Types of Chisels Used in Woodwork
Chisels are an essential tool in many types of carpentry and other forms of woodworking. Within each type of chisel, there may be many subtypes that are given different names by different people in the trade, such as the framing chisel or paring chisel, but all chisels serve the same basic function of removing wood that is not needed.
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Function
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All chisels are used to remove unwanted wood. From the large framing chisel used in construction to the smallest woodcarving detail chisel, each serves the purpose of taking away wood that is in the way of the desired finished product.
Types
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Chisels are available is four major types to fill specific requirements. The main types of chisels used in construction are the flat and skew chisels. Lathe and woodcarving tools add the scoop and the V chisel. Within each type, the chisel head may vary in the degree of the bevel or the depth of the scoop or V.
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Features
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Almost all chisel blades have a beveled edge of around 30 degrees. This allows for easy entry into the wood by making the edge thinner than the remainder of the tool. Scoops and 'V' chisels have the ability to dig deeper into the wood and are useful for adding dimension and detail to the finished piece.
Size
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Chisels can range in size from the larger carpentry chisels to the small detail chisels of woodcarving. Carpentry chisels are generally around a foot long, while woodcarving chisels may only be 4 to 6 inches in length. Lathe chisels range from 10 to 18 inches in length depending on the type of lathe and the tool rest used with the machine. Thickness of the blade is also determined by what the chisel is used for and can range anywhere from 1/16th of an inch to an inch before the bevel is applied.
Considerations
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Older woodworking chisels are often sought by those who regularly work with wood as many vintage chisels are of better quality than those produced today. Older chisels were made with wooden handles that surrounded forged shank and those handles could easily be replaced if needed. The steel used in older chisels was tempered and hardened throughout the tool causing less chipping and breaking of the steel while in use. Many of the chisels mass produced today use plastic or other composite handles surrounding only a small portion of steel handle which when broken cannot be replaces. Mass marketed chisels often use lesser quality steel, which cannot hold an edge or be repaired when chipped.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Carving Chisels by KYares
