Review on Irwin Tools Marples M444SB6N Woodworking Chisel Set – Precision Craftsmanship at its Finest! by Robert Rick

I did a lot of research on chisels before deciding on one. I really liked the value you get with them, especially at Revain prices, but I was constantly put off by "experts" saying they weren't good. Instead, many people recommended Narex, but many of the same people complained that the quality control performed by Narex was patchy at best. It didn't really look like picking a winner in this price range. I decided to pull the trigger, despite the negative comments from some experts, and overall I'm very glad I did. I'll start off by using them for fine carpentry work and have high hopes for the end result. First Impression: Out of the box these are good looking chisels. There are a lot of machine marks on the steel but in general everything looks clean and even. The cut edges out of the box leave a lot to be desired. Don't expect them to be sharpened when you get them. Don't even expect them to make good cuts out of the box. They are mediocre at best and as sharp as I can get them with 220 grit sandpaper Honing Impressions: They were completely flat out of the box which is really impressive for the price. Sharpening the back about 3/4 inch to make it flat and smooth took no more than 15 minutes total. Sharpening Impressions: They sharpen well, much better than I expected given the generally poor reputation they have in online woodworking communities. Using 400, 600, 1500, and finally 2000 grit wet/dry sandpaper will get them "pretty sharp". At this point I can trim the end faces cleanly. a piece of balsa makes them "absurdly hot" to the point where I'm afraid to leave them on my desktop. High gloss polishing and a little effort are quite possible with it. I'm good at any project. I usually sharpen everything at the end of a project so it's ready for the next use. I have yet to find the need to sharpen these parts in the middle of a project. a little polishing paste here and there to touch up b but definitely no reason to go back to the beginning. Handles: This is my biggest negative for these chisels. The handles are quite small in diameter and not very long. This means my large hands have a hard time holding them for long periods of time for trimming or bodyweight shredding. These are not socket bits so stick with what they contain. The material of the handles is durable plastic. I have no doubt that they will take a beating with a mallet or a rubber mallet. Using them with a steel hammer is a little overkill in my opinion and you shouldn't be doing this with your chisels anyway. Overall: I'm happy with them for a good set to get into carpentry. For the price I can't find much better. Now I intend to gradually upgrade the most commonly used bits in this set to a few socketed bits, but they cost about $30 each. I don't think I need to update for a year. I would recommend them to anyone interested in fine woodcarving but working on a tight budget. Wouldn't recommend them for carpentry, I've seen what these guys do with tools, they should stick to the Stanley Through Shank. If you want to sharpen and sharpen your chisels right away they are no exception, but if you are willing to put a little time and effort into them they can be fantastic chisels.