Tools & Materials
How to Sharpen Hollow-Chisel Mortising Bits
Learn to sharpen your hollow chisels for cleaner mortises
Using a hollow-chisel mortiser is one of the fastest and most accurate ways to cut a mortise. But if your chisel is dull, it’s only going to be an exercise in frustration. In this short video, Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking director Bob Van Dyke walks you through his step-by-step process for sharpening the chisel as well as the inner bit. You’ll also learn a simple trick for polishing the interior of the hollow chisel for smoother, more efficient chip ejection that minimizes burning and makes mortising even easier.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
Comments
This is terrific advise. I just did the routine with a 3/8" chisel, and then ran through 16 mortises in about a half hour. Sweet!! Well done Bob.
I love this video. A clear and concise method for tuning up your mortise bit. Thanks.
where did Bob get the Sharpening cones? All i've been able to locate is small asian made ones.
By sharpening the outside of the chisel, would the outside measurement change over time? A half inch chisel will become less than half inch.
Is this a few thousandths every sharpening?
You're really just taking the burr off. It would be a fraction of a that.
Is it recommended to sharpen newly purchased chisels before use?
Thanks Bob V. For posting this video.
It’s by far the best one of its type on the internet.
Just Trouble you can find the larger diamond cone sharpeners at
Leevalley.com
My Delta manual for the mortising attachment says NOT to use a cone-shaped stone. I thought the video was great, but now I’m not sure what to use. They say a file. Fred
My only guess is that Delta sharpens their chisels at a different angle from everyone else, I do not know for sure. I do use cones (from Lee Valley) but I mount mine in my drill press, set it to the slowest speed, and hold my bit in a small machinist vice vertically, blades up. I find that if I lower the cone slowly, the bit will self-center and it doesn't wiggle around as it did in Bob's hand. I use spray water in an atomizer to lightly spray the action. (I drape a painting tarp around the base to keep them from getting sprayed). This has worked well for me.
I really found a lot of great information in this video, particularly the tip on improving chip ejection for reduction of heat. Really nice video - thanks for the advice.
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in