Posted by
Easy WoodCraft on
Mar 20, 2017
Whatever chisel work you're planning, the first step is to secure the workpiece. For light work, such as paring, you can just clamp the workpiece in your bench vise. But if you're doing heavier work (especially rigorous work like chopping mortises), clamp the workpiece to the top of the bench. For the best support, try to position it directly over (or as close as possible to) the legs of the workbench. This helps dampen vibration and prevents the workpiece from bowing under heavy blows.
Support block
For chisel work where you're paring the full width of the workpiece, or through the workpiece, you should always insert a support block under it. A support block not only protects your workbench from certain damage, but also helps prevent tear-out by solidly supporting the wood fibers where the chisel exits the work.
Slicing cut
Although I've always considered a slicing cut to be one of the more basic chisel techniques, I rarely see it being used. This specialized form of the blade grip should be in everyone's bag of tricks. I use two forms of this cut. With one,
I grip the blade almost like a pencil and use it vertically to lightly pare away wood (
right photo). With the other form, I grip the blade with one hand and use the other to form a fulcrum. This way, I can pivot the chisel into the workpiece, such as when slicing a dowel flush with a surface (
left photo). Either way, it's a great grip.
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