Chisels are used to shape small pieces of wood. They are especially useful for cross grain and end grain cutting.
A membership or day pass is required to access the Wood Shop. The following Shop Safety Class is required to access the hand tools
The chisels do not require a machine reservation and are available on a first-come first-serve basis.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
• Sturdy, close-toed shoes must be worn at all times.
• Long hair, jewelry, and loose clothing must be tied back.
• Safety glasses and earmuffs must be worn while machines are running.
For more information on shop safety visit Wood Shop under "Safety."
Be careful when handling the chisels. They are very sharp and you are both stronger and less in control than you think you are.
Always keep your fingers, hands, arms, etc out of the path of the blade. Always work on a steady surface.
Using a wide chisel, press the bevel side to the workpiece and skim along the surface. Make sure to not catch the blade into the surface.
Chisels can be used to cut wood in pretty much any direction except across end grain.
How to cut dados using a chisel.
This is the easiest direction and produces the smoothest results.
Make shallow cuts into the surface of the wood, making sure to keep the blade pointed away from yourself.
This can tear grain out of softwoods, especially if the blade is dull. Make shallow cuts into the surface of the wood, making sure to keep the blade pointed away from yourself. Try cutting the sides of the channel in with a saw or the chisel.
With a really sharp blade and a lot of patience, it is possible to cut across endgrain but you may want to consider using a scraper or saw instead.
Blade sharpening.
Knock the dust off.
Blade 'sticks'- bites in and won't cut, or chatters and skips.
Blade tears instead of cuts.