Post #503676 by JohnnyP on Mon, Jan 11, 2010 6:09 PM

Good tools are well worth the money.

As a cheapskate, I have tried to save money and ended up repurchasing carving tools to a much higher quality. That said, and as Benzart said, if you are just curious about carving it is hard to justify the large investment and you can get by with a cheap set. Don't plan on them lasting and/or getting quality results. Once you satisfy the initial curiosity and the fever gets you, and you break down and get a good carving tool you will really appreciate it.

Sometimes you can salvage a cheap chisel by retempering the steel. Heat it with a propane torch till the first inch or so from the cutting edge glows bright red, plunge it immediately into a cup of water (or better yet a cup of old motor oil) until it is cool to the touch. Clean the steel with steel wool or fine sandpaper so you can see bright metal ( it will be black from the torch and or oil quenching)then heat it again gently with a torch with the tip of the flame about one inch back from the cutting edge. As you heat you will notice the steel starting change colors. These color bands will start at where the torch is heating the steel and then start to move down the chisel. When the "straw" color hits the end remove the torch and let the steel cool slowly. The color may move very fast so pay attention. If it passes the tip, start all over. The steel at the tip should be much harder than it was before. Sharpen the chisel again as you normally would and it "might" hold a better edge. Even a little blueish color at the tip makes the steel much harder and will hold an edge longer, but it will be a lot more brittle and could chip if you hit edge against something.

This process will leave a "rainbow" of color on your chisels and they won't be the prettest things, but it is better than the un-useable one you had before.

I know this sounds like a lot of work, but it might save a few dollars for about 10-15 minutes of time.

Good luck.
JP