Not Worth Saving.............. Well Maybe ....................

A Colonel - Sheffield - Tanged Firmer Chisel on its Last Legs

Salvaging Abused Tools - Part 4

Well here it is:

Sad isn't it!

I don't think that I have ever seen a worse case of blade pitting than this,

Both sides are cratered.

Nevertheless, I thought I would give it the benefit of the doubt and see what lay beneath.

First step was to grind back both edges so that I could get a glimpse of the steel below.

Good enough to work with and showing real promise

Next - grind and flatten the back.

I concentrated on the front inch and a half as the pitting further back was cavernous.

Here it has been through my stones and finished on hard arkansas.

A new bevel was then polished the same way.

The business end now looks like it will be capable of some serious work.

The steel is good.

This little test of silky oak endgrain shows that the blade is truly capable.

Perhaps even deserving of a new handle - maybe later.

A colleague has commented that the unpolished surfaces look like they have been hand-hammered.

They have certainly taken a hammering, but the look is not unattractive if you squint hard enough - :)

It certainly still is an ugly duckling, but it isn't ready to be consigned to the scrap heap just yet.

It brings to mind that old saying:

...........................................never judge a book by its cover

Here is a similar firmer by Ward and Payne of Sheffield

It was in as poor condition, and the sides were so bad that they needed a severe re-grinding.

It started as a 1 inch chisel and is now a 7/8" firmer.

How fortuitous - I was missing a 7/8" chisel from my tool collection, and this will also serve quite nicely.

It is a Ward and Payne - the steel was always going to be good!