Tools & Materials
Evaluating Low-Cost Chisels
Find out when you should upgrade to high-quality chisels.
Garrett Hack
Thetford Center, Vermont
Author, teacher, and furniture maker Garrett Hack answers 10 questions from readers about choosing, sharpening, and using chisels.
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1 |
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If you were forced to limit yourself to eight chisels to do all of your woodworking from now on, what would be in the set? PLAY 1 |
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In your wonderful book Classic Hand Tools, you say that of the vintage chisels you’ve used, you favor Swan. What exactly do you think sets the Swans apart? PLAY 2 |
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3 |
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What is your preferences in mortise chisels. R.A. Salaman suggests in Dictionary of Woodworking Tools that a sash mortise chisel is used in cabinet making, while the oval-handled, wide-bladed chisels are used in carpentry and heavy joinery. PLAY 3 |
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4 |
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I am very new to woodworking. Please don’t cringe but I use a set of three Buck Bros. bench chisels from Home Depot. I flattened their backs and can get them reasonably sharp and serviceable. At what point do you recommend investing in a set of first-rate chisels? NOW PLAYING |
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I’m making 26 mortises in dry ash that measure 1/2-in. wide by 2-in. by 1-in. long . Will I shorten the life of my bench chisels by doing so, or should I spring for a good 1/2-in. mortising chisel? PLAY 5 |
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I find many articles focus on chisel processes that work well with traditional European bench chisels. I have preferred Japanese chisels for years and would like to know if you use them in your work. PLAY 6 |
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Could you explain and demonstrate what you do to prepare an old chisel after you acquire it? PLAY 7 |
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8 |
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I sharpen my chisels using water stones but over time the chisel edge is no longer square to the sides. How do I re-gain the square chisel reference? I don’t have a grinding wheel and rely solely on my water stones. PLAY 8 |
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9 |
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I’ve often read that the last step in honing is to make a series of alternating strokes on each side of the bevel to remove the wire edge. Some recent videos I’ve seen leave that step out. What method do you prefer? PLAY 9 |
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10 |
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Can you demonstrate the basic techniques you use for chopping and paring with a chisel? PLAY 10 |
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