About Cold Chisels
Cold chisels are a blacksmithing tool that is used without fire or heat sources, hence the name cold chisel. These tools look like other types of chisels and can even resemble wood working chisels. However, they are much heavier looking upon closer inspection and typically are black or dark in color. They are completely made of metal as well, and do not have handles like a woodworking chisel.
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Function
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A cold chisel is used to hammer away or chip away at a metal while it is "cold" or after it has been forged and hammered. This is how the name was derived. A blacksmith will use them to hammer away excess metal, or to split a piece of metal that can not be cut by hand with a saw or grinder.
Features
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A cold chisel is made from tempered steel which makes it a little harder than other types of chisels and other instruments. This is necessary because it is used to cut through other metals and therefore must be harder. It is also struck by another tool like a mallet or sledgehammer so it must be rugged and rigid.
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Types
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Cold chisels are often divided into different categories by their size and shape. They will either have a flat and wide chisel blade, or a short and narrow blade that is only as wide as the long rod handle. The chisels are used for any application and are not typically categorized by what they are used for.
History
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Cold chisels were invented to provide a fast and efficient way to cut steel without heating the metal. They were also used to scrape or chisel away excess from forge pressing which leaves a ring of metal around an object. They are not used as often today because of high speed cutting machines, but they are a handy tool to have for odd jobs and heavy duty cutting.
Considerations
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A cold chisel is great for cutting when you do not need to be precise. They are not made to cut pipes or any other metal that can flatten and bend during cutting. Some people also use them to cut bricks and concrete, however a masonry chisel is better suited for this application. If you use a cold chisel, hold it vertically or perpendicular to the cutting surface to get better results. Use a good size mallet and strike with caution and control.
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