Irwin rolls out new Marples tool series

Irwin Tools launched a new line of saw blades and bevel-edge chisels through its Marples brand. Dating back to 1828, Marples is the oldest of all of Irwin’s brands, acquired by the company in the mid-1990s.

There are 12 saw blades in the Marples Woodworking Series. Product manager Jeff Amrein says that while Marples has historically been a chisel maker, it is now expanding to saw blades for the first time in attempt to provide more offerings to the woodworking industry.

“We make a full line of saw blades in general. We go after that construction user with the Marathon brand. This blade has a much higher quality plate, carbide and cut — all those things a woodworker/finish carpenter looks for,” says Amrein.

The blades feature oversized carbide teeth so they can be sharpened more often, while an aluminum coating dissipates heat to keep the blade flat for longer life. Depending on size and number of teeth, the blades range in price from $28 to $100.

Irwin has also expanded its bevel-edge chisel offerings under the Marples brand.

“We will have three different ranges geared toward unique users. This is important because a construction worker has much different uses for a chisel than a fine woodworker. We also have a high-impact chisel for use with a variety of applications that withstands the rigors of everyday use,” says Amrein.

The woodworking chisels are offered in 1/8”, 1/4”, 3/8”, 1/2”, 5/8”, 3/4”, 1”, 1 1/4”, 1-1/2” and 2” sizes and are sold in three-, four- and six-piece sets.

Contact: Irwin Tools. Tel: 800-464-7946. www.irwin.com

This article originally appeared in the August 2012 issue.