Aldi Chisels
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Tagged: Aldi Chesils
- This topic has 26 replies, 13 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 7 months ago by William Stanley.
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14 September 2018 at 12:44 am #551430
So, my handles are not ash – look like beech – and the printing on the metal is different than in Paul’s videos. I understand production can change year to year, but can anyone confirm the quality is still the same after some changes? I haven’t gotten around to Sharpening them yet.
I have two sets. The first was bought in 2015 and appears to be the same as the ones in Paul’s videos, with ash or hickory handles. I bought the second set a year later. These have beech handles, the grinding is a little coarser and the flats on the sides are deeper. The current ones appear identical to the second (2016) set. Anyway, the second set had decently flat backs and sharpened up easily enough. I haven’t really used the second set so I can’t comment on their performance but the first set has served me very well.
Dave
16 September 2018 at 8:03 am #551573I just picked up a wood handle set at Aldi’s last night 9/15/18. Are you sure you didn’t pick up the plastic handled file set that is packaged right alongside the chisels in the same display? NOTE: I hear the chesils sold in the UK may have plastic handles. Maybe someone can confirm this.
- This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by William Nenna.
- This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by William Nenna.
- This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by William Nenna.
According to other posters here, Aldi stores in the UK were recently selling sets of three plastic handled chisels. I’ve never seen these in the US Aldi stores. In the past, UK Aldi stores had the wooden handled chisels available for about a week in January.
Dave
16 September 2018 at 10:54 am #551580I saw the ad yesterday (Sat) 9/15 and picked up a set last night. I may go back for another as if the value is there somebody will wish they had a set. These chisels look like they will “clean up” well with a little work and once sharpened I’d like to test and compare them to other Chinese chisels (Harbor Freight) made of the same Chrome Vanadium steel, similiar style although the handles are not shaped or sized as well as these. These may prove to be at least as good or better then the current Marples blue handle chisels which look OK but are a big disappointment holding an edge compared to what they once were and while inexpensive are still at least 4x the price of Aldi’s.
On a trip this past weekend, I successfully picked up a set of 4 of the recommended Aldi chisels in Mishawaka,IN. I’ve tried Goo-gone and other solvents to try to clean gunk off the blades, so far to no effect. Can anyone recommend how to clean these so they can be properly flattened and sharpened without ruining my sharpening media?
17 September 2018 at 7:49 pm #551661Toluene or acetone will take lacquer off. I picked up some too, but I haven’t even taken them out of the package yet. I assume they have lacquer on them. That’s what you typically find on chisels.
17 September 2018 at 8:24 pm #551662Paint stripper works if you let it set. You probably want to strip the handles anyway as they are rough and gunky. Sand them smooth after stripping and apply linseed oil (wipe dry after 5-10 minutes) once every few days for a week and then once a week for a month. That’s an authentic old-fashioned finish that will age and grow a patina like most old tools have. I picked up mine in South Bend, so Hi Neighbor!
- This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by William Nenna.
- This reply was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by William Nenna.
A much easier way to get a nice satin finish on the wood is to buff the factory lacquer finish lightly with paste wax on a wad of 0000 (“four-ought”) steel wool. That should remove the garish WORK ZONE lettering too without going down to bare wood.
Dave
19 September 2018 at 6:13 am #551788If any kind soul can buy a set for me and ship, I would be very grateful. I will reimburse of course :). I live in northern CA and there are no Aldi stores where I live.
Thanks,
praki24 September 2018 at 3:53 pm #552140Just picked up a set in Vienna (Austria!!) – still not available in UK!!
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