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  1. #1
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    Default Nearly a Slick Chisel

    I have had a couple of these chisels knocking around for, by my estimate, nearing three years and as I was doing some other work (also to be featured here in the Hand Tools section) while I was in handle mode it was about time I treated them. Well, actually one got a handle and the other missed out!

    This is the chisel with about three years of accumulated surface rust. It is of course made from one of my ubiquitous leaf springs with a piece of mild steel rod welded into the top of the blade:

    P1060264 (Medium).JPG

    The surface rust was easily cleaned off with a fibre wheel on a bench grinder. This was half done to show the difference
    P1060265 (Medium).JPG

    Fully cleaned up it looks a bit more respectable
    P1060266 (Medium).JPGP1060270 (Medium).JPG

    Even better with a handle. This one is Spotted Gum

    P1060281 (Medium).JPG

    Looks slightly better again in the sunlight
    P1060290 (Medium) (2).JPG

    It is a fair lump of a thing. The blade is about 200mm and overall nearly 450mm

    P1060285 (Medium).JPG

    The ferrules warrant some mention, although I may go into a little more detail in another thread. They are discarded compression fittings. The reducer is removed with a thin cutting disc in an angle grinder (second example) then the corners of the hexagon sliced off by the same method (third example). Finally the fitting is rounded off using a bench grinder, a heavy pair of gloves and frequent dipping in water. Probably takes all up about ten minutes in brass. I have some stainless steel fittings the same and they are not so quick.

    P1060273 (Medium).JPG

    The timber is deliberately left long at the top ferrule so it has the potential to burr over in time.

    P1060289 (Medium).JPG

    The lowever ferrule has a leather washer, but I don't think it will achieve much as they were for primarily tapered tangs. This chisel has a uniform rod tang and is epoxy glued on.

    P1060286 (Medium).JPG

    I now have to increase the bevel and sharpen it.

    I forgot to mention that the chisel is 50mm wide.

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

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  3. #2
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    Default

    Nice work Paul. Ever since seeing someone use a slick to clean up tenons on American style timber frames (big size timbers) I have thought how useful they could be. I have seen original ones for sale occasionally and my goodness they can be pricey. Have you got a mallet to suit?

  4. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mountain Ash View Post
    Nice work Paul. Ever since seeing someone use a slick to clean up tenons on American style timber frames (big size timbers) I have thought how useful they could be. I have seen original ones for sale occasionally and my goodness they can be pricey. Have you got a mallet to suit?
    Funny you should mention that, I must put a handle on it though.

    Some of the slicks are huge. 3"wide is quite common. Mine is just a baby!

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

  5. #4
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    Default

    Is there a upcoming need for the Slick,
    Paul.
    Or was this just a case of why not.

    Also do wonder were you would be without Leaf Springs an River Red gum !!

    Ps that is one sure slick of a slick[emoji6].

    Cheers Matt.

  6. #5
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    Paul, a blade that nice deserves a l-o-n-g handle, at least twice the length you have. And sans ferule at the rear ... you know, like a real slick.

    Oh, another thought ... bend the hand up about 5 degrees. That way the blade can lay flat on the surface and the handle not get in the way.

    Regards from Perth

    Derek
    Visit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.

  7. #6
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    Yes they are quite big.That is a size 10 boot.handle 5.jpg
    Brian

  8. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by derekcohen View Post
    Paul, a blade that nice deserves a l-o-n-g handle, at least twice the length you have. And sans ferule at the rear ... you know, like a real slick.

    Oh, another thought ... bend the hand up about 5 degrees. That way the blade can lay flat on the surface and the handle not get in the way.

    Regards from Perth

    Derek
    Derek

    Hence the title of the thread, "Nearly a Slick Chisel."

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

  9. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Simplicity View Post
    Is there a upcoming need for the Slick,
    Paul.
    Or was this just a case of why not.

    Also do wonder were you would be without Leaf Springs an River Red gum !!

    Ps that is one sure slick of a slick[emoji6].

    Cheers Matt.
    Oh Matt

    Why did you have to go and raise the practicalities of life? No, there is no need.

    The reason it was first made was that at the Brisbane show several years ago a guy asked me to make prepare a rip saw as he was building houses using large framing timbers and the circular saws would not reach into the cuts. He also said he had been unable find large chisels at sensible prices. I made the chisel initially with him in mind but nothing ever came of it. I have been, not altogether successfully, trying to clear up and tidy up.This was one of those projects.

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

  10. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bushmiller View Post
    Oh Matt

    Why did you have to go and raise the practicalities of life? No, there is no need.

    The reason it was first made was that at the Brisbane show several years ago a guy asked me to make prepare a rip saw as he was building houses using large framing timbers and the circular saws would not reach into the cuts. He also said he had been unable find large chisels at sensible prices. I made the chisel initially with him in mind but nothing ever came of it. I have been, not altogether successfully, trying to clear up and tidy up.This was one of those projects.

    Regards
    Paul

    Paul,
    You are very right, I of all people should know better than to try to mix the Practicalities of life an the altered reality we all live in,in how own little wonder lands.
    My humble apologies.

    Cheers Matt.

  11. #10
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    The bevel was increased this morning prior to sharpening. I really should have measured it instead of relying on my increasingly unreliable eyesight. That may have saved me three of the four trips back to the bench grinder. Quickly sharpened it will deal with a pencil but has not been used in any more anger than that:

    P1060296 (Medium).JPG

    The spotty handle has received a sealing coat but will be treated to more.

    P1060297 (Medium).JPG

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

  12. #11
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    That’s a pretty slick pencil sharpener...

  13. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Colin62 View Post
    That’s a pretty slick pencil sharpener...
    Colin

    It possibly is a little bit of overkill, particularly when the pencil is down to the size put in a marking gauge!

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

  14. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by redminch View Post
    Yes they are quite big.That is a size 10 boot.handle 5.jpg
    Redminch. I assume the photo was taken because you had just sharpened the slick and dropped it in your eagerness to get back to work just beyond the pile of rocks....or does that sort of thing only happen to me

  15. #14
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    Yes of course that was just a short break.
    Also to show the handle I had made. I bought the slick with just the remains of an old handle in the socket. It needed some love and attention, this was the result.We were in Canada at the time and my son in law had limited tools. So had to make it with an axe and spoke shave and used the slick without a handle too. Found an old WRC tree branch in the bush and used that to make it.
    Great tool and useful for all sorts of things.
    Brian

  16. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by redminch View Post
    Yes of course that was just a short break.
    Also to show the handle I had made. I bought the slick with just the remains of an old handle in the socket. It needed some love and attention, this was the result.We were in Canada at the time and my son in law had limited tools. So had to make it with an axe and spoke shave and used the slick without a handle too. Found an old WRC tree branch in the bush and used that to make it.
    Great tool and useful for all sorts of things.
    Brian

    Nice job on the slick. What are the dimensions, just out of interest? I think that at a pinch it could be used as a crowbar, although maybe not with the WRC handle!

    Regards
    Paul
    Bushmiller;

    "Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts, absolutely!"

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