Can you guys recommend a brand for hi quality chisels? I've done "power tool" woodworking for a while, and want to get into joinery more. I would like to buy good chisels that are meant to last a lifetime. I could also buy older chisels on eBay.
I’m hoping the Ashley Iles will be my primary users- dovetails, paring, cleaning up shoulders and tenons and whatnot. They have a nice small side bevel so they’ll fit into tight corners well. They seem to be a very good value among the nicer segment of chisels. I considered the Lie-Nielsen socket bevel edge chisels, but the AI were more affordable and I wanted the O1 steel in the AI set over the L-N’s A2. Time will tell if it was the right choice, but I’m excited for their arrival. I'm in love on
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Buy the cheapest ones you can find, harbor freight or wherever. Chances are it will be a 3 or 4 piece set and spend the entire rest of the budget on sharpening stuff, a water stone or diamond stone and a cheap guide. Once you get used to sharpening and using those chisels and buy a nicer set they will make a great set of glue scraping chisels.