DIY Network

Chisel Tips and the Tips of Chisels From "Wood Works" episode WWK-705

	Chisels are the workhorses of the workshop. Basically, a chisel is a steel blade fitted in a wooden handle.
	Media View a video excerpt showing techniques for using and sharpening chisels.

Sharpening woodworking tools is a necessary evil because it's difficult to enjoy woodworking with dull tools. In fact working with dull tools is unsafe, a time waster, and often a waste of good materials. In the workshop, much time is spent sharpening hand tools. David Marks demonstrates sharpening tips and techniques for a variety of hand tools and demonstrates proper usage of each tool.

In this segment, David talks about the basics of chisels -- including chiseling techniques and the best methods for keeping them sharp.

NOTE: A video excerpt showing the techniques demonstrated in this segment can be viewed from this page. Click the video icon to watch the video.

A summary of the techniques and step-by-step instructions are outlined below.

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The blades of chisels are typically rectangular in shape, with the end ground to a sharp edge.

Hand tools used for cutting, like chisels, are no better than their edge -- so their performance rests primarily on keeping them sharp. No sharp edge lasts forever, so woodworkers take sharpening very seriously. Razor-sharp cutting tools work better, save time and are much safer than dull tools.

Chisel Technique

Chisels are the workhorses of the workshop. Basically, a chisel is a steel blade fitted in a wooden handle. The blades are typically rectangular in shape, with the end ground to a sharp edge. To demonstrate their proper use, David cuts a mortise for the mounting of a hinge.

• Score the boundaries of the hinge using a scribe knife (figure A).

• Using a chisel and mallet, repeat scoring around the perimeter to define the boundaries.

• To remove the waste wood, score a row of cuts from one side to the other (figure B), then carefully chop out the waste.

  Figure A

  Figure B

  
  

  
  

• Pare the area by holding the chisel horizontally and pressing the leading edge into the score cuts using a shearing motion (figure C).

• Repeat these steps until all the waste is removed, and the hinge fits snug in the chiseled mortise (figure D).

  Figure C

  Figure D

  
  

  
  

Click the VIDEO link above to watch a video showing the techniques for sharpening hand scrapers.

To achieve sharp, crisp cuts in the wood, it's critical to maintain a sharpened edge on your chisels. As seen in the diagram (figure E) a properly sharpened chisel has a bevel and a flat back.

Before sharpening, a diamond dresser is used, and rubbed along the grinding wheel to ensure that the wheel is trued flat (figure F).

Figure E

Figure F

• To begin sharpening a chisel, position the blade on the support block of the wheel and grind the bevel (figure G). The support is made to hold the blade at an angle as it's being ground. The diameter of the wheel determines the size of the hollow bevel.

• When finished, the beveled edge should be smooth and hollow (figure H).

  Figure G

  Figure H

  
  

  
  

• A ruler aligned with the bevel reveals the concavity of the bevel (figure I).

  
  

• To hone the back side of the bevel, start with an 800-grit water stone. Once the coarse stone is secured in the workbench, rub the back of the chiseled blade on the stone (figure J), moving back and forth along the length of the stone. Switch sides occasionally to distribute the wear on the stone.

• Once complete, the back side should be dull in appearance, and perfectly flat.

  Figure I

  Figure J

  
  

  Figure K

  
  

• The next step is to hone the hollow bevel. With the handle raised, hold the bevel flat against the stone (figure K) so that force is concentrated at the bevel.

• Slide the blade back and forth on the stone, using caution not to "rock" the blade. Pressure should be even along the cutting edge and heel of the bevel.

• Now move up to a 1200-grit stone. As before, hone the back flat. Then hone the bevel.

• Finally, hone and polish the chisel using a 6000-grit stone. Once the back is flat, hone the bevel.
  

  Figure L

  
  

• At this point, the chisel should be razor sharp (figure L). In fact, David tests the newly sharpened edge by seeing if it will shave a bit of hair from his arm.

Figure M

A Word About Hand-Planes

The same techniques used for sharpening chisels can be applied for sharpening hand-plane irons. Use the grinding wheel to hollow-grind the bevel and the sharpening stone to flatten one side. Then work the bevel using the full range of stones -- from 800-grit to 1200 to 6000. Having a razor-sharp blade for your plane (figure M) will help you achieve those "gossamer shavings" that woodworkers aspire to.

In the segment that follows, the David demonstrates hand-scraper use and sharpening techniques.

Safety Alert: Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses, and follow proper safety precautions, when working with wood, power-tools, saws, drills, routers, etc.

RESOURCES :

The Small Wood Shop (The Best of Fine Woodworking)
Author: Helen Albert (Editor)
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561580619

Woodworking Techniques: Best Methods for Building Furniture from Fine Woodworking
Author: Editors of Fine Woodworking magazine
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561583456

David Marks Website
David Marks, DIY's Wood Works host, is a master woodworker. For more information on cut sizes and project details, please contact him via his Website at www.djmarks.com

Woodworker's Guide to Wood: Softwoods, Hardwoods, Plywoods, Composite, Veneers
Model: 080836878
Author: Rick Peters
(2000)
Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.
Website: www.sterlingpub.com

Fine Woodworking
A magazine devoted to high-quality craftsmanship in woodworking.
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com