel.

 

[jdkerstetter]

Don't give all my secrets away! :haha: Enjoy, J.D.

 

[jtpotter]

Thanks for the replies!
Col. Batguano, Rockler is somewhat local for me, but I haven't made it over there yet. Your signatue say's .32 cal, if the one I'm building works out, I'm building me a small bore!
Bogie, I have looked at the Soligen chisels at TOW, you right decent price.
Perrybucsdad, That is a sweet chisel! I can't imagine any other application for it except a barrel channel.
Would you guys suggest any gouges? Are your flat chisels straight or skewed? (I do plan on getting flat & skewed)
JDKerstetter, any suggestions?
Anybody have suggestions on pre-inletted stock?
Perrybucsdad, where did you get yours? Happy with it?
Thanks folks

 

[jtpotter]

Also, I'm sorry to get off topic, JDkerstetter, I am heading to Chambersburg, Pa., tomorrow.
Any good shops, museums, etc.... pertaining to flintlocks?

 

[jdkerstetter]

I sent you a private message on what little I know about Chambersburg and some other stuff....

....and, man, I am the last one you want to ask about chisels and carving tools....I am a tool wh%&e. I can't help myself.

I made an investment in some Pfeil carving tools years ago. I have German and English tools but haven't found any of the quality of Pfeil. There are other good ones but none as good. Woodcraft is the exclusive dealer in the U.S. but Chipping Away of Canada sells them for less and has more. www.chippingaway.com

Best advice is to buy what you need as you need them and buy the best you can afford. You are only as good as your tools.

If your not building from blanks you can avoid the big tools. There is nothing like a big gouge for knocking chips off a blank to find the butt stock underneath. If building from precarves most of the wood you need to remove can be done with rasps, files and scrapers. You will only need small chisels and gouges.

Oh, if you are considering relief carving, there's nothing like a couple of gentle sweep fishtail gouges for leveling the backgroung. Something like a #3/4 and a #3/12 or 14....#5's work too....experiment and find what works for you.

Everybody will have a different opinion as everybody has a different method that works for them.

Take a look at better rasps and cabinet makers files for stock shaping though as they are real labor savors as are the Jerry Fisher scrapers from Brownells.

I told you you didn't want to ask me. :grin: Enjoy, J.D.

 

Jtpotter... I got most of my chisels from an old time hardware store that has been near my town for over 130 years. I love the place as it has the old squeeky wood floors, brick walls, and the most friendly and helpful staff. The place is called Joughin Hardware, but I'm sure you have some place by you that is similar. They have a bunch of old tools that they fix up and sell. The one I bought was one of them.

I do have a few skew chisels, but I find I don't use them as much and actually will pull out my trusty x-acto knife more often to take care of what I might have had to use the skew for. Now granted, I am working from precarved stocks, so if I were working on a blank, I bet I would need the skew chisel more, and would invest in better quality.

Make sure you spend you time sharpening your chisels too. Keep them sharp and you will have nice clean cuts.

As JD also said, just get what you need. I find this slows me down from time to time, but that is okay. It beats spending hundreds of $$ on tools that I may not need. I'm a tool wh*re too, so I have to be careful or I may end up having to join a 12 step program and have to admit I'm a Tool-a-holic.

Good luck,

John

 

[Bruce Bogart]

OK JD and John, if you find yourself overcome with all that tool acquisition just send a bunch of them to me so you won't have to feel guilty. Mind you I'm just doing this as a community service type deal. Just trying to help you fellas out. :grin:

 

Lol... got it Bogie, but I'm a tool hoarder too :youcrazy: , but thanks for the offer to help me with my "sickness"

 

[Rick G.]

I like using dogleg chisels. They feel good in my hand and I can control them better than the straight ones.