TIL using a cheap chisel for a deck job cost me double in resharpening time

Bought a $15 chisel set from the hardware store last month and after one session on treated lumber the edge was toast, so I grabbed a $50 Irwin Marple and it held up through the whole 40-foot railing without needing a touch up - has anyone else found a huge gap between budget and mid-range chisels on outdoor work?

3 comments

3 Comments

grantf7316d ago

Hold up, is resharpening a chisel really that big of a deal?

val94915d ago

Remember reading somewhere that treated lumber has a chemical treatment that's basically like fine sandpaper for edges, so cheap steel just folds over instead of holding. I guess the hardness difference between a $15 set and a decent mid-range chisel is way bigger than people think, especially when you're hitting knots and dirt from outdoor cuts. Sounds like your experience lines up with what I've heard, the good steel pays for itself if you're doing more than one board.

rubys8015d ago

Buddy of mine tried to save money with a cheap chisel set building a deck and it folded on the first knot in treated lumber. Took him longer to sharpen it back than it would have to just buy a better one upfront.