Tuning chisels

Re: Tuning chisels and paring cuts

Bob Hackett(Mainely,Bob)

>When you say a paring cut then I think bench chisels and flat work.Now if you say planing cut then I think turning.

A planing cut can be taken with either a skew or a spindle gouge.I can explain either approach but it is something best learned live and at the lathe.

A paring cut is just a cut taken holding the back of the chisel parrallel to the surface being cut and is usually a fine cut used for things like final fitting of a joint.

Hope this helps.

Mainely,Bob

Re: Tuning chisels

Dan Donaldson

>A paring cut is when you use the chisel by hand (pushing it, not striking) and basically slice off the wood. Many cut out the waste in a dovetail with a coping saw, leaving just a little from the line, then slice to the line with hand pressure, possibly using some kind of a fixture to stay square.

a link

Ron in Kokomo

>http://www.taunton.com/FWN/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesPDF.aspx?id=2054

Long handle

Jim in Burlington On

>I've never found a use for them. If I'm paring anything my hand is holding the steel within a inch of the edge for maxiumum control.

Re: Long handle

Warren in Lancaster, PA

>Paring is done with two hands on the chisel. Usually the right hand is on the handle and the left on the steel. A paring cut takes a thin shaving off the wood like a plane without the body; there is a very shallow angle of attack. This angle is critical- too steep and the chisel is too hard to push and too shallow and the chisel slips out and stops cutting. A longer handle makes it easier to control this angle. Paring can be done with the grain, sideways or diagonally across the grain, or on end grain.

You can pare with any chisel although you will notice if it is not sharp. Chisels made for just paring are rather long with somewhat thin blades.