Woodworking teacher and author Toshio Odate has put his extensive knowledge of woodworking tools to use in designing a set of dovetail chisels. Three characteristics define these chisels and add to their functionality. First, the sides of the chisels are ground almost to a knife edge in a triangular profile, making it easy to clean out the corners of dovetail joints without marring the walls. Second, the handles are cranked to provide clearance for the relatively short blades. And third, the chisels are available in widths as narrow as 3mm, which allow you to cut very fine dovetail pins. The iron-hooped oak handles are typical of Japanese tools, and the laminated steel blades take a razor-sharp edge easily and hold it for a long time. I found that the tools performed well. Because the sides of the chisels are sharp, care must be taken when gripping them. I especially like the narrow widths that reach areas my regular chisels don’t. The chisels range in width from 3mm to 15mm and are sold individually or in sets.

—Michael Pekovich is the art director.

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