Sharpen Your Chisel Skills

Master craftsman Jeff Miller shows you how to maximize the sharp steel wedge.

Achisel may be the most versatile hand tool at your disposal. It looks like the simplest of tools—essentially just a sharp steel wedge—but appearances can be deceiving. There’s much to learn about effectively putting a chisel to work. So let’s get started.

Chisel basics

To help you do anything well, a chisel must have a sharp cutting edge and a flat back. Whether you buy a bargain-basement set, the most expensive chisels out there, or you work with Grandpa’s hand-me-downs, take time to properly flatten the back and hone the edge [Photo A]. Doing so ensures success in all of the essential skills described here.

For an accurate chisel cut, always first score a line where you want the cut to be, using either a marking gauge or knife. That cut will not only show you where the chisel’s edge should go, it also will guide the accurate placement of the cutting edge.

Even with a scored line, however, you can’t simply fit the cutting edge into the line (with the bevel facing the waste side of the cut) and chop down. Physics dictates that doing so will drive the flat back of the chisel across the line. [Photo B]. To avoid such an oops, remove as much waste as possible first, leaving the scored line. That way, the chisel cut at the line meets less resistance on the bevel side of the tool. Removing less wood results in a true cut [Photo C].

Before you make a cut, consider grain direction. Chisels follow grain direction, and wood will cleave along the grain. If the cut gives you more than one choice in chisel direction, choose the path not likely to result in a stray cut or grain tear-out [Photo D].

Also pay attention to hand placement. It might be tempting to hold the work with one hand and inadvertently aim the chisel at that hand. Don’t. Always keep both hands behind the cutting edge.

Flatten the backs of your chisels and get their cutting edges razor sharp. woodmagazine.com/ sharpchisel

4 essential chisel skills

It pays to approach every chisel task knowing the most-appropriate method before you put steel to wood. These techniques will get you through virtually every job involving a chisel.

1 Chopping This skill entails removing a lot of waste quickly, such as when cutting mortises or dovetails. It requires the considerable force of striking the end of the chisel’s handle with a mallet. Though many fancy wood mallets exist, I prefer a plastic deadblow mallet for chopping—it won’t mar the chisel handle and can deliver plenty of force.

For a good chopping grip, wrap all your fingers around the handle, as you would hold a baseball bat. Always chop with the workpiece clamped to a rock-solid surface. Hold the work stationary between bench dogs, secure it with a holdfast, or clamp it to a board held in a vise [Photo E]. Don’t try to hold the workpiece between vise jaws—it will move with each mallet strike.

2 Paring For refined work, such as cleaning up mortise side walls [Photo F], tenon

shoulders, dovetails, or even small miters [Photo G], use hand force only to drive the chisel forward, removing no more than 1⁄32" at a time. Again, always clamp the workpiece; never hand-hold it.

For best results, use a classic paring grip [Photo H]. When paring tasks call for extra downward pressure, such as cleaning up tenon shoulders, try a modified chopping grip, with your thumb over the end of the chisel handle, using your other hand to guide the blade [Photo I].

3 Slicing Use this method to cut pegs, dowels, or other projections flush with surrounding wood. Hold the chisel in a paring

grip and use the other hand to hold down and pivot the chisel [Photo J]. Again, don’t try to remove too much at one time.

4 Scraping A sharp chisel works great for cleaning up glue or evening up surfaces in tight areas. Hold the chisel handle with a modified chopping grip and use your other hand to pull the chisel blade toward you—hold the blade low to prevent chatter [Photo K].

Jeff Miller operates J. Miller Handcrafted Furniture in Chicago and often teaches at Weekend with WOOD. Learn more about his work and classes at furnituremaking.com.

A Test chisel sharpness by making an end-grain cut in softwood. A sharp tool will shave the wood easily and leave a smooth surface. A dull tool will push and tear the end grain. C The chisel will go straight down and not cross the scored line if there’s only a bit of wood on the bevel side of the chisel. The waste wood will fall away without forcing the chisel back. B The chisel will be forced back across the scored line if you simply place the edge in the scored line before chopping down. Equal pressure on both the chisel bevel and back leave the tool edge nowhere else to go. D Switch directions. If grain direction doesn’t favor cutting straight down on a dovetail pin, pare across it. But don’t push all the way through and risk tear-out. Instead, finish the cut by coming back from the opposite direction.

E There’s no chance of workpiece movement with the piece held firmly to a bench surface, positioned over a leg. Correct body position lends a clear view of the chisel’s verticality. Guide block F A vise will suffice for paring work. When necessary, clamp a guide block to the workpiece to ensure accurate chisel placement. Hold the chisel tight to the block. Guide block G Pare accurate miters, such as this bead for a frame-and-panel door, using a guide block. Take narrow, overlapping passes to remove the waste.

H For control and power hold the chisel in-line with the forearm, with the butt of the handle nestled in the meaty end of your palm. J Create the slicing cut by using your guide hand to assist in the pivoting motion. I With a modified chopping grip, lean forward and bend your knees to transfer your body weight to the chisel. Then make a series of light cuts. K A chisel makes an effective scraper when you angle the handle toward you and exert light downward pressure.