Mortise chisel angles.

[Joel Moskowitz]

In France mortise chisels are usually ferruled. Bolstered chisels are typically English. Here's a typical French mortise chisel, quite like German pattern chisels:

THese would be considered heady duty sash mortise chisels in English terminolgy

 

[Joel Moskowitz]

The Sorby's don't have ferrules which would make think they are not heavy duty, but the LNs don't have them either. Would the LNs be considered sash mortise chisels?

I think you mean hoops - not ferrules. Ferrules are the thing next to the bolster near the chisel blade.

Sorby sash mortise chisels has bolsters no hoop.

Almost all H. D. Sash mortise chisels have ferrules and hoops - meant for rough work with steel hammers.

But cabinetmakers used Oval bolstered mortise chisels which are by far the strongest and have neither ferrule or hoop - but you must use a wooden mallet. They are also trapaziodald in section for fast deep chopping without getting stuck.

secret: always use a mallet that is softer than the handle of the chisel (any style chisel). It's easierand cheaper to replace a mallet than replace a chisel handle.

the LN "mortise chisels" are versions of American Millwright and mortise chisels and are parallel ground like sash mortise chisels.

 

[Frank D.]

Joel,
I know the hoop is at the striking end of the handle, but on the chisel I showed I thought that the blade was braced by a ferrule, not a bolster. I could be wrong...
Here's a pic of a few mortise chisels; the top one has a ferrule, the next one down has a bolster, and the bottom 2 (which I bought in France) have a ferrule that mate with the wide shoulder of the blade. Aren't bolsters usually forge welded or fitted on to the shoulders of the blade like in the second chisel down? I thought ferrules are a thin sleeve that go up and around part of the handle, unlike bolsters. At least that's my understanding. In France the bottom two are called "bédane à double virole": double ferruled mortise chisels (one of the ferrules being the hoop). I'm not trying to prove anything here, just throwing this out for discussion...

 

[Joel Moskowitz]

Both of the french chisels have bolsters - just not hulking big welded on ones like an Oval bolstered English mortise chisel. Actually almost all chisels have bolsters of various sizes or over time the chisel will be driven up and split the handle. These particular chisels look more like sash mortise chisels to me than full sized mortise chisels designed for furntiture or more commonly doors. But I know very little about Continental tool evolution so I can't be certain that actual application or nominclature.

 

[bugbear]

Should have checked whether or metric or imperial.

I don't think mortise chisels are ever accurate enough for to use that to tell.

e.g. telling the difference between an 18mm chisel and a 3/4" chisel requires better accuracy than mortice chisels (IME) are made to.

I have marked mortice chisels that show a healthy disparity between marked (norminal) size and measured size.

BugBear

 

[garywayne]

You have totally lost me, but I have got this one:-

Sorry about the picture quality. (Cheap camera).

It has been ground to a straight 24deg.

What I don't understand, is that it's measurements are in imperial exept the width of the blade, which is metric.

 

[MikeW]

Hi Gary,

Is it 10 mm at the tip of the blade?

In any case, I think that's making BB's point. Other than one or two mortice chisels, I have yet to use a micrometer--even ones which read in imperial or metric units--and arrive at the stated width.

In the scheme of things, "nominal" width mortice chisels are fine as the gauge is set from the chisel and the tenon marked from either the same gauge or the resultant mortice.

Where it gets to be a slight problem is plowing grooves "needing" to be the same width as the mortice as plow blades seem to be much more accurate in their measurements.

Take care, Mike

 

[garywayne]

Sorry Mike.

Yes, 10mm at the tip of the blade.

 

[Alf]

Probably intended to be 3/8"

 

[Anonymous]

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[garywayne]

Thanks Jacob.

That was an exelent link.