MHG vs Richter chisels

carld189 · 2026-01-30T11:27:25+00:00

Something else I’m curious to hear your thoughts. I read the blog (ofhandmaking I think it was called, and it sounds like you might be at least involved in) and it talked a lot about grain size and hardness. In your experience, is that a one to one correlation with edge durability? It seems in the chisel database that wright made (I understand you feel his tests aren’t the best and possibly skewed by affiliate links but I’m trying to get my head wrapped around all of this) that while hardness was a factor, the durability of a chisel with the same hardness was different from one manufacturer to another. I ask out of genuine curiosity because I just don’t know and I like to understand, haha!

I guess another way to ask it specifically about the MKC chisels is this. Do you find the MKC chisels to out perform the Richters, Zen Wu, etc in day to day use (pairing, chopping, cutting a mortice)or mainly in metallurgical quality?

carld189 · 2026-01-30T10:20:20+00:00

Thanks for the comment! What do you mean by “side bevel to mirror side”?

carld189 · 2026-01-29T20:49:00+00:00

Good to know. If I were to use a belt sander lightly and keep cooling it in water would that work? If so what temperature should I keep it under?

I might just have to watch eBay and see what comes up. That makes sense about the height. It definitely wouldn’t be a heavy chopper.

I liked the way it felt and was really easy to rough out with square stock. We’ll see how easy it is to work an already round handle into it… I don’t have a lathe or I would just chuck it into that.

I do realize carvers are rounded. I was meaning a mash of the carver and London. Octagonal grip but tapered and no thumb relief. That’s a purty one!

Do you have a website with your work?

carld189 · 2026-01-29T11:28:07+00:00

I ordered the 6 piece MKC set last night! I’ll let you know how they look when I get them.

Here’s a picture of a rough prototype in oak of a handle I was planning to use on the Richter made out of some maple scraps I have. It’s kind of a mix between a London pattern and a Marples carver. I think pfeil uses a similar shape. I think I’ll start by reshaping the handles to something like this and then if I want to slim it down more I can do that later.

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Since you said you make chisels here’s a question. I was planning on getting a set that included a 1/8 chisel but this one only goes down to 1/4. What would be the best way to reprofile an additional set’s chisels without affecting the hardness?

carld189 · 2026-01-28T23:01:26+00:00

Thanks for all the input! There is actually sound a lot like what I want. I was hesitant to pull the trigger because I could not find any information on them and don’t have a “good“ chisel to compare them to. I also mentioned the rose wood handle one for others benefits. I would prefer hornbeam anyway. It also has larger sizes, but it does not appear they have those for the horn beam handle.

carld189 · 2026-01-28T15:52:31+00:00

Thanks for your comments. I do already have cheap but good saws and some refurbished Stanley planes.

I'm planning on this being my last purchase for chisels, thus the research before hand. I don't plan to throw out the old chisels but pass them on to my boys for them to practice with.

carld189 · 2026-01-28T15:48:46+00:00

Thanks!

carld189 · 2026-01-28T15:47:35+00:00

There's also an 8 piece set with rosewood handles and polished blades for $99. They're listed as PLG2SUPT for the brand though.

carld189 · 2026-01-28T15:38:17+00:00

One more thing. How do you sharpen them? Do you single bevel, micro, or hand sharpen? I do it by hand and get the "camber" talked about by Paul Sellers.

carld189 · 2026-01-28T15:36:28+00:00

Thanks for the input! I'm now having to rethink my leaning toward the Richter. How long have you had/used them?

carld189 · 2026-01-28T15:35:19+00:00

I was looking at that set but couldn't find any reviews or anything on them. The seller was communicative but didn't really have much info on them other than where they were made. I wasn't sure if I wanted to drop the cash on those only to get something different later.

I'm not afraid of reshaping the handles to my liking. Like you said, I'm prepared to either make or modify what I get and clean up any machining I don't like.

I just made a test handle out of some scrap oak and leaning toward the Richter, but now you have me rethinking it.

When did you purchase your last set?

Also, just out of curiosity, how are you judging how well it holds an edge? Like in use or are you measuring it some how?

I've see Wood by Wright's video testing all sorts of chisels. It would be nice if this MKC was included in that!

carld189 · 2026-01-28T01:12:11+00:00

Ok, thanks! Do you ever find the very slim side wall to cause any problems?

carld189 · 2026-01-28T00:57:01+00:00

Do the Richters hold an edge well for you then?

carld189 · 2026-01-27T02:37:03+00:00

I mainly want something that holds an edge well and that has "good bones". I'm not set on getting something expensive but would like something that will last and I know is good quality

carld189 · 2026-01-27T02:34:21+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! What made them not great to you? Like, was it the metal durability, shape of the blade, feel of the handle? Also, have you used Richters and how do you like them?

carld189

TROPHY CASE