Thread: kirschen werkzeuge chisels

Since there are some members here that seem to be good with their hands I thought I ask this here. Have to stay collecting some wood tools here and there, and recently I saw this set of kirschen werkzeuge chisels in nos condition and I was wondering if they are good and worth the $250 price tag. The set has five chisel that range from 1/2" to 1 1/2".

The great Chisles can be pricy.

Two Cherries is a well known, quality brand, I have bought their carving chisels in the past.

Lately I have been buying used from a tool guy at a local antique flea market. I buy old Sheffield chisels and gouges for 6-10 dollars each in great condition.

Look around, right now, there is a new never used, Boxed 6 piece, Two Cherry Firmer Chisel set on Craigs list, 120 bucks.

Thanks, I might actually stay hunting some old Sheffield or eskilstuna chisel.

Two cherries used to be a great brand. Somewhere around the year 2002 something changed and their new stuff is made with a softer steel that rolls extremely easy.
If they were made before 2000 then they should be good chisels, if they were made later than that then I wouldn't waste my money on them.
And speaking of money, I routinely see the 5 piece set on ebay go for $125 to $150 (USD).

If you can find vintage Solingen or Sheffield wood working tools, you will be much happier wood worker.

Small addendum to Cris' message above... the Two Cherries chisels in Germany are still decent (and reasonably priced) but I keep hearing from American friends that the ones sold over there have been crap for a good decade. It's probably like the Nicholson saw files, the US made ones are good but the Mexico made ones are crap. I mostly use antique French, German, English and Swedish anyways... the price tag is hard to beat and the quality is really awesome after you spent the time fixing them.

Here’s a link to a quarterly Old Tool Swap meet here in So Cal., tons of great old tools there. May need some cleaning, shaping and sharpening, but your probably already used to that.

Once you know what to look for, you can find them in antique stores, flea markets and swapmeets for a buck or two, usually without a handle or a cracked one.

They are out there, waiting to go back into service… find them.

Then you get an additional excuse to get a lathe and start turning... chisel handles, bowls, brushes, ...