Mortice chisel

[Selwyn]

What's the best size of mortice chisel to buy for a beginner wanting to start learning hand mortices?

 

[Wildman]

one the correct width for the mortice you expect to be cutting.

 

[deema]

You will probably be working on either 2" X 1" or 3" X 2". You need a chisel that's approximately 1/3 of the thickness of the stock, so, either 3/8" or 5/8". These two will normally cover a wide verity of things you are likely to build initially. I would recommend buying both of these and suggest Narex is a good choice that is not only very economical, but also a good quality chisel that can see you through a lifetime.

 

[D_W]

1/4, 5/16, 3/8..something like that.

if you're going to be cutting dainty little mortises, look at firmers and sash mortisers. Ray iles makes a pigsticker that has a gradual end so it's not too hard to use in small mortises, but some of the old pigstickers are gigantic with big thick steep bevels and not very convenient for small work.

 

[Trafalgar]

What's the best size of mortice chisel to buy for a beginner wanting to start learning hand mortices?

You can cut just as good a mortise with a regular bevel edged chisel. I've quit using my mortise chisels and I have some nice ones -- boxwood handled Marples. Bevel edged chisels are faster.

Take a look:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_NXq7_TILA

 

[John15]

I've found a bevel edged chisel less easy to keep plumb/square as the chunkier mortice chisel.

John

 

[Derek Cohen (Perth Oz)]

What's the best size of mortice chisel to buy for a beginner wanting to start learning hand mortices?

Hi Selwyn

That's a novel idea ... beginners should start with an 1/8", then progress to a 3/16", and work their way up to a full 1"! Just kidding.

Follow the "1/3 Rule" - the width of the mortice is 1/3 the width of the work piece.

My most frequently used sizes for frames (as in frame-and-panel) is a 1/4". The next down is a 3/16", also often used. I rarely use as large as a 3/8", but I do find a use occasionally for a 1/8".

My mortice chisels are all Oval Bolstered types, both vintage Ward and new Ray Isles.

Here is a pictorial from my website: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Furniture/ ... hisel.html

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[custard]

If you just want one mortice chisel get a 5/16", it's the single most versatile for furniture work.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

It really depends on whether your intended work tends towards furniture or joinery. If furniture, then many components like table rails and cabinet door frames start as 1" sawn stock, and clean up to about 3/4" or 7/8". Thus, using the rule of thirds, a 1/4" or 5/16" mortice chisel will tend to be the cabinetmaker's most-used size. For joinery, maybe somewhere nearer 1/2". Those seem to be the most commonly available sizes secondhand, as well.

 

[Jacob]

Ignore the one third rule it's confusing - basically a mortice shouldn't be much bigger than 1/3 approximately (which should be obvious), but can be smaller. A tenon can be up to 100% full width, depending the design. The most common size for architectural joinery is 1/2" in ex 2" (44mm or thereabouts) material. Furniture smaller in increments of 1/8"