Popular Woodworking 2006-02 № 153, страница 62

Carefully ground sides (left) look like a knife edge. This helps you produce cleaner, tighter dovetails.

leather-tipped ash handles were slightly crowned so that a blow from a mallet landed squarely on the end.

At the same time Stanley was producing the No. 750s it also made a longer version, the No.

Using the proper grip and having a tool with narrow side bevels add control to the dovetailing process.

720. The extra length of these chisels make them ideal for paring long, thin shavings. Yet, most chisels that are manufactured today are too long for controlled chopping and too short to gain the leverage often needed for paring.

The exception is the Lie-Nielsen chisels (see "Buying Chisels Ready for Woodworking" below).

The solution is to cut off a portion of the handle. I know that sounds drastic, but it dramatically improves the balance of the tool. (And I'll admit, the sawed-off handle won't look pretty either, but your dovetails will.) After sawing off the excess with a hand saw, use a file to shape a small chamfer around the perimeter and slightly crown the end. This will ensure that mallet blows land squarely on the end rather than glancing off. If you grimace at the thought of such a radical modification to your prized chisels, then I suggest that you purchase an inexpensive set of plastic-handled tools and dedicate them specifically for chopping.

Grinding the Sides

The next step in the tune-up is to grind the sides of the chisel to nearly a knife edge. There's no need to bevel the entire length of the blade; 1" is enough to reach

inside of most dovetails. You don't need an expensive wet wheel grinder for this step - an ordinary dry grinder with 6" wheels works fine. To prevent burning the steel, I use a pink aluminum oxide wheel and stop often to quench the tool in a can of water. I u sually use the factory bevel as a guide and just slowly grind away the excess steel. Use care and don't grind into the back of the blade. As I'm grinding, I pause periodically to cool the steel and inspect the edge. The entire process usually takes just a minute or so. Finally, don't forget to polish the back and hone the bevel. For more on sharpening see "Sharpening Plane Irons and Chisels" (you can download a free pdf at popularwoodworking.com from the "Magazine Extras" page). For information on restoring vintage chisels, see "Resurrecting Chisels" from February 2005.

Now give the newly transformed chisel a try. I think that you'll be pleasantly surprised with the results. PW

BUYING CHISELS READY FOR WOODWORKING

Lie-Nielsen socket chisels (right) are based upon the old Stanley No. 750s.

No doubt most every woodworker is familiar with Lie-Nielsen planes. Thomas Lie-Nielsen has taken a number of old Stanley designs, such as the esteemed Bed Rock bench plane, and made significant improvements. The result is some of the best planes available today.

Now he's at it again. This time he has developed a line of chisels based upon the old and long-discontinued Stanley No. 750s. Like the No. 750s, the Lie-Nielsen socket chisels are short, lightweight and have perfect balance. And with just a bit of honing and polishing, the Lie-Nielsen chisels are ready to use. Unlike the old Stanleys, there's no need to further bevel the sides; they come ground to a thin, almost knife-like edge. The chisels come

equipped with hornbeam handles sans the leather washers on the end. But in my experience there is no need for the leather cap; the hornbeam is tough. In fact, I've used my chisels for months and the handles appear as new.

Rosewood handles are also available for an extra charge; but Lie-Nielsen recommends the hornbeam if you intend to use the tools with a mallet.

If you're interested in the Stanley No. 750s there are still plenty of old ones available. Of course many are ground down from years of use. But it's not uncommon to find those with most of the original length remaining. Similar to any old tool, the collectors drive up the price on the chisels in pristine condition. But those that exhibit minor wear and discoloration can be had at a reasonable price. Once you have your hands on a set you'll still need to tune them by beveling the edges further, but you'll be rewarded with perfectly balanced chisels at a price lower than most new chisels. - LB

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