Chisel – A Tool Must For Woodworking
Chisel, one of the most essential tools in many types of carpentry and other forms of woodworking, is a metal tool with a sharp beveled edge designed for cutting, gouging and shaping. Almost all chisel blades have a beveled edge of around 30 degrees, so as to make easy entry into the wood by making the edge thinner than the remainder of the tool. Scoops and 'V' chisels have the ability to dig deeper into the wood and are useful for adding dimension and detail to the finished piece.
The size of the chisels range from the largest carpentry to the smallest detail of woodcarving. The carpentry chisels are generally around a foot long, while the woodcarving chisels may only be 4 to 6 inches in length. Lathe chisels range from 10 to 18 inches in length depending on the type of lathe and the tool rest used with the machine. Thickness of the blade is also determined by what the chisel is used for and can range anywhere from 1/16th of an inch to an inch before the bevel is applied.
The main function of all types of chisels is used to remove unwanted wood. From the large framing chisel used in construction to the smallest woodcarving detail chisel, each of them serves the purpose of taking away wood that is in the way of the desired finished product.
