Dovetail chisel

**AlexS** · 8th January 2017, 11:53 AM

Usually I cut my dovetail pins first, because I like fine pins and it can be hard to get an awl or knife between the tails to mark them. However, I was impressed by Derek Coen's method of marking the pins using a thin chisel, so decided I'd like to try it.
I decided to make a thin bevel-edged chisel from an old Hammer thicknesser cutter, which is 2mm thick. Cut & ground it to shape, and sharpened it like any other chisel, then turned a handle for it. As the chisel will be mainly pressed by hand to mark the job, rather than remove wood, I gave the top of the handle a 'soft' shape. The blade is long enough to fit in the wet grinder for quite a few sharpenings.
I cut a slot in the handle by hand, then glued the blade in with Techniglue and drove the ferrule on. I hope this will be strong enough.

IMG_2137.jpg

IMG_2135.jpg

**Simplicity** · 8th January 2017, 01:14 PM

Alex,
There is nothing like picking up a hand made tool.
And using it on a job.
Looks great to me, I think considering its use the way you have done the handle is fine.
Some times simple is best.

Well done
Cheers Matt

**derekcohen** · 8th January 2017, 01:24 PM

Hi Alex

I have never used a thin chisel to mark dovetails. What you have seen is a "kerf chisel" I made to deepen the kerf in the socket after sawing at the diagonal ...

The article is here: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMad...erfChisel.html

The chisel is a very thin section and has a square end; it does not end in a bevel. A bevel is likely to follow the grain and split the endgrain.

The reason I do not use a chisel to mark dovetails is that it is vulnerable to moving away from the sidewall. Furthermore, it will leave a wider line than from a knife stroke if you push down too hard (a risk that increases with harder wood).

It is exceptionally easy to transfer marks for dovetails if you use my "blue tape method". One does only need to slice through a single layer of blue paper tape and peel it away. This produces great clarity and accuracy: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Furnitu...hBlueTape.html

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Furnitu...ovetails3.html

What I would suggest that you do with the excellent chisel you made, is to square off the end and then use it as a kerf chisel.

Regards from Perth

Derek

**AlexS** · 8th January 2017, 03:09 PM

Thanks Derek, I obviously misunderstood /misremembered your previous post. What you have said makes sense, so that's probably what I'll do.

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