Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
1/8" mortise chisels
Bill Houghton, foggy mornings in Sebastopol, CA
>I'd been watching for mortise chisels until I found two at a recent estate sale, and had noticed a very high number of what were listed (and indeed appeared to be from the photos) as 1/8" mortise chisels.
Were these really used for mortises? What kind of furniture or other building uses mortise and tenon structure this small in section?
Mortises for chairback slats? Just a guess!
VTAndy4
Windows
Neal in San Jose
>I've never done it, but I've read that sometimes the muntons (sp?) were mortised. I think you'd need a lot more skill and patience that I have for that. I use my 1/8 mortise chisel to clean up various joints, altho not very oten.
Re: 1/8" mortise chisels
mikew
>I've used them for Arts & Crafts mantle clocks, doors for small cabinet on stands, etc. Think thin wood, often 1/2" to 5/8" thick. Delicate. Often I pare the mortise to about 3/16".
Take care, Mike
Re: 1/8" mortise chisels
Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)
>Hi Bill
Are the ones you saw really mortice chisels? The reason I ask is because I have 1/8" mortice chisels (such as an OB version) and I have 1/8" paring chisels that look like mortice chisels (such as from Berg or Witherby). In my experience it is quite rare to find a bevel edged 1/8" chisel. I do have a couple (such as a Japanese dovetail chisel, which is specifically ground to this shape, and a Titan, below), but other bench chisels of this size are usually slab sided.
In the upper picture below is an 1/8" OB mortice chisel. In the lower picture are two 1/8" paring chisels, the upper one a Titan (Australian) and the lower the Berg.
Regards from Perth
Derek
Re: 1/8" mortise chisels
Jack Guzman from Maine
>I use one to finish off stopped grooves,as in small drawer bottoms.Also good for inlay work.Not used alot but real handy when you need one.---Jack
Re: 1/8" mortise chisels
John McCullough
>This size was also made to clean out a groove cut for cane seat chairs. I have seen many that were not of the same quality of steel as a mortice chisel
plane making
Larry Williams
>Actually, I find 1/8" slightly too big for some plane making needs. I prefer 1/10" when making molding planes with thin wedges.
timberframing for smurfs
Steve Kubien
>sorry, couldn't resist.
Steve Kubien
Re: 1/8" mortise chisels
Teacher
>I use mine all the time, for boxes, jewelry armoirs, doll (excuse me, stuffed animal) furniture, etc. I just snapped the top off mine being stupid in some hard maple (*�@$%!) and have to regrind it...luckily there's plenty of steel left.
Thanks for all the information
Bill Houghton, foggy mornings in Sebastopol, CA
>Useful and comforting, since one of the mortise chisels I bought recently is 1/8" - clearly worth making a handle for.