Dieter Schmid - Fine Tools
	Georg-Wilhelm-Str. 7 A - 10711 Berlin - Germany Tel ++49 (0)30 342 1757 - Fax ++49 (0)30 342 1764 Website: www.fine-tools.com

Dieter Schmid - Fine Tools Georg-Wilhelm-Str. 7 A - 10711 Berlin Tel ++49 30 342 1757 - Fax ++49 30 342 1764 Website: www.fine-tools.com

Overview Chisels How to sharpen Japanese Chisels

Japanese Chisels - Oire Nomi

The renowned metal-working arts of Japan are reflected in Japanese chisels. Blades are made in two parts: a softer iron body, extending into the handle, and a hard steel cutting piece hammer-welded to the body. Blades are hollow-ground to make sharpening easier. An often-asked question is what to do when the blade is ground down so far that the hollow reaches the cutting edge. This is actually not a problem - regular sharpening and honing of the face moves the hollow back so that a straight edge is automatically maintained. In fact, overenthusiastic sharpening or grinding of the face by some users enlarges the flat between the edge and the hollow-ground part of the chisel. These chisels are customarily driven by steel hammers in Japan, but the usual wooden mallet will serve just as well. The total length of all chisels offered on this page is 22 - 23 cm (8-13/16 - 9 in.). Wir carry five different quality lines: Budget-priced Hikoza brand chisels. These have demonstrated very good quality in use. They are made of unalloyed carbon steel, harder but also slightly more brittle than European chisels Koshimitsu brand chisels in "white steel". These are made of the renowned "Hitachi Yasuki Hagane No. 2" steel, carbon steel with special properties, very densely-grained, and both harder and tougher than the usual carbon steels. "White steel" will take the sharpest edge of any steel; these chisels are therefore suitable for the very finest and most precise work. They are made by Master blacksmith Matsumura in Yoita, Province Niigata. High-speed steel (HSS) chisels. Until recently, no chisels were made of high-speed steel, because the material was too coarse-grained to take a truly sharp edge. However, manufacturers have now succeeded in producing high-speed steel sufficiently fine-grained to take and hold an edge. These chisels can be sharpened to a very fine edge but their outstanding feature is their ruggedness. Carbon steel blades can be nicked fairly easily if not properly used. High-speed steel chisels, on the other hand, will take abuse with little concern that the blade will be damaged. They do require, however, slightly more effort to sharpen than carbon steel. Daitei brand Chisels made of "Blue Steel"   "Blue Steel" is a little different from the "white paper steel" that is used in some of the other high-quality Japanese chisels and plane irons we sell. Blue steel has a carbon content of 1 - 1.5%, chrome 0.2 - 0.5%, and 1 - 1.5% tungsten. Chrome reduces wear, and provides rust resistance (although given the tiny amount of chrome in this alloy, one cannot consider it stainless steel) and aids in quenching the steel after hardening. The tungsten adds hardness to the alloy. The chisel as art. Blade made of "Suminagashi," the Japanese version of damascened steel, with its layers prominently displayed; handle of sandalwood; a feast for the eye! It goes without saying that the cutting edge is carefully hardened and tempered. Click pictures for enlargements!

	Oire Nomi - laminated carbon steel die-forged by HIKOZA, Japanese standard chisel of good quality Hardness: 62 - 63 HRC    Enlargement Blade width Order nr. Price 3 mm 309500 € 17.20 6 mm 309501 € 17.20 9 mm 309502 € 17.20 12 mm 309503 € 17.80 15 mm 309504 € 17.80 18 mm 309505 € 18.40 21 mm 309506 € 19.00 24 mm 309507 € 21.30 30 mm 309508 € 24.90 36 mm 309509 € 27.20

Set of 6 chisels made by Hikoza in canvas tool roll 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30 mm You save: € 24.80 Order nr. 309510 Price € 99.95

Set of 10 chisels made by Hikoza in canvas tool roll 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, 36 mm You save: € 38.45 Order nr. 309511 Price € 169.50

KOSHIMITSU Oire Nomi - laminated white steel Oire Nomi hand-forged, best quality "White Paper Steel", "Hitachi Yasuki Hagane No. 2" hand forged by Master Blacksmith Matsumura Hardness: 64 HRC    Enlargement View Master blacksmith Matsumura forging a chisel. Blade width Order nr. Price 3 mm 309550 € 27.20 6 mm 309551 € 28.40 9 mm 309552 € 31.00 12 mm 309553 € 33.40 15 mm 309554 € 36.50 18 mm 309555 € 42.80 21 mm 309556 € 45.00 24 mm 309557 € 46.00 30 mm 309558 € 49.50 36 mm 309559 € 50.00

Set of 6 "White Paper Steel" chisels made by Koshimitsu in canvas tool roll 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30 mm You save: € 29.05 Order nr. 309560 Price € 199.95

Set of 10 "White Paper Steel" chisels made by Koshimitsu in canvas tool roll 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, 36 mm You save: € 50.65 Order nr. 309561 Price € 349.00

