I too can't stay out of this group of comments. !/4 " wood chisel , home made 1//8" wood chisel , and again I use frequently a 1/16" chisel , the last two wood chisels ground from screw drivers. Now ,I have no fancy b.s. phone camera , so all I can do is present a graphic explanation of my next most used chisels. Take a standard 1/4 " wood chisel , and grind a 1/3 to 1/4 " moon "shape , on the point end. This chisel is rocked over the pencil line made on wood , where inlays are laid on wood , and traced around. And or, when a carving pattern is drawn on a gun stock , say behind the cheek piece . Once the surface wood of the carving pattern is broken by rocking this 1/2 moon shaped chisel , then the actual dimensional part of the pattern can be exposed. The best thing a 1/2 moon rocking chisel gives, it goes around curves , in a carving pattern. Think about what was just said , many carvers do this initial work , with a carving knife point. Either I'm too stupid and uncoordinated to use a knife point, or perhaps the young fellow from Colonial Williamsburg gun shop , had a better idea he shared with me , about using hand ground , rocking chisels . Actually , I have three sizes of these rocking chisels. 3/8" for long lines and curves , 1/4" for medium curves , and a couple smaller ones ground for tiny curves in carving patterns. I can't use a knife point for lining work , because whenit skips across a carving pattern ,due to my clumsy missteps , lots of fine carving is ruined , and must be sanded out and redone.
Another thought to ponder......Always remember , we are trying to emulate an 18th century art, with 18th century tools. Initially , in the early 1970's , I bought a hand full of expensive engraving tools. I found out through practice , I only needed two or three engraving chisels to copy original work. I hope this helps someone . I like "easy" , rather than "hard".. ........oldwood
