Chisel Use – A simple guide to how to push, pound, or parse your chisels in any situation.
When I was an apprentice cabinetmaker, a small hammer was used to beat a chisel. That was before I learned how to properly sharpen and use these tools. Since then its become apparent there are three distinct chisel operations that every woodworker shouldknow: paring, light chopping and heavy mortise chopping.
Theres a right way and a wrong way to make these cuts. This article will teach you how to use your Chisel with minimal effort and minimize damage to the chisel.
A few safety points before I start. There are some safety concerns. Safety glasses are required for mortising or chopping. Broken chisels can cause metal fragments to fly, which could lead to an eye injury.
A Kevlar protective gloves is a good option if you are hesitant about using a chisel’s sharp end while paring. This glove is commonly used by carvers. The glove will dull the impact of a slipped chisel and reduce your chance of injury. Finally, never use a chisel thats pointing toward your body. Be aware of where the chisel is pointing and how it’s moving. This is the first thing to check before making a cut of any kind. The last thing you want to do on a Sunday afternoon is explain to an emergency room physician how you almost gave yourself a DIY appendectomy while working on Aunt Bettys blanket chest.
Download the free PDF below to read the rest of the article (this article predates making it simple to put the entire thing online) :
ChiselUse.pdf
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