Chisels

[Loren Woirhaye]

The humble chisel... it does things no power tool can do.

There's only one "trick" with a chisel... who knows what it is?

Chisels I have collected:

4) marples "blue-chip" chisels I keep with my carpentry stuff.  I'll
chop into plywood, painted surfaces and MDF with these things
first.

6) Japanese chisels.  These aren't boutique chisels like Iyoroi,
but they are plenty tough and actually not cheap.  I bought
most of mine from a store, but Lee Valley sells the same brand and
they are a great value.

6) "reigistered" mortise chisels by Robert Sorby.  I know of you
guys are all cutting a mortise-a-minute with your Domino machines,
but for us late-bloomers a square mortise can be knocked out
pretty quick with a mortise chisel.

1) old timber framers chisel

1) old corner chisel

2) angled chisels by Crown tools.  These are among my most
used chisels because they make nice shearing cuts.  I never
hit them with a hammer.

3) pattern-makers dog-leg chisels by Buck Bros... known for
cheap-O HomeDepot chisels today but once a quality brand.

1) old socket chisel I ground down into a dove-tailed profile
and fitted with a long handle... for cleaning out tight dovetail
joints.

 

[Eli]

Alright, I concede. I read to the end, where's the trick?

 

[Brice Burrell]

Alright, I concede. I read to the end, where's the trick?

Maybe you have to guess, mine is always keep them sharp??

 

[Lou Miller]

Alright, I concede. I read to the end, where's the trick?

Maybe you have to guess, mine is always keep them sharp??

Yup, that helps. I hired a guy about a year ago and he LOVES to sharpen things. He takes my chisels and my stones home with him all the time and sharpens them on his own time (I don't ask, he just does it). When he brings them back, they are like razor blades. I always thought I did a good job on them, but he puts me to shame. Having them that sharp makes me more likely to use them over a power tool now. Of course, any slip up with them now is going to draw blood in a bad way. DAMHIKT

 

[Mirko]

Two hands on the chisel?

Mirko

 

[Eli]

Of course, any slip up with them now is going to draw blood in a bad way. DAMHIKT

I was taught only dull tools cut people  ;D

 

[Loren Woirhaye]

The trick:

The flat back of a chisel is "self-jigging" - its a reference surface
against which she chisel can shave a wood surface flat.

Its important to have the chisel sharp to get this kind of result...
and it can't be reliably had with a knife. 

Anyhow... that came from an article written by Gene Landon on making
Chippendale dining chairs.