Reader's Digest: AU Handyman - tools-chisel-page1

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Every workshop needs a set of these tools for cutting and shaping

Chisels last a lifetime if kept sharp and free from corrosion. They come in different sizes and are used for working with wood, metal and stone. They're easier to guide, more
accurate and require less effort to use when very sharp. Blades come in a variety of shapes (square, round and
skewed) to suit different tasks. Store chisels so they don't knock against each other or other tools, which will damage the blades. Never place a chisel where it could be knocked to the floor or touched by a child as it could cause serious injury.

Words: Frank Gardner

Firmer Chisel

Firmer chisel
To remove waste when cutting mortises or dovetails, and for general-purpose chiselling, these rectangular section blades range from 3-50mm in width and have a straight cutting edge.

Skew Chisel

Skew chisel
Using a slicing motion to finish cuts in tight spaces and trim close to adjacent surfaces, this hand-driven tool takes its name from the angled cutting edge. The blade can be right-handed, left-handed or both.

	Mortise chisel The thick, rigid blade has a straight cutting edge and slightly tapered sides to prevent jamming. It's used to make mortises and similar joints and is mallet-driven.
	Corner chisel These are usually driven by a mallet. The model above has a handle mainly used for hand-work. The L-shaped cutting edge cleans out square holes and corners with angles of 90° or more. It can also be used to trim and fine-tune mortises.
	Paring chisel Ideal for cleaning grooves and slicing away small amounts of stock, the straight cutting edge has bevelled sides, enabling it to access tight spaces. The long blade is useful for paring housings. A crank-neck paring chisel has an offset blade that allows it to be held flat against the work surface while having clearance to hold the handle.

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