Woodworking activity in an amateur or a professional level , needs a variety of actions from the carpenter , in order to create his wooden projects and without the help of a wood chisel , you cannot do much . Maybe it isn’t possible to finish a carpentry creation without having any chisel , at all .
The wood chisel is a woodworking hand tool which consists of a piece of metal ( from several steel alloys ) having its one flattened side , beveled sharped , having several widths and the other attached steady , to a wooden(mostly) handle .
Hitting increasingly and controlling these hits with a mallet or sometimes using only our hand powers , we cut -slice – shape – “dig” the wood’s mass , in several widths and pattern designs .
See my favorite chisel suggestions(low & higher budget) in order to have a complete set , in HERE .
Using our chisels , we make several kinds of joints . We place hinges , we reduce wood’s intersections , we round edges , we create hollow mortises , et.c .
Why Woodworking Chisels are so Important and how many Types , exist ?
The main and very important advantage of the chisels , is that they are made in such way , in order the carpenter can cut – dig – slice and shape the wood’s mass , with very low vibration and increasingly powered hits with huge control .
The chisel’s weight , balance of this weight , thickness , length , variety of steel’s alloy , sharpened angles and generic design , are designed for better performance .
The carpenter’s chisels , even the cheapest ones , aren’t manufactured “in luck” and every feature they have , is designed for specific purposes .
All these features and parameters should be very “friendly” to the woodworker’s hand , so he can work for many hours with the best possible comfort .
There are many types of wood chisels , for carving , japanese style ones , dovetail ones , gouges , et.c , but the basic categories are three and they are :
1) The “common” Bench type chisel .
These chisels are multifunctional ones and they can cut and slice the wood’s mass , with easiness and great results . These chisels are the most “common” you can find and every carpenter’s workbench has many of them above .
2) The Mortise chisel .
These chisels have as their “mission” the cutting – chopping of the wood , to make mortises .
3) The Slicing – Paring chisels .
These chisels are the only ones , which you should not hit with a mallet , but only with your hands . They are made for slicing the wood’s flesh with great accuracy and caution .
They’re thinner than the other ones and they’ve low angled sharpening , for precise slicing .
What is the Socket Style and the Tang Style , of the woodworking chisels ?
Another very basic separation , concerning the types and styles of the chisels , is about the way the two parts ( the metalic & the wooden ) , are attached together to make the complete chisel tool .
You should be aware of these 2 styles because one of the two styles , is kind of more strong than the other and that’s why , it’s more expensive .
a) In the socket style chisel , the wooden part is penetrating to the metalic one , in order to become a complete chisel .
b) In the Tang style chisel , the metalic part is penetrating to the wooden part .
As you may imagine if a tang style chisel , “receives” a very strong hit from a hammer ( mostly metalic one ) , the wood handle can split in two pieces and your chisel , will be demolished .
Of course the tang style chisels , aren’t so fragile as you may think , but the socket ones are kind of stronger . The socket style chisels are more expensive than the tang style .
Can Screwdriver , do the chisel’s “job” and is it Safe to use it ?
No , definetely a screwdriver cannot do the chisel’s cutting and digging “job” and i don’t suggest you the try , in any way . The chisels are especially made for these woodworking jobs and they specialized for a reason .
They have the appropriate steel alloy for better sharpening and cutting . They have the appropriate length and blade design for better balancing during your hits .
Their hanldles is also made for better balancing and the entire chisel item is designed to absorve vibrations and be very accurate during your hittings .
The part of the blade which is connected with the handle ( and it’s called top or collar of the chisel ) , works as a vibration absorber of your hits . The metalic collar – “ring” in the hitting edge is to prevent the wood from splitting , during your hits .
The screwdriver is only made for screwing .
What are the range of Widths , the most common chisels , have ?
The range of the chisels you’ll find in the stores are between the 3mm – 50mm . Usually we use the mortise chisels of : 6mm , 10mm , 12mm , 16mm , 20mm , 26mm , but you can have whatever width you like for the wood project , you’re working .
Should i have chisels with Wooden handles only , or have some Plastics too ?
The wooden handled chisels have way more better balance , than the plastic hanlded ones .
Wood as a material has bigger density than the plastic , therefore bigger weight and this gives the ability to he manufacturers to “weight” it and adjust its weight better .
You can have some plastic chisels , in order to make some very strong chisel hits , if you need using your metal hammer as an exception , because we never hit a wooden surface with metal .
But you may want to hit something very hard and it’s ok to do that in a plastic chisel .
What should you Avoid and be aware for your Safety , during the chisel’s use ?
1) We begin by putting the chisel’s blade , above to our mark point more and less to the area which is about to removed .
2) Don’t “dig” very deep and at once . We don’t use chisesl to cut wood , but to remove small wood pieces , creating wooden areas we want . Slowly – slowly .
3) The sharp edge we use , it should penetrate the wood’s mass slowly and we should use an “exit targeted movement” to the external side of the wood . In that way , you have the best possible control of your cuttings .
4) The sharp blade should never target our body or our hands , while we’re chisel moving . Steady , slow chisel moves , “targeting” away from us to the external wood’s side .
Should i Have any chisel’s Accessories ?
It isn’t necessary of course , but i recommend you to have a nice chisel leather roll and a magnetic tool holder . The leather roll will protect your chisel’s edges and in general the entire chisel .
It’s a very beautiful way to carry your chisels with you , when you aren’t in your warehouse , et.c .
Of course the leather roll will protect you and other people from accidental hurts and small or bigger injuries .
The magnetic tool holder is a very “wise” way to have your chisels stored organized and not “thrown” here and there .
Keep Happy Woodworking .
