Loading
Robert Sorby Bench Chisels
The term "Bench Chisels" refers to a class of chisels used by a joiner or cabinetmaker, either of whom would normally be working at a bench. A number of different specific types of chisels, such as firming or paring, all fall under the general category of "bench chisels." A good set of bevel edge firming chisels for dovetailing should be at the foundation of any tool kit. We favor a traditional design of beveled chisel that is similar to what would have been ubiquitous in British cabinet shops around 1900. The Robert Sorby Excelsior set is as close to that ideal as any British chisels manufactured today. After that, as a tool kit expands, paring chisels and gouges are logical additions.
|
Overall length 10 1/2" to 13 1/2", blade length 5" to 7" with a tradtional turned boxwood handle.
The Robert Sorby Excelsior set are the finest bevelled firming chisels made today in Britain. The Excelsior set is based on the popular Robert Sorby 166 line of chisels, but have two key improvements. The Rockwell hardness Excelsior set is nominal 59 value, a full 2 points harder than the standard 166 chisels. We feel that a Rockwell value of 59 offers an ideal balance between hardness and toughness that is best for dovetailing chisels. What is more important however, is that the Robert Sorby Excelsior chisels are hand ground to be approximately 1/3 thinner than the standard 166 chisels, and with bevels that come right to an edge at the tip. 
Click on Image to Expand | ||||
| Stock # | Size | Price | Qty | Buy |
| Excelcior-S5 | Set of 5 Sizes 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4", 1" |
$194.95 | ||
These chisels have the same blades as the 167 series, but with a tradtional turned boxwood handle rather than the octagonal handle. Overall length 10 1/2" to 13 1/2", blade length 5" to 7".
| ||||
| Stock # | Size | Price | Qty | Buy |
| 166-3 | 1/8" | $41.95 | ||
| 166-6 | 1/4" | $32.95 | ||
| 166-10 | 3/8" | $33.95 | ||
| 166-13 | 1/2" | $34.95 | ||
| 166-19 | 3/4" | $36.95 | ||
| 166-25 | 1" | $37.95 | ||
| 166-32 | 1 1/4" | $49.95 | ||
| 166-38 | 1 1/2" | $54.95 | ||
| 166-50 | 2" | $62.95 | ||
| 166-S3 | Set of 3, including sizes 1/2", 3/4", 1" | $94.95 | ||
| 166-S5 | Set of 5 Sizes 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4", 1" |
$154.95 | ||
| 166-S9 | Set of All 9 Sizes | $339.95 | ||
|
"London Pattern" refers to the decorative octagonal boxwood handles on these chisels. Overall length 10 1/2" to 13 1/2", blade length 5" to 7".
Note: These chisels have a metal ring, properly called a hoop, at the top of the handle, that serves no function on a boxwood handle and is prone to falling off. No original "London Pattern" handle had this feature and we do not agree with Sorby's decision to use it. We strongly recommend that you remove these metal rings when you get the chisels and discard them. Should you chose to leave the hoop on, we can not guarantee against them falling off. Because it tends to be more humid in Sheffield than in most of the US, they will always be loose. (Some old chisels came with an iron hoop on top to prevent mushrooming on ash handles. This metal ring does not serve that purpose.) 
| ||||
| Stock # | Size | Price | Qty | Buy |
| 167-3 | 1/8" | $42.95 | ||
| 167-6 | 1/4" | $36.95 | ||
| 167-10 | 3/8" | $36.95 | ||
| 167-13 | 1/2" | $37.95 | ||
| 167-19 | 3/4" | $39.95 | ||
| 167-25 | 1" | $42.95 | ||
| 167-32 | 1 1/4" | $52.95 | ||
| 167-38 | 1 1/2" | $57.95 | ||
| 167-50 | 2" | $67.95 | ||
| 167-S3 | Set of 3, including sizes 1/2", 3/4", 1" | $109.95 | ||
| 167-S5 | Set of 5 Sizes 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4", 1" |
$174.95 | ||
| 167-S9 | Set of All 9 Sizes | $369.95 | ||
The "Gilt Edge" series of Robert Sorby chisels has the same quality of blade as the standard 166 & 167 series beveled knives, but the bolster is carefully ground to match the curvature of the blade. This is strictly for aesthetics, but doing so requires great attention to the grinding of the bolster and thus raises the cost of the chisel. Boxwood Handle.
| ||||
| Stock # | Size | Price | Qty | Buy |
| 510-3 | 1/8" | $42.95 | ||
| 510-6 | 1/4" | $39.95 | ||
| 510-10 | 3/8" | $40.95 | ||
| 510-13 | 1/2" | $41.95 | ||
| 510-19 | 3/4" | $44.95 | ||
| 510-25 | 1" | $47.95 | ||
| 510-S5 | Set of Sizes (1/4" through 1") | $189.95 | ||
| 510-S6 | Set of All 6 Sizes | $224.95 | ||
The "Gilt Edge" series of Robert Sorby chisels has the same quality of blade as the standard 166 & 167 series beveled knives, but the bolster is carefully ground to match the curvature of the blade. This is strictly for aesthetics, but doing so requires great attention to the grinding of the bolster and thus raises the cost of the chisel. . Rosewood Handle.
| ||||
| Stock # | Size | Price | Qty | Buy |
| 520-3 | 1/8" | $46.95 | ||
| 520-6 | 1/4" | $41.95 | ||
| 520-10 | 3/8" | $42.95 | ||
| 520-13 | 1/2" | $43.95 | ||
| 520-19 | 3/4" | $45.95 | ||
| 520-25 | 1" | $48.95 | ||
| 520-S5 | Set of Sizes (1/4" through 1") | $199.95 | ||
| 520-S6 | Set of All 6 Sizes | $234.95 | ||
