Stanley’s FatMax folding pocket chisel (FMHT16145, 16-145) isn’t due to hit stores for a couple of more months, but we wanted to give you an early preview. The new chisel is aimed at contractors looking for a compact chisel that they can just slip into their pockets or tool bags without worrying about chipping or the damage an unprotected chisel tip might cause.
Advertisement
Features:
- short blade for greater strength and control
- locking handle that does not come apart during use
- durable steel strike cap
- hardened and tempered high carbon steel blade
- 1-inch blade
Stanley will be releasing the FatMax pocket chisels in the USA around March 2013 at the wallet-friendly price of $13.
Update: Price is now $10.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Advertisement
gman
What are you supposed to hit it with, a ball peen? It seems that a “nail hammer” that would be handy while hanging a door would be too hard and damage the chisel or the hammer head. A wooden mallet would just get dented too badly and it would tear a rubber mallet. Cool idea aside from the steel strike plates.
Stuart
This isn’t for fine woodworking, it’s (seemingly) primarily for construction and jobsite use. I figure that most users will go ahead and strike it with whatever they have available. A 16oz nail hammer would probably be alright and shouldn’t damage the strike plate at all.
If I recall correctly, some people were hitting it with a milled-face framing hammer with no ill effects.
Dennis
You don’t have to wait until March of next year, Fastcap has had a folding chisel for a few years now. http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/Pocket-Chisel-3p2470.htm I can attest that it fits nicely into the tool pocket of my work shorts and pants. Very handy for doing finish work and doors, not exactly fine woodworking quality. They also have a putty knife that is equally handy. Now the opening is a little stiff, so you can’t do cool butterfly knife flourishes, but it does make carrying a chisel or putty knife a lot easier. Although it looks like the Stanley one will be lower priced, so I may pick up an extra one when the come out.
Stuart
Monday’s post was going to be about the Fastcap pocket chisels. =)
Aage
Have some Fastcap chisels which is brutally treated and still works. Bought them for about 3 years ago. Hope that the Stanley chisel has the same quality.
James C
Looks pretty interesting to me. So is the black part of the handles made out of metal and the yellow part some kind of (high strength) plastic?
Stuart
The black and yellow are both high strength plastic. The silver end caps are the only steel aside from the chisel blade.
Bill
More innovative ways to send more American $$ to the People’s Republic of China.
Baji
Too true, I’d never buy this. This item looks as if this would break within a very small time frame. If I am going use a wood chisel, I’d use a Dasco Pro chisel. All of their products are 100% made in USA and their chisels all in one metal.
fred
The problem is with the consumers who buy the tools – and want to spend $13 on a chisel – or “better yet” $5.99 on a set of 3 at Harbor Freight instead of purchasing a higher quality product made somewhere other than China. Now no one would look at this sort of utility chisel and think it was made for fine woodworking – but if that’s what you were seeking then a $70 Lie Nielsen might satisfy you needs (for quality and USA origin) – but perhaps not your pocketbook. BTW – I’ve always thought of DASCO wood chisels as being designed (like so called Electrician’s Chisels and flooring chisels) for tasks other than for cutting the occasional hinge or lockset mortise.
Lenny
Are those gear teath around the pivot pin? If so what are they for? I’ve seen another version of this same chisel (not Stanley) and was not impressed. Looked like it would break after hitting it once. I do like the steel strike cap(s) but have to wonder if this thing can stand up to repeated hammer blows.
Stuart
Going by my experience with a multi-tool with similar geared handled design, I would say that the gears make it easier and quicker to open and close the chisel. Instead of having to fold both handles, you can just move one and it controls the other. Both handles moving in unison could also be to give them added strength and stability. It could also be a simple way to ensure that the handles fold out and meet at the middle where they should.
I wouldn’t worry about damage to the steel strike cap or handle – I would think that it’s designed to be beaten on with aggressive-faced hammers.
Mike
FastCap has made the Pocket Chisel for a few years now and the folding handles hold up to a very hard pounding. Works quite well. Well enough that Stanley had to copy the design and name!
joe
he this is the first time i see one that folds. all these years i have used cardboard box sleeve put together with electrical tape. nice. this would work great for tool boxes.
john
I have one of these chisels. It is fantastic. Hung plenty of doors with it and it hardly has a mark on it. The gearing system works great and prevents it folding up in use.
Robert Cooper
I patented this chisel in 2006 in the U.K. and still have it. I offered it to Stanley in 2011 but they said that they where not interested in it. I am still waiting for them to get back to me. Patent No GB2433911
Rhonda Kauffman
where would you purchase this in the USA? I can’t seem to find it in retail stores or on the Stanley tools website.
Thanks!
Stuart
A couple of places starting carrying it in stock – I added two links to the post.
peter
ok al negative l comments of on the folding chisel are wrong this item is good quality maybe the ones using it should find another job and not use hand tools,maybe use your hand for somthing elase!