What can you tell me about this chisel? (pic)

[Piston]

I've received quite a few older chisels as hand me downs from freinds of the family.  Nothing amazing, and no complete sets or anything, in fact most are in tough shape with no handles and need a lot of tuning, but the price was right and I'm just starting out my tool collection for woodworking, so anything I can get my hands on is a plus, I can "upgrade" later as I see fit. 

One of the chisels I've received is marked with AST on it, and has an emblem of a leaf.  I googled it a few times and barely found any information on it, and no useful information. 

I figured this was probably the best place to find out about this particular make of chisel.  Can anyone tell me anything about this company?  Is there any way to tell if it's a decent quality chisel? 
Thanks in advance,
Matt



  

 

[Dave Shepard]

It's made in Germany, I bet it's good. ;)

[Piston]

It's made in Germany, I bet it's good. ;)

Thanks Dave, How did you know that?  :D :D  :laugh:

[Texas Ranger]

I believe you have a "slick" usually had a long handle for careful planning of flat surfaces.  I am sure the log workers will chime in that they are used in log building construction as well.  Handy tool.  Mine is german, also, inherited from my grandfather.

smiley_turkey_dancing 

[T Welsh]

Slicks are a lot larger than that one,but I have seen small ones. I would call that a framing chisel all though they are generally much longer. Tim

[HousewrightVA]

It's not a slick, way too short. Framing chisels have square edges for strength.
You have a large socketed bevel edge. I do not know that brand, but most all socket chisels are higher quality.Looks like a keeper,put an edge on it and you will know.

[Ironwood]

I have hundreds of chisels here, I havent seen that one, I look for "Buck", or some of the "Cast Steel" ones. There are alot of neat ones out there. I really like hand made forged ones, and for that matter ANYTHING forge made, calipers, hay hooks, chisels, etc......

Ironwood

[Resolute]

The following link is in German, but has information about the manufacturer of this chisel.
http://www.alte-beitel.de/steup_albert.html

[Tree Feller]

It looks like about a 2" bench chisel to me. Since it's a socket chisel, that probably means it's good quality. It also looks like it's HSS vs plain carbon steel so it's probably of fairly recent manufacture.

[Dodgy Loner]

I doubt it's HSS, Tree Feller. HSS is commonly used for turning tools, but I've never seen a socket chisel made from it. I sure wouldn't want an HSS socket chisel.

I do agree that the chisel is probably one of high quality.

[Piston]

Thanks for the replies from everyone. 

I was hoping someone would know something about the "AST" stamped on it but it must be a very small or not well known company, because if no one on here knows about it, then I don't imagine anyone does! 

I'll certainly tune it up and put it to use.  I'll have to make a handle for it and go through the sharpening steps until I can shave my arm hair off with it. 

Thanks again.
-Matt

[Texas Ranger]

In searching the web I find it is indeed a german manufacturer of cast steel chisels.

[purple otter]

I would guess that AST is for the initials of Albert STeup . Thanks for posting that picture,I have a 1/2" chisel that only the branch of the touchmark is visible. Nice chisel by the way,I love old tools!

[Piston]

I love old tools!

I couldn't agree more!  I prefer reconditioning old, well made tools, rather than buying new, especially when it comes to something like chisels or planes that are relatively easy to recondition. 

[Jay C. White Cloud]

Hi Matt,

Here is a break down of what I know:

Some folks would call this a slick or paring chisel, (even though it is small), it's "neck" is the give away that it is a "small slick," or "paring chisel."  This tool is not meant to be struck!!!! very important, this is a PUSH TOOL ONLY!  Seen quite a few damaged by being struck.  So when you make a handle, make it long and comfortable for pushing.  ;D

Sharpen it and check the "temper," some times folks will heat them up too much over the years and take the durability out of the edge.

This will take you to the trademark and data page about the tool company:

http://www.alte-beitel.de/steup_albert.html

Regards,

Jay

[Piston]

Ah yes...very helpful...

Warum ist diese Website erstellt worden?

Vor einigen Jahren habe ich durch Zufall in einer bekannten Verkaufsplattform den Begriff "Stecheisen" eingegeben, um irgendetwas mal zu suchen. Dabei entdeckte ich die Vielzahl von Herstellern und Formen von Beiteln. Das hat mein Interesse an diesem Holzbearbeitungswerkzeug weiter angeregt. Denn, den wundervollen Stoff Holz habe ich schon vor langer Zeit bei der Herstellung von Kleinmöbeln oder bei Bildhauerarbeiten schätzen gelernt.

Bei der Suche nach Hintergrundinformationen zu den Fabrikmarken, die bei vielen Beiteln eingeschlagen sind, bin ich auf die Internetseite www.holzwerken.de von Wolfgang Jordan gestossen. Es ist faszinierent was Wolfgang Jordan hier über Handwerkzeuge für die Holzbearbeitung zusammengetragen hat. Wolfgang hat mir beim Enträtseln von vielen Fabrikmarkenzeichen auf meinen Beiteln hervorragend geholfen.

Über fast alle Handwerkzeuge für die Holzbearbeitung gibt es ausreichend Literatur und Hintergrundinformationen zu den Herstellern und Herstellungsverfahren, aber über Beitel habe ich bis jetzt weltweit noch nichts entdecken können. Immer wird der Beitel nur "am Rande" erwähnt. Eine Erklärung dafür habe ich bisher nicht in Erfahrung bringen können.

In all seriousness though, thanks for the information you gave me.  I think I will end up using it as a small slick.  Right now, my only slick is a 3.5" really heavy duty slick, which is great to use and I love it, but sometimes too large.  I'll have to fab up some kind of handle with a drawknife, since I don't have a lathe, and wouldn't know how to use it even if I did  :D
Of course, I'll have to get my drawknife into 'useful' condition first :D :D

How do I check the "temper" ?

[Dave Shepard]

Try using a file on the cutting edge before you tune it up. If you can scratch it, it isn't very hard. I don't know if it's laminated or not. My laminated slicks , chisels and hewing axes I can file the mild steel/wrought iron, but the file just zips right across the hardened steel. If it takes a good edge, and keeps it, then the steel hasn't been abused. If it dulls quickly in normal use, then I would guess it's been overheated. A small slick can come in handy for some projects, especially some complicated scarf joints. I have a huge 2" chisel that I only use as a slick, because, well, it's HUGE. :laugh: