What Are Chisels?

Description

• A chisel is an essential carpentry tool used to carve pieces of wood, metal or stone into your desired shape by chipping out and removing unwanted pieces from the material. Chisels are flat, metal carving tools available in many sizes and usually featuring a wooden or plastic handle. Their shape and features make controlling them simple. Chisels are absolutely essential to the production of many woodworking projects as well as for home construction.

Types

• There are many kinds of chisels, but three common types are bevel, firmer and paring. Bevel-edged chisels are useful for reaching the corners of dovetail joints. Their angled edge makes them essential for reaching areas overlooked by other types of chisels. Firmer chisels are more durable and you can use them for rough and tough projects. A pairing chisel is a long, thin tool used to tailor accurate fits in large joints.

Usage

• Craftsmen generally use chisels to sculpt wooden objects in carpentry and architecture. When using a chisel, remember to apply an adequate amount of pressure in order to prevent injury and ensure a clean cut in the material you are carving. Typically provide this pressure with the assistance of a mallet --not a hammer. Mallets have larger surface areas than hammers, and thus ensure a cleaner and safer blow.

Safety

• As with any tool, chisels may be responsible for serious injury if used in a careless manner. Accidents generally spring from dull chisels or careless placement of hands. As unsharpened tools usually do not have the gripping power of sharpened tools, they often pose a threat to the safety of the user. Ensuring that your chisels are properly sharpened and keeping your fingers out of the way may reduce the risk of serious injuries.