chisels

[Weege]

I think I posted this in the wrong place the first time, sorry a new guy mistake,  My question, is what kind of chisels does everyone use for such small work, like on the hull to make the bulwarks, the smallest one I have is 1/4", do you make your own or is there a good manufacturer? and what shape is recommended, curved, flat, skewed etc. next question: what is used to sand after the chisel, I'm thinking of cutting some dowels at different angles and gluing sand paper to them ?

[DSiemens]

I bought some very inexpensive chisels from a Harbor Freight.  I think they are the ones in the link below.  For me it was the smaller the better.  I mainly use straight ones but sometimes the scoop one.  I a friend of mine made a smaller chisel that is about a 1/16th of an inch wide.  Its become one of my favorite detail chisels.       

https://www.amazon.com/LoveInUSA-Manganese-Professional-Carving-Chisels/dp/B071RDCC4S/ref=sr_1_36?ie=UTF8&qid=1531867474&sr=8-36&keywords=small+wood+chisels&dpID=51Hvp739BUL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

[DSiemens]

I forgot answer the sanding question.  I have a sanding block that works great.  I've never tried dowels but that sounds interesting.  If you try it let us know how it works out.  Another thing I've found that works well is an electronic tooth brush.  Cut the bristles off and glue sandpaper on the end.  It becomes a mini electric sander.  Other wise just sand paper in my hand works too.    

[Weege]

Thanks for the reply I ordered the chisel set a minute ago that is exactly what I was looking for , the electric tooth brush sounds like a great idea I appreciate the help, I'll take some picture of the sanding sticks if they work, 

[exwafoo]

To make your own small chisels cheaply, get a box of masonry nails, they come in different sizes as well, and using cut off disks and grinding wheels in a small power tool, shape and sharpen the ends as required, then sharpen on a hone. (safety specs on ). Use some dowel as a handle. These keep an edge as they are high carbon steel. 

Alan

[Weege]

Thanks Alan, great idea I think I have some somewhere around here, I was going to try an old hacksaw blade ground to shape and as you said some dowel pcs. for a handle and yes safety first always wear the specs

LOU

[exwafoo]

HI Lou,

Hacksaw blades can make good edges as long as they are the good old fashioned type made from high carbon steel that fractures when bent (4 times around a large parade ground at the double for breaking one during fitting training soon taught RN apprentices to use a hacksaw properly), not one of the modern flexible ones that only have hardened teeth. 

I also use used 'x-acto' type blades epoxied into dowel,  and resharpened and shaped as required. See photos.

The furthest right is made from a needle and is about 0.5 of a millimetre used for small holes in styrene. (1 cm grid)

This one is made from a masonry nail and is about 2 mm.

best

Alan

[Weege]

Thanks for the pix Chief, great idea's I'm in the process of doing just that, my old hacksaw blades are old ones it seems everything I have is old haha, but I have made knives from them in the past for whittling and have held an edge quite well, I will get some masonry nails next time at the store I defiantly want to try that looks very useful I think a home made tool works and more important feels better in the hand maybe that's just me but I prefer a tool I made as opposed to a store bought one they seem to work better maybe because they are made for a specific purpose, again thanks for the tips

PS you sure can tell those knives don't lay around much they look like their used all the time

[exwafoo]

In fairness, I inherited a couple from my dad who carved animals from wood. However, I shamelessly copied his ideas on the newer ones.

I like the small handles - I find it gives me more control than the xacto type handles on small items.

Cheers

Alan 

[DSiemens]

Speaking of handles, this is the chisel a friend of mine made.  He turned a caligraphy style handle for it.  It has some great balance and control to it.  

[Weege]

Thanks Chief:

I tried calligraphy a few years back and I have some pens lying around I also turn pens and wine bottle stoppers so I have pen blanks laying around they should be just about the right size for handles, and what's nice about them they come in dozens of different woods from exotic to all the hardwoods you can think of.

That's a nice looking chisel, I'm trying to hone my building skills so I started a 1:75 scale Bluenose ii schooner I have the hull just about done and ready for the rigging , I realized my building skills have suffered over the last ten years and I thought that doing something a bit bigger would let me do that, but I also have a SIB project going also I have the bottle and an trying to figure what to put in it I think something square rigged because I've never done a square rigged ship before so the chisels are a project in between those two. How the hand eye coordination, arthritis in the hands, and eye sight have changed from 58 yrs. to 68 years.

Anyway I am going to start making a chisel or two, I really like the calligraphy pen and think I'll turn a handle for mine , I really appreciate the photo's I'll post some when I get mine done

[Jeff B]

I just picked up those chisels at a craft store that Dsiemens posted. 

Last time I chiseled, I used a jack knife and a flat top screwdriver. doh!