Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Japanese chisel questions
Jonathan Peck - N.Y.
>I was wondering if any who use japanese mortise chisels can tell me what they like about them. This is not meant to be a who makes the best chisel question, but suggested makers would be helpful. I'm also not interested in if japanese chisels are better than western or vise versa, just simply, what the differences are and what you like about them.
Thanks
Re: Japanese chisel questions
HC Sakman
>Sides of the blades are tapered so they more likely cut straight without binding or twisting(..cut, not the chisel itself!;-)like Western chisels when the cut is deep. This feature especially useful for thorough mortises since there's not much to hide!
Chico...
Personally...
Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA
>I love the handles. I can't get my paws around some mortice chisels. Their smaller size helps too IMHO. Easer to see what your doing and maneuverable.
Agree - smaller, more maneuverable ...
Jonathan Kaplan (OR)
>That's the main thing I like about them -- they feel good in my hands, and I like the shorter length. They give me a sense of close-control...
But some people like the longer length and larger handles of western style mortise chisels, so I think this is a case where different people just have different tastes.
Again, I also happen to like the way they look, but I suppose that is kind of trivial in the grand scheme of things. ;)
jk
Re: Japanese chisel questions
Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)
>I have a few sets of chisels, both Western and Japanese, and there is still something about the latter than makes me want to use them more than the others.
By-and-large the length of the Japanese butt chisels are not really much shorter than those of (say) my Witherbys, but there is a definite preference for the balance of the Japanese. They just feel "right" in the hand. They feel smaller than they really are, and this means that are more of a natural extension of the hand.
They also get really sharp, sharper than I can get any Western blade, and they do this more easily since I freehand them flat on a wide, 30 degree bevel, one that is only partly hard steel (being laminated blades).
These chisels are quicker to set up, since the backs are easier to lap.
And from an aesthetic perspective, I also prefer the simple design.
The downside is that the chisels must be used for their specific purpose. You cannot lever chips with a butt or paring type chisel as if it were a mortice chisel. The blades are then in danger of chipping. The sides of the butt chisels are not great for paring dovetails since the shoulders are higher than the Western type, but I find the dedicated Japanese dovetail chisels I have to be wonderful for this task. By contrast, I could use a Berg chisel for general work or paring dovetails, and Witherby is just so tough that you forget about the thought of damaging it.
Hope this helps.
Regards from Perth
Derek