Record Chisel

[Gecko]

Ok, So I get this 1 1/4" Record chisel when I was up at Grizzly awhile ago. Package says razor sharp and ready to use. Ya right. Take it out of the package and there is an 1/8" burr on the end from the machining that was never taken off. Ok fine. I sharpen it up so it shaves hair and the lightly tap it into some purpleheart. After about 6 times, the bevel is totally destroyed. The edge rolled under and chipped like crazy. 25 dgree bevel btw. So I resharpen it tonight at 30 degree bevel, push it by hand into some purpleheart 3 times and then try to shave a bit off the wood face. Three times shaving and the edge is burred again and showing chips. What is up? The other Irwin marples I have had more use on the same wood and are holding a sharp edge with just a few strokes on the sandpaper once in a while. Did they harden it too much? Just curious. As it stands, it is only good for the garbage.

[Sawduster]

Sounds like they didn't harden it enough. And it being made of new modern better steel means you can't harden it yourself. You can get an idea of the hardness by sliding the corner of a file across the flat of the blade. The file should just skate across without digging in. If the file digs in the metal is too soft. Whenever I get any new Vintage HC chisels in I check them that way near the cutting edge. I can retemper those with my MAPP gas torch, quenching in oil.