havent posted anything for a while so here i go.
this is a set of four ice-carving chisels i forged for a coworker at the resort i was working at last december.
the sizes are, for the flat blades, 1'', 2'',and 3'' or slightly more, and the v chisel is 1.5'' on each side of the V. forged from leaf spring.

just shorter, but the angle is slightly more blunt because ice is pretty soft.

Ed, Those are great looking chisels. Nice roll on the attachment point. Is anything about an Ice chisel, different than a regular chisel? Is the grind angle different? I realize they are bigger than usual. Bigger picture is OK, I like looking at the detail. Nice "S" touch mark.

Very nice chisels Ed. I really like the form. Is there anything more that you can tell us about how you did them? I want to do some socketed chisels for my wife for Christmas and could use advice.

Are these mild steel for use in ice? I notice the 3" is chipped a bit.
How did you forge the sockets? Are they forge welded?

Thanks - Doug

years ago that is what got me starting in blacksmithing I wanted a set and did not want to pay the price. never got a round to making them had work for hire from the first day i lit off the forge fixing old farm equipment. they will work real good but need a lot of maintenance to keep the rust from forming. http://www.jbprince.com/ice-carving-chisels/executive-set-4-tools-and-roll.asp The best Japanese ice carving chisels are made of stainless steel. they do not sell them any more was 4 times the price.

I am curious as to the temper. how soft do you take them back to ?

oh wow, I cant believe I never answered these questions! Sorry guys.

though its a bit late now, maybe it'll help someone down the road.
The sockets are forged to a fan shape, just under 1" at the narrowest, and about 3" at the widest, then rolled in a swage starting from the small end, then finished on the anvil face. They arent welded, and i dont use a bickern to shape them either.

All made from leafspring, and triple normalised and then hardened, let down to about a bronze, so pretty hard still. the 3 inch one isnt chipped, that is galling from my file being loaded and gouging out big gnarly scratches.

 

sorry for taking over a year to look at this again, just forgot I guess...

sorry for taking over a year to look at this again, just forgot I guess...You FORGOT! Nice looking set of chisels, almost good enough for wood or timber framing. It was sure strange to see a set of Japanese ice chisels for nearly $600, man are we in the wrong business if that what they are getting for them, wow!, that a hand full of money. Keep up the quality work, you sure done good!

Ya when I first priced them out they were $2500.00 For 5 chisels. That was back in the late 80's. They price has dropped but they were made from stainless steel.