Comments on: Hand-Chopping a Mortise (with Video)

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:07:48 +0000

Hey B – a corner chisel is definitely on my wishlist! But since I already have tools that (theoretically) can make a corner, a corner chisel falls in the “luxury tool” category. Once I have all the basic tools I need, THEN I’ll start looking at those luxury items.

Other “luxury” items: shoulder plane, rabbet plane, router plane, etc. My chisels can do everything those planes do – granted, not as well!

By: bzephyr

bzephyr — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 03:54:28 +0000

Eric,
When I’ve done this sort of thing before, I found that a corner chisel was really nice. In fact, when I finished making my bed frame at my friend’s shop, I couldn’t think of a better gift than to give him a new corner chisel.

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:33:18 +0000

Daniel: I can only take credit for sharing what someone else taught me, but glad I could help!

Adam: Thanks for that tip. I have heard of this technique but have never tried it. That would have been a good way to go for this particular job since the tenon wasn’t quite a full 1/2″ wide, as were my chisels which were making the mortise. Your suggestion would have let me get a closer fit. Next time!

Eric: And if you watch my Safety Week video, you can put a face to it as well (for what it’s worth)!

Shannon: That’s me: restoring a dying art form. Call me St. Roy Jr. No wait, please don’t. (That’s Underhill, for those who don’t know of his nickname among neanderthals.)

By: Shannon

Shannon — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:21:57 +0000

Eric,

Nice post, I enjoyed the video. You don’t see this explained very much anymore so it was good to hear/see your take on it.

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:08:41 +0000

Nice video Eric. Good to put (or hear) a voice with the blog.

By: Evans Adam

Evans Adam — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:49:13 +0000

A nother way to consider: A nice and quick way to remoce the bulk whilst minimising the chance of breakout is to choose a drill bit slightly smaller than the with of the mortice and drilling out the bulk waste. Then using a nice sharp beveled edge chisel pare back to the line. Dont pare right through as you could either pare away to much on the otherside or cause some breakout.

This way there is no reason for a chisel to break! It’s an excersize of skill and finess not brute strength.
I never hit my chisels…. there is always a nother way.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:24:52 +0000

Believe it or not I really learned something from your video. I’ve been hanging doors for 5 yrs and I have done a lot of chisel work. Your technique of the second pass with the chisel turned the other way and going back is something I’ve never thought of.

Thanks for the great tip! I know it will pay off in the near future.