Mike Henderson
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- 1,405
- Location
- Villa Park, CA
What's the recommended bevel angle for an English pattern mortise chisel? - also known as a "pigsticker". Since they're mortise chisels, you'd think the bevel angle would be maybe 35* but I have several of these chisels and they came with a wide variety of bevel angles - from maybe 25* to about 35*.
What seems reasonable to me is to put a primary bevel of about 25* on the chisel to allow it to penetrate deeply and to put a secondary bevel of maybe 30 to 35* as needed to give the edge some strength. For those of you who use these chisels, "What do you do?"
Mike
[added note] When I cut a mortise by hand, I usually drill out the majority of the wood first so almost any chisel will serve. But these English pattern chisels are really appealing. The look 'mean', they work great, and most of them are old - probably late 1800's (they have laminated "cast steel" edges). And they're fairly inexpensive, especially if you buy one with a damaged handle. Collectors seem to want chisels with pristine, original handles so the damaged ones go cheap.
What seems reasonable to me is to put a primary bevel of about 25* on the chisel to allow it to penetrate deeply and to put a secondary bevel of maybe 30 to 35* as needed to give the edge some strength. For those of you who use these chisels, "What do you do?"
Mike
[added note] When I cut a mortise by hand, I usually drill out the majority of the wood first so almost any chisel will serve. But these English pattern chisels are really appealing. The look 'mean', they work great, and most of them are old - probably late 1800's (they have laminated "cast steel" edges). And they're fairly inexpensive, especially if you buy one with a damaged handle. Collectors seem to want chisels with pristine, original handles so the damaged ones go cheap.