Timber Framers Guild Forums Tools Tool Forum your favorite edge tool maker

OK, maybe this has been discussed, but I am curious to know who your favorite makers are.

I am also curious how many of you use old steel vs. new steel. I use both.

I love my old D.R. Barton slick I bought from Jim at the Burlington conference. The back is slightly convex and that makes all the difference for me.

For new steel, I am really starting to love my Sorby 1 1/2".

I'll post pics in a week or so when I have more time.

Whit

I started out with Woodcraft-Henry Taylor chisels, then Barr and now most often old tools are prefered. The best chisel, easy to sharpen, durable and well formed to task, was a Penfield, an ugly duck flea market beater. The most beautiful are William Beatty. Favorite slick is a no-name. The difference between the best and the rest is so close that I respect all the old laminated tools and use them before the modern.

TH Witherby. We have three slicks, and several framing chisels. Laminated backs stay sharp a long time. Plus, I just love rehabbing antiques. CB.

An old ontario maker I like is Warnock, from Galt.
And I agree with Whit, the sorby chisels have a great feel, I have a couple of barr chisels which I use but I use the sorby chisels more.

I feel the need to comment on this thread for the mere sake of supporting other craftsmen. I own old and new steel and quite prefer my Barr over the others. That is kind of beside my point though. I believe that it is important to support individuals (like ourselves) who possess a particular set of skills that pays attention to detail. "hand worked tools for hand worked timbers". I am sure that Barr doesn't fit the picture in my head of one solitary man pounding away on steel all day long but still, you get the point. hand vs. machine, hand cut vs. hundegger. food for thought or maybe I am beating a dead horse.
bloveland

I feel the need to comment on this thread for the mere sake of supporting other craftsmen. I own old and new steel and quite prefer my Barr over the others. That is kind of beside my point though. I believe that it is important to support individuals (like ourselves) who possess a particular set of skills that pays attention to detail. "hand worked tools for hand worked timbers". I am sure that Barr doesn't fit the picture in my head of one solitary man pounding away on steel all day long but still, you get the point. hand vs. machine, hand cut vs. hundegger. food for thought or maybe I am beating a dead horse.
bloveland

TH Witherby, PS&W are on the top of the list for chisels. Stanley and Lie Nielsen for hand planes. The LN planes are only new edge tools I own. I like using the old steel so much that I haven't felt the need to buy a new chisel. Now the planes are a different story I do like the LN planes over most others.

I'm reconditioning 7 THwitherby chisels for myself. My initial cost plus money spent to refurbish them and sharpen them probably puts the cost about the same at the Barr or slightly more. I've tried someone else's Barr chisels and they were quite nice. I wouldn't have a problem owning Barr. For whatever reason I decided to go down the Antique road. Either will get the job done if sharp.

I love my Swans, and I think the laminated are perhaps even a little better.

Heck....I don't want to disclose my favorite steel since I may be in competition with some of you on future purchases

Though I tend to prefer the items from the 1800's as already mentioned above. I do have a couple of PS&W items I am not fond of compared to the rest and am a bit surprised some like them.

LN makes awesome planes though