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CHAPTER 1

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT

The Differences between Carving and Carpentry Chisels

I" the European tradition, carving has bcen -one with a varicty of tools associated wilh . : professions: axes, adzes and spokeshaves, the :*:-5 of the forester and carpenter and of o.ized trades such as the hurdlc-maker and ~ '.eelwright. Smaller work done with a knife, r. as whittling, must be among the most of forms, but the tools of the carpenter, =ccc;Elv chisels, have always bcen most uscd.

■ ugh the word chisels’ is uscd specifically of ~ . -cdged tools, ir also cmbraces gougcs and ^ aools. Beginners, having nothing to compare ::h. oftcn start with poor or inappropriate and blame themselves for their slow or rough finish. Some despair and give it is possible to achieve some sort of tr i:h carpentry chisels and with the clumsy —■ • c chisels produced by some manufacturcrs,

it makes morę scnse to use good tools. If you arc satisfied with a crude finish and do not mind how long the work takcs, this is not important. But it is important if you want to get the best out of the tools and work smoothly and efficiently.

There arc about five main differences between good carving chisels and carpentry chisels. The carpenter and joiner need robust chisels. Much of the work done with a carpcnters chisel is hidden inside joints or carcassing and so, although sharpness makes the work casier, a blunt tool will not ruin the work. Becausc a carver uses chisels almosc cxclusively, a blunt tool not only leaves torn fibres but also slows the work. Consequently there is likely to be a marked difference in the qualitv of the Steel used and in the thickness of the blade.

A carver needs a tool which will hołd a good edge when driven with a mallet, yet be light enough for paring. If the metal is thick, much grinding is needed to get a thin enough edge. Very thick bladcs may be madę of poor Steel, or in

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