a day with chisels

**Uturn** · 01-14-2007, 09:56 PM

Well, today was rainy, icy, and pretty icky, so I deceded to spend a day getting intimate with my chisels. I spent the whole day in the shop with a new set of chisels that I got for Christmas. All in all, it was a pretty good day after all. My motivation was watching David Marks hand cut dove tails on TV last night. I learned a few things.

1. That was not David's first time with a chisel, or his 100th.

2. Good dove tails are admired for a reason.

3. Chisels cannot be too sharp, and that is a skill in itself.

I now have 6 sharp chisels, never needed band-aids, and a full day in the shop without being frustrated with my table saw. If work is closed tomorrow due to weather, I am thinking card scapers.

**Wood Rookie** · 01-14-2007, 10:08 PM

Good for you! I need to do the same thing. Tomorrow I am buying a garage heater so I can have my own "Day with Chisels."

Thanks for sharing!

Mike

**Keystone** · 01-14-2007, 10:27 PM

If work is closed tomorrow due to weather, I am thinking card scrapers.

Yeah!

What are you using to sharpen with anyway? Stones or scary sharp..

**Chris Moore** · 01-14-2007, 10:39 PM

Joe,
Whether you meant to or recoginized it, you've discovered the "zen" that seduces us all into this vocation/avocation.

Chris Moore
West Palm Beach, FL

**Uturn** · 01-14-2007, 10:50 PM

I don't know what scary sharp is. I have 600, 800, 1200, 4000, and 8000 water stones.

For the card scaper, I don't have a burnisher, but do have an old chisel that should be harder than the scaper.

**Wood Rookie** · 01-14-2007, 10:55 PM

.

**Sawduster** · 01-15-2007, 10:57 AM

I now have 6 sharp chisels, never needed band-aids, and a full day in the shop without being frustrated with my table saw.

Methinks you need to head on over to the handtool forum and check things out there. You may find other man (or woman) powered tools to your liking. Maybe some handsaws to alleviate further table saw frustrations or a handplane or three to minimize your need for sandpaper.

**Cody Colston** · 01-15-2007, 12:41 PM

Sharp cutting tools are more efficient, safer and easier to use than dull ones...a real revelation, huh? I agree that it is satisfying to know that the tools are ready to do the job they are meant to do.

Krenov wrote that "there's a difference between the perception of sharpness and a truly sharp tool." He was so right.

Cody
Tyler, TX

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