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Here's the skinny:
In this workshop I'll demonstrate the fundamental difference between these tools - even though they are both called 'chisels' - and look at their different functions.
Can carpentry chisels be used in place of the lettercarving chisels? Many beginners have spare carpentry chisels. Can they be adapted for lettering?
Good questions! Watch the video and I'll give you my answer.
| 11 December 2024 09:39
Darrin - If you look at a bench chisel side on, the blade is offset. It's meant to be used flat face down and so the tool is biased regarding the handle. A lettering chisel on the other hand is perfectly symmetrical when looked at side on, including a bevel on both sides.
Can you cut letters with a single bevel chisel. Sure, but here's the thing:
Think how a carving gouge works: it makes a scooping cut. Right? in-through-and out of the wood. It can do that by rocking on the heel (between bevel and blade proper). Without a heal, ie no bevel, a chisel must jig itself at it cuts a flat face. That's one reason than we put a bevel on the inside of a gouge, it stops it jigging into the wood and allows us to scoop out with the tool upside down.
In lettering, a flat faced bench chisel must jig itself. If you start your cut at too high an angle you are committed. Try you bench chisel on an edge of would, flat and upside down. Once you start your cut, which one can you scoop out of? So, with lettering chisels you have a degree of slack, of correction in your cut. If you looked closely at the walls of my letters you may well find a slight hollowness as I adjust the cut to meet the root at the bottom.
I hope this makes sense and helps. If bench chisels were a better option, I'd say!
| 11 December 2024 03:06
To clarify, I have and use lettering chisels, and I know it's too much bother to modify bench chisels for lettering: different tool entirely. I'm wondering if the same holds true for single bevel carving chisels, of which, incidentally, I just don't understand the purpose. I suppose if a wood carver didn't have any bench chisels, he/she might want to buy a single bevel carving chisel.
| 10 December 2024 19:14
Hi Chris.I've found an antique Marples and Sons "carving chisel" for sale. It's stamped wit number 1, but it's flat on one side and beveled on the other, so not ideal for lettering. I've never actually seen or used a single bevel carving chisel (only bench chisels), so I'm wondering if it's possible to simply add a second bevel, or is the basic shape of the tool not suitable for this? Thanks!
| 23 December 2021 17:25
Thomas - Yes, this is the best way to approach your lettering chisels: square the edges then polish the white line so you can see it better; set the bevels equally while thinning that line as much as you dare; finish off with your fine stone.
In many ways, sharpening a chisel is easier than a gouge because you don't have to rotate, just move back and forth at the correct (low) angle, equally on each side. However, you want to make sure the surface of your stone is flat, not hollowed; otherwise you will be removing more metal from the corners of your chisel...
| 23 December 2021 14:40
Hi Chris, I’ve not done any carving since lockdown, too busy working unfortunately.
I have a couple weeks off over Christmas and I’m determined to do some carving. I’ve bought some lettering chisels and I’m going to try some lettering .
My question is do I commission the lettering chisels is the same way as a gouge: squaring and polishing the edge and then reducing the cutting angles each side?
