Hand-chopped mortises

[eaneal]

I picked up a 3/8" mortise chisel at WIA on a whim. Anyone know of any good online videos or blog posts that would help me figure out how to use the thing?

Thanks.

[wilburpan]

I picked up a 3/8" mortise chisel at WIA on a whim. Anyone know of any good online videos or blog posts that would help me figure out how to use the thing?

Thanks.

Jeff Gorman's website will tell you everythinh that you need. Here's his section on chopping mortises.

And then start practicing.

[jlloydparks]

Do a search for Frank Klaus hand chopped mortise video. I am at work and can't get to any video links. He did a session at the first WIA where he chopped out a mortise next to a piece of glass so you could see what was going on with the chisel. It was extremely informative.

[bois]

I've found there's not much variation in how one uses a mortise chisel. I was actually commenting to someone at WIA that a mortising chisel is really one of those few hand tools that you really just whack away on. Where you see most of the differences in technique is in the means for hogging out the initial waste. Some folks use a drill press, some a router table, and some a plunge router. You can cut an entire mortise exclusively with a chisel, but it's far more work than it's worth (both in chopping and sharpening). There's no right or wrong answer, but whatever is most repeatable and accurate in your shop. That step, and not the chisel technique, is the most critical.

[RenaissanceWW]

I did a demo on chopping by hand during my Queen Anne Table build this Spring. It is episode 86 on my site. I agree with Bois (you heard it here first) that there really is not much variation to the technique, I feel that marking out the joint is the most important part.

[bois]

I did a demo on chopping by hand during my Queen Anne Table build this Spring. It is episode 86 on my site. I agree with Bois (you heard it here first) that there really is not much variation to the technique, I feel that marking out the joint is the most important part.

I'm actually speechless.