Replies

1. 
   Danford_C._Jennings | Mar 15, 2002 07:23pm | #1

   *
   Will,

   Your suspicions are correct. As to the ring slipping off, the wood has probably shrunk...

   Dano

1. 
   Rickk_ | Mar 15, 2002 07:24pm | #2

   *Use it to start the mushrooming effect to keep the ring on.

1. 
   Froed_ | Mar 15, 2002 07:36pm | #3

   *Will,You're close. It's not to keep the end from mushrooming, but from splitting when you whack it. A lot of japanese chisels, including the high end ones, need to have the hoop seated when you first get them. With the hoop off, carefully hammer around the top part of the handle to compress the wood, so you can get the top of the hoop about 1/32 or so from the end of the handle. You want to be able to hit the end of the chisel without hitting the hoop; the wood takes the impact and transmits the force to the cutting edge. If you want, tap around the end of the handle to mushroom the wood over the hoop a bit, then soak the handle in tung oil or what have you overnight to keep the wood from shrinking and loosening the hoop again. If the hoop is too loose, you can wrap a plane shaving around the end of the handle, and put the hoop over that. I've noticed that the ones I seat in winter seem to stay put better than the ones I do in summer. Maybe it's the lower humidity, maybe it's coincidence. But even with a finish, wood moves.Froed

1. 
   Dev_Emch | Mar 16, 2002 04:44am | #4

   *Nope! The ring is to prevent mushrooming as you stated. But, many japanese chisels need to be prepared when new and one item is setting this ring. The japanese chisel was actually made to be hit with more of an ordinary hammer than a mallet. So you need to seat the ring and then pound the wood a bit to flare it out. This is all normal and once you have done this, you will be just fine.

1. 
   Froed_ | Mar 18, 2002 02:12pm | #5

   *Yep. You want proof? Take the ring off and pound a few mortises.