Thread: Mini chisels?

Not sure if this will help but one of our members at the wood turning club made some objects about the size of a 50cent piece. What he did to hollow out was to modify an Allen key.

Originally Posted by Evanism

I've been asked to make some very small turnings, very similar to pawns on a chess board. Quite a few actually.

From the samples supplied, they are too tight for my regular chisels, regardless of how I turn them.

Does anyone have a recommendation on a decent set of mini-chisels?

Hi evanism,
I think you should be able to use regular size chisels
I was asked to make a chess set once and so far have
turn 1 pawn ! But I just used a skew chisel and It worked
OK, gently , gently!

Hi Evanism,
If you have a surplus of, say 3/16in.-¼in. Twist Drill Bits. HSS of course.
Drive them into Handles you can make, & leaving them in there. Grind a flat at about 25Deg., then round round off in a finger nail style. Called Skewchigouge. Got it from English Woodturning, No. 60 I think.
Maybe try a Google.
They cut like demons.
So simple & they work, & no Cost.

Instead of buying a set of miniature tools, I would be looking at standard tools but buy the smaller sizes. Have a look at McJings or Carbatec web sites.

Jim

P&N make a 6mm gouge and works well and I made a quarter by quarter inch skew from mcjings tool steel! For lace bobbins, they have decent handles on them!

Many thanks to all for the leads

The little stands have some rather deep and curved coves. No matter how I turned my smallest skew, even with a special grind I couldn't match it.

The idea of the repurposed HSS drill bits is a good one! I so happen to have many and my 80 grit CBN wheel is looking for a victim. 1000 thanks Isatree!

They are to be copies of a prior turners work. Their job is first class. I've inherited the job as the original is no longer with us

Failing that you can always buy some silver steel ie from Mcjings etc and make your own to suit. Its readily hardened in a bucket of water and a blow torch in the shed.

Suggest you give Jim Carroll at CWS at ring. They have the Sorby mini chisels available. I have a set and several members of the Northern Woodturners all so use them.

Another useful idea is Masonary Nails, the hardened ones. They grind up into miniature tool great.