The Marple chisels are as close to mint as any I've seen that were not new. I've been looking for a set of pre-WWII Marple paring chisels for it seems years hoping to pick up one here and one there. Almost every one I've seen had something wrong, mostly pitted back sides and for these I wanted chisels with clean blades.
This set just fell into my lap a couple of weeks ago via an email for one of my UK dealers. The photos looked very good, the chisels look even better. It is hard to believe these chisels are at least 85 years old and may be over a hundred.
The Plow and the Washita stone, what can I say other than I'm a sucker for both wood stock Plows and natural stones. Good Washita stones are getting very hard to find.
Here's the group:
I keep telling myself I'm not a collector, I'm down sizing, and this is the last time I fall off the wagon. We will see.
ken
Congrats on your finds, Ken. I have a question for you about the Washita stone. I recently came into an old Pike's Washita stone (that I was going to blog about in the coming weeks), but it's badly dished - maybe 3/16" down in middle compared to the ends. Would you attempt to flatten it, or just use it for special tools that don't need flat stones, like gouges. Mine came glued into it's original wooden holder/box. Would you pry it out to be able to clean it and flatten it? Any help is appreciated.
ReplyDeleteMatt,
DeleteThat's a lot of stone to waste getting flat. I seldom use a Washita on the backs of cutters anyway so the dish would not be a problem. I'd just use the stone as is, working with the dish on bevels and save the back for the final finish stone.
Of course YMMV,
ken
Thanks, Ken. That's good input.
DeleteAnd I said I was not going to do another rehab for a very long time. the irons on the plow look like they were just touched up
ReplyDeleteRalph,
ReplyDeleteThey are not ready to use but someone knocked the rust off 'em. I'm not sure when I'll have time to set the plow up but I hope soon. Of course I need another plow like the well known hole in the head but sometimes you just have to take a flyer.
ken
OOOH AHHHH Nice stuff... Heck no drop dead gorgeous
ReplyDeleteBob, jealous :-)
Thanks Bob,
DeleteI haven't really used them, still need to sharpen but they sure feel good in hand.
Was hard to find room in the racks for 'em. Unless I build more chisel racks they may be the last.
That could be close to the truth this time. MsBubba and I are finally getting serious about my shedding the stripped tie, white shirt, blue blazer and gray slacks. I'm not sure when but maybe soon, it will be a shame because when I close the door I love what I do I just don't love how much of it there has been for the last couple or three years.
ken
Time to retire Ken
ReplyDeleteLife is too short, retire while you still enjoy what you are doing, not because you have to or are getting tired of it.
As for the lack of spaces on the chisels rack...Make room or... in my case I would probably just make more racks :-)
Bob