Thread: Chisel timber type?

Originally Posted by Fumbler

I was looking into making some Chisels, what would be the best wood to use for the handles? Would I/should I include a stricking cap, and if so what should it be made of? ...

Fumbler, your choice of handle woods is very wide in this country! Titan used Taswegian Blue-gum and Myrtle for their handles, our other Australian chisel-maker seemed to like Crows Ash, so if you want to be 'authentic', there's a start. Just about any Acacia will make a good handle, and polish up very nicely, to boot. My preference is for some of the She-oaks - they look interesting & are tough. Spotted Gum, or any of several other Eucalypts would be tough enough, though I am not keen on Eucalypts myself, because they have a coarse grain that doesn't take a fine polish, but if 'utilitarian' is your main aim, they'll certainly do the job.

Originally Posted by Fumbler

....are there any chisel making instructions/guides floating around?...

I just typed "make a woodworking chisel" into Google & got a page-full of hits.....

Cheers,

Thanks Ian.