Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
50 degree angle on chisel?
Bill Houghton, avoiding work in Sebastopol, CA
>I just finished skimming a book from the library in which the author recommends a 50 degree angle on chisels for use with maple. Since the book otherwise looks like it was thrown together on a Monday morning and published without proofreading, I'm skeptical, but I'm curious - anyone ever used this steep an angle on a chisel?
A very common angle for chisels
Bob Hackett
>I use 50 deg all the time for my chisels.
The ones I use to cut steel and stone.
Hey,you asked.
Mainely,Bob
Not to 50...
Scott Burr in Ben Lomond, CA
>My Marples went from 25 to 35 deg. I have some Mortice chisels at 40-45 deg. 50 seems awful steep to me.
Re: 50 degree angle on chisel?
thomd
>A lot of pocket knives get sharpened to that angle. So it will cut wood, and while I wouldn't do it, maybe it works for him. It would have to be a micro bevel. Certainly planes cut at that kind of angle. A lot of chisel work is cross grain cutting, so it would be like planing engrain with a high angle plane. A little heavy. Plus you would have to manage the set-back might.
must be tested
bill tindall
>We diddled with chisel bevel angles some in our quest for improved steel. There isn't one answer, For a very brittle, or untough, steel 50 degrees might be the best one can do. For any given steel, grind something and use it. If it chips or bends then that angle is too acute for that steel and task.