How to Use a Japanese chisel

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How to Use a Japanese chisel

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Last Update:2008/4/1

Part names on a Japanese chisel

Types of chisels

Chisels you hit

The butt of the handle is hit to gouge a hole into the target material. To avoid cracking the handle, metal reinforcements may be part of the chisel handle.

Chisels you push

Used to carve and trim the target material, hence metal handle reinforcements are not included.

How to use

There are many various shapes and sizes when it comes to chisels. Each chisel offers unique purpose for their shapes. The following is a brief explaination of how to utilize a hammered chisel.

Re-tailoring the chisel

For chisels which are used with a hammer, there is a hoop (katsura) that wraps around the end of the handle so that the handle (wood) will not fray or split. With a normal chisel, a very small piece of the wooden handle should protrude out from the hoop. As the chisel is used, the protuding end will eventually crush, and one will have to adjust the hoop once more.

How to chisel a hole (side view)

(1)(2) Place indentation markers on to the area which is to be chisled. Begin with an initial strong chisel strick to the center and begin chiseling from the center.

(3) Chisel from both ends.

(4) (5)Hammer chisel straight into the wood, and gouge out the rest. But, do not gouge out the sides where your indentation markers remain.

(6) Leave a bit of the indentation markers while you chisel the sides.

(7) Very carefully finish the hole

(8) If you begin gouging from the sides, one has a tendency to make a hole bigger than planned. You can also make a bigger hole from a small one, but not the other way around.

Maintenence

How to sharpen a chisel blade

Make sure that the whetstone surface is flat.
The angle of the blade is determined by the hardness of the target lumber.
When using a grinder, temperature of the blade can increase, and the blade may be tempered again. (the colour of the steel begins to change) Make sure that plenty of water is tossed onto the blade tip while sharpening.
When sharpening with a grinder, beware that the blade tip may crack or a piece may gouge out if the blade becomes too thin. If the blade tip is rounded, the blade will lose its edge.
For sharpening the back of the blade, use a fine whetstone, and apply a bit of pressure while pushing onto the blade edge end.
To avoid a rusty blade, wipe all excess water and apply apply onto the blade. Wrap the blade in a cloth or in it's dedicated case to store.

(chisel storage bags can be easily purchased)

Angle of the blade

Depending whether you will be using hardwood or softwood, the angle of the blade will slightly differ. When using a hammering chisel, the blade edge is usually sharpened at 26C to 30C degrees.

Lowering the butt hoop

1. Roll the handle on a wooden surface and tap the butt with a wooden mallet.

2. File the inside of the hoop

3. With a wooden mallet, hammer the katsura (hoop) into place.

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