Soup Up a Flea Market Chisel

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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QUESTIONS

1		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 Ron Kellison, Ottawa, Canada
2		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 2Sean Hughto Chevy Chase, Maryland
3		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 3Brian Blackburn New Castle, Indiana
4		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? PLAY 4Norman Boucher Sharon, Massachusetts
5		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 5Dave Gilman Rutland, Vermont
6		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 6BioMan Via Knots
7		Could you explain and demonstrate what you do to prepare an old chisel after you acquire it? NOW PLAYINGAndrew Homan, Burlington, Vermont
8		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 8Dan Edstrom Denver, Colorado
9		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 9Don Stephan Cincinnati, Ohio
10		Can you demonstrate the basic techniques you use for chopping and paring with a chisel? PLAY 10EddieInAustralia Via Knots