subject: Tools And Equipment-essential Woodworking Tools, The Chisels [print this page] Woodworking tools are pretty basic but the chisel is a must have addition to your workshop and they do come in a wide variety of designs. You should know what they are because they come in many forms.
This is an overview of chisels and each's main purpose. These are the most universal chisels available but there are several others that are in the unusual design categories intended for very specific jobs that are not mentioned here.
Bench Chisels with Beveled Edges
This is a short tool that was made for control. For dovetails, the sides are beveled. For all shops this is a must have. Some styles are hooped for extra strength but it is not really necessary.
The Chisels with beveled edge considered heavy duty:
These are more for building a boat than timber framing. When the piece is large, it may be handy.
The Registered Chisel.
This covers any chisel that is square, and not beveled. This chisel is great for timber-framing and some other woodworking projects.
The Japanese Bench Chisel
This is constructed with laminated steel. These are usually more of a square design. The edges of this tool are very hard and work extremely well when cutting softwoods or the more exotic tropical woods. The Japanese version has a triangular and narrower edge than its Western counterpart.
Paring Chisel
For chiseling just a little bit, the paring chisel is perfect. It is very thin, long and light in weight compared to other chisels. They require better control. The advantage is one hand can guide the top of the chisel while the other applies pressure.
Mortise Chisels
This is the most classic of the chisels that are malleted so that the chisel can be driven into the wood and then with a levering action the waste is removed. These can be levered so they are sturdier. Thia can handle abuse. This is standard for any workshop. Another version is the Sash mortise chisel. This is lighter and used in more shallow jobs. When drilling out a hole this mortise chisel will be a good choice. Finally there is a very heavy duty Sash Mortise Chisel that is heavier than the normal sash chisel. They have some that have squared edges and round handles. Although they can be invaluable in special jobs they are not widely used.
