Sharpening Mortice Chisels

[custard]

I recently got a few Lie Nielsen mortice chisels. They're as good as everyone says they are, but I'm having problems sharpening them.

I normally use a Tormek grinder and a Veritas honing guide. However, the chisels are too thick to fit in the normal Tormek jig, and on the Veritas honing guide they can't be firmly clamped at 90 degrees and pivot from side to side resulting in the edge of chisel being out of square.

Any advice, or any comments on how you normally grind and hone mortice chisels?

 

[Tusses]

I think you are supposed to sharpen from the inside with slip sones. If you sharpen from the outside, your 1/2" chisel will soon become less than 1/2" !

 

[Mr T]

Hi

WE are talking ordinary mortice chisels here, not morticing machine chisels.

I would suggest doing it freehand, go on live dangerously!

Chris

 

[Tusses]

Hi

WE are talking ordinary mortice chisels here, not morticing machine chisels.

I would suggest doing it freehand, go on live dangerously!

Chris

doh !!!

that makes sense LOL

 

[custard]

I would suggest doing it freehand, go on live dangerously!

Chris

Oh no, no, no, no ,no! :shock:

 

[bugbear]

I'm just glad Mr Grimsdale doesn't live hee anymore. This thread wouldn't go well....

BugBear

 

[dunbarhamlin]

Um, sorry, but why not do it freehand?
It's a chunky piece of steel, so plenty of bevel for registration if you want to stick with a flat primary bevel. Otherwise (to step in for Jacob ;D ) try dipping the end of your stroke. Much nicer for prying with a softened arris (shoulder?) twixt bevel and shaft.
The secondary only wants to be tiny, and angle isn't that important - just obtuse enough to withstand a wallop.
Steve (who's belting through 64 MTs at the mo)

 

[matthewwh]

Is that a typo Steve, or have you abandoned the campaign to restore the word 'Bezel' to common usage?

Mortice chisels are an ideal learning ground for freehand honing, if you really can't get to grips with it, then one of Mr Kell's No.1 guides will accommodate an LN mortice chisel.

 

[dunbarhamlin]

I did actually think about that when I wrote it, Matthew.
Since folks will continue to lap the backs of blades when it's the face that needs the work, I may as well fall into line and decide it's something up with which I must put. After all, communication is what matters.

The Kell will even (just - not easily) handle a Ray Iles pig sticker - used one to square up the bez-sigh-bevel before I started freehanding

Was amused to see Moxon advocates freehand sharpening in combination with a hollow grind. (Can't remember if mortise chisels were excepted from this - had I a grinder they're one tool I wouldn't use it for.)

Cheers
Steve