KOSHIMITSU Dovetail Chisels Umeki Nomi hand forged by Master Blacksmith Matsumura. The blade of these dovetail chisels is triangular in section. This shape allows the chisels to be used to cut in tight corners, like dovetail joints, where the shape of a normal chisel prevents it from being used. These chisels are in general thinner than standard chisels, and so should not be used for heavy work. The steel used for the edge is the best available for these tools - White Paper Steel, forged by Master Matsumura, and hardened to about 64 HRC. The thickness measurements given for these chisels is at the peak of the triangle in the middle of the blade. The narrower chisels are thicker so as to provide the blade with enough strength and stiffness. If the blades are too thick for a job, one can file off some part of the peak, which is formed of relatively soft and strong iron. It will not look as nice as the original blade, but the chisels can then be used in places that cannot be reached with any conventional chisel. Be aware that filing off the peak of these chisels will weaken them considerably, and under no circumstances should leverage be exerted on these blades! These chisels are hand-forged, and so small variations in the dimensions listed are to be expected. Enlargement Blade width Blade thickness Order nr. Price Euros 3 mm 7 mm 309565 € 29.95 4.5 mm 7 mm 309566 € 30.50 6 mm 6 mm 309567 € 30.70 7.5 mm 5 mm 309568 € 31.90 9 mm 5 mm 309569 € 32.50 10.5 mm 5 mm 309570 € 34.50 12 mm 5 mm 309571 € 34.90 15 mm 5 mm 309572 € 35.90 18 mm 5 mm 309573 € 38.50 21 mm 5,5 mm 309574 € 41.50 24 mm 6 mm 309575 € 42.90 30 mm 6 mm 309576 € 45.90 36 mm 6 mm 309577 € 49.50 42 mm 6 mm 309578 € 52.50

Set of 6 KOSHIMITSU Dovetail chisels in Canvas tool roll 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 mm You save: € 17.50 Order nr. 309579 Price € 199.90

Oire Nomi - laminated high speed steel These are the most sturdy chisels available - good for the shop as well as for the building site. H.S.S.-Steel, Hardness: 65 - 66 HRC    Enlargement Blade width Order nr. Price 3 mm 310000 € 41.00 6 mm 310001 € 41.00 9 mm 310002 € 41.00 12 mm 310003 € 41.00 15 mm 310004 € 41.00 18 mm 310005 € 41.00 21 mm 310006 € 42.20 24 mm 310007 € 43.40 30 mm 310008 € 45.70 36 mm 310009 € 45.70 42 mm 310010 € 51.50

Set 6 of H.S.S.-Steel chisels in canvas tool roll: 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30 mm You save: € 32.05 Order nr. 310011 Price € 229.00

Set of 11 H.S.S.-Steel chisels in canvas tool roll: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, 36, 42 mm You save € 58.00 Order nr. 310012 Price € 429.00

DAITEI Mini Oire Nomi Suminagashi Steel Japanese Mini Chisels made of Damascus Steel Blade made of Suminagashi, the Japanese type of Damascus steel. Handle made of Sandalwood. Made by Master Teijiro Ohkubo in Yoita, Province Niigata. Total length 150 - 155 mm (6 in.) Blade length 35 - 40 mm (1-1/2 in.) Enlargement Blade Width Order nr. Price 6 mm 310774 € 52.00 9 mm 310775 € 56.00 12 mm 310776 € 59.00 15 mm 310777 € 62.00 24 mm 310778 € 69.00 30 mm 310779 € 78.00

Set of 6 Mini Oire Nomi Suminagashi Steel Set consisting of: 6, 9, 12, 15, 24 and 30 mm Comes in wooden box. You save € 17.00 Enlargement Order nr. 310780 Price € 359.00

	Size Comparison On the left standard sized Japanese chisels, on the right mini chisels. Have a look into the workshop of master smith Teijiro Ohkubo and see the different steps in the process of hand-forging a chisel.

DAITEI Oire Nomi Suminagashi Steel Japanese Chisels made of Damascus Steel Blade made of Suminagashi, the Japanese type of Damascus steel. Handle made of Sandalwood. Made by Master Teijiro Ohkubo in Yoita, Province Niigata. Total length 220 mm (8-5/8 in.) Blade length 60 mm (2-3/8 in.) Enlargement Blade Width Order nr. Price 3 mm 310785 € 59.00 6 mm 310786 € 62.00 9 mm 310787 € 65.00 12 mm 310788 € 72.00 15 mm 310789 € 75.00 18 mm 310790 € 78.00 24 mm 310791 € 82.00 30 mm 310792 € 86.00 36 mm 310793 € 90.00 42 mm 310794 € 95.00

Set of 10 Oire Nomi Suminagashi Steel Set consisting of: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24, 30, 36 and 42 mm Comes in wooden box. You save € 69.00 Enlargement Order nr. 310795 Price € 695.00

	Mokume Oire Nomi Japanese Chisels with Damascus Steel Blade Blade made of Suminagashi, the Japanese folded steel. Handle made of sandalwood. Made by Master Tasai in Sanjo, Province Niigata. Enlargement Blade width Order nr. Price 6 mm 313030 € 184.00 9 mm 313031 € 184.00 12 mm 313032 € 199.00 18 mm 313033 € 225.00 24 mm 313034 € 249.00 30 mm 313035 € 259.00

Steel ring or ferrule This is the steel ring or ferrule which holds the wooden handle of chisels together under the blows of the hammer or mallet. Whether you have lost one or are processing your own chisel making project, here you find the right one. Inside diameter Order nr. Price 18 mm 309513 € 2.32 19 mm 309514 € 2.32 19,5 mm 309515 € 2.32 20,5 mm 309516 € 2.32 21,5 mm 309517 € 2.32 22 mm 309518 € 2.32