Customer Reviews

Freud WC-104 4-Piece Woodworkers Chisel Set

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I bought this set of chisels only because I am a collector and I didn't have any made in Italy. You can't expect much for tools in the ten dollar range but I was pleasantly surprised.

The blades are long and thin with little taper (.03in.) and a 20 degree bezel angle which is indicative of european blades. This gives excellent control for shearing and slicing cuts as well as dovetails. Shefield chisels from England, with some exceptions, have similar blades but with more taper and slightly heavier cross-sections.

I don't know the Rockwell scale of hardness but in using my sandpaper method of flatening the backs before honing they acted like they were in the 60 range. The machining marks came off fairly evenly which indicates good manufacture and no heat warp which could negativly impact the steel.

The ulm style handle is quite good but poorly finished. The manufacturer claims it's boxwood but if it is, why put a rough, near-black finish on it? I have two sets of boxwood handled chisels and they are beautiful.

In conclusion, the blades and handles make for doing nice hand work and you can't beat the price, however, they are not designed for heavy duty whacking and mortise applications.

I am very unhappy about these chisels. I opened the box and pulled out the 1/2 inch. The blade has visible pits and dings. The edge feels like a saw blade. I pulled out the 1/4. A burr on the edge, but not bad. Same with the 1 inch. Then I looked at the 3/4. You have to wonder how this set got out of the factory. I have several Frued blades and bits, including a new Super Dado, and really like them, but this is ridiculous. I expected to have to sharpen the chisels when they arrived, but not to have to grind out large dings in the blade. I swear someone dropped the edge on a concrete step.

For the price, you can't expect perfection. The edges were average for new tools, about 3 or 4 minutes each with the sandpaper and surface plate, they would shave. The handles took a little more time,but after making a jig to hold them in my lathe, about five minutes each with sandpaper removed enough of the varnish to hand rub a tung oil finish that will be comfortable to hold for years. All in all a good buy to put in the traveling toolbox.

I have to agree with the previous reviewer - I doubt the handles are boxwood,they seems too soft and the finish is quite poor. They are very easy to sharpen, I am suprised by the first reviewer about the state of the chisels when he received them - if they were that bad why didn't he send them back. In any case I have never bought a chisel that I did not have to hone.