RE: How do you mark your old chisels?

[David Conley]

Wow!  I have been incommunicado for the last week.  Y’all been busy with some great suggestions!!  This was what I was looking for.

After seeing everybody’s responses, I am getting the feeling that I should turn the cutting edge towards me so that I can see the curvature of the chisel.  I am also gathering that it will not take long for me to get to know my “children” and be able to recognize them on sight.  Thinking back to the carving class, I remember I was picking up chisels and visually looking at the sweep to determine if it was the correct one to use or not.  So, this is all starting to make more sense.  THANKS EVERYONE!!!!

In the meantime, I really like Rick Yochim’s suggestion of temporarily marking the sweeps with thin plastic tape.  That way, I can easily sort the chisels by sweeps and by the time the tape falls off, I should know that child.    
Thanks again!!!

Al, that is a great suggestion about recording the chisels you used for a particular project.

And John, can I borrow that stamp when you get finished with it.

Cheers,
David