Tips for sharpening and using one of the carpenter's fundamental tools, the wooden chisel.

Wood Chisel Basics

You won't need one frequently; however, when it comes time to carve out a recess for a hinge or strike plate, not anything beats a razor-sharp timber chisel. Here we'll show you some simple chiseling strategies and sharpening pointers so you'll be geared up for any chiseling challenge with a woodworking chisel set.

Start with a new sharp 3/4-inch chisel for all-cause use. Keep your antique, dull chisel available for jobs like slicing nails or scraping caulk. Buy one with an impact-resistant plastic deal. You can pound on those with a hammer without adverse them. Good-fine chisels don't price a lot, and if you have extra cash, purchase three—1/2-inch, 3/4-inch, and 1-inch—for a good starter set.

Keep in thoughts that even cutting-edge chisels will need sprucing. Put your chisels in a sock or a unique canvas roll among uses to guard the cutting area.

Mortise Cuts

Start recesses or mortises by way of outlining the place with a sharp application knife or by making a series of shallow chisel cuts perpendicular to the floor. Skip this step and you danger chipping wood out of doors the mortise. After you've carved your definition, get rid of thin slices by means of tapping the chisel with a hammer and beveling the aspect down to carve out the wood within the perimeter.

Tip: Chiseling with the grain can every so often have disastrous outcomes. If the grain runs deeper into the timber, it'll direct the chisel too deep. Stop and chisel from the other direction if you feel this is happening.

Paring Cut

Pare thin slices of wood to flatten the lowest of an open recess. Keep the lower back of the chisel flat on the wood. For simpler slicing, pivot the chisel as you narrow it to transport the blade in an arc.

If the recess is open on one side, like a hinge mortise, flatten the lowest with the aid of paring off thin slices with the unbeveled facet of the chisel held flat to the timber. When you're shaving into a portion of wood, face the bevel down. When you're pulling down a cut and have to get right of entry from the facet, face the bevel up and maintain the lower back of the chisel tight to the surface.

Chopping Cut

Chop out big amounts of wood by means of cutting off small quantities with each cut. Strike the chisel with a hammer and chop down about half-inch. Then chisel from the end to dispose of the piece earlier than continuing. Your chisel has to be sharp for this cut.

Chop and Pare

Chisel out dadoes and other more precise joints little at a time with a series of shallow cuts in preference to driving the chisel too deep. Use a hammer or mallet for rough work or press with the heel of your hand for lighter slicing chores or finer cuts.

Scrape a Glue Joint

Scrape glue joints or other imperfections from timber tasks by keeping the blade at a right angle to the wood with the again of the chisel facing you. To eliminate skinny shavings, aid the blade with your palms and press down even as you draw the chisel toward you.

Tip: Scraping calls for a perfectly flat, sharp area so that the chisel can scrape cleanly without leaving scratch marks in the timber.