Chisels

[schloss]

Knowing that I'm going to get a lot of opinions here, but...

I'm going to start building my first rifle. What chisels do I need for this? I'm getting a parts set from Track of the Wolf, with a precarved stock. Can I get by with a 1/8" and a 1/4"? I am planning to do some simple carving if I can come up with a design that I like. Do I need to get any gouges?

I'm planning to buy Solingen chisels, and just don't want to spend more than I need to right now. Finding the chisels up here seems next to impossible, so I want to ship as much as I can together.

 

[paulvallandigham]

Go to some of the suppliers, like www.Woodcrafts.com to look at tools. There are other sources. Google Wood chisels, and you will see a long list. Do some comparative shopping, but keep an eye on brands. A Stanley tool is made here in the USA and is every bit as good as the Solinger products. Check here, for instance for wood chisels:
http://www.woodcraft.com/depts.aspx?deptid=1026&topnav=true

If you have not taken a woodworking course, look around your area for one, and take it. The Nearest Woodcraft store can also refer you to classes. In fact, the company puts on classes periodically at its store to teach customers how to use the tools, with the idea that you are more likely to buy their brand of tools, or something they have that you don't already have. My brother, for instance, took a course at Woodcrafters, to learn how to sharpen chisels, plane blades, and knife blades. As a result, he did buy a slow speed grinder/polisher unit that works quite well.

 

[schloss]

I started woodworking with my dad when I was in 3rd grade. I started metalworking and welding in middle school. I am now 30 years old, and teach woodworking, cabinetry, construction, automotive diagnosis and repair, and welding in a junior high / high school.

My question is really on which size chisels I will need for this project. I am planning to make some of my tools, but was going to order a couple, and just wanted a recommendation on which sizes to order. Thanks for the reply, (I don't mean to sound rude, I'm sorry if I do) but it didn't really answer my question.

 

[Capt. Jas.]

I just found a list that Mike Brooks gave of the main tools he uses to build guns.

"I build guns for a living every day. here's what I use the most:
3/16" chisel
1/2" chisel
3 gouges , one pretty small, the other is maybe!/4" and the last 1/2"
mallet
# 49 cabinet rasp
Plane
7/16" rat tail file
A set off drill bits and a 8X32 tap
Drill press.
3 different sized screw drivers"

 

[Roy]

Thats a good list. :thumbsup:

I would add and exacto knife and a v tool... :thumbsup:

You'll find that you have a couple chisels that you like a lot, and you will hardly touch the others.

My #1 tool is a 3/8" chisel.

 

[Black Hand]

I have purchased a few straight chisels (1/4" - 1 1/2") but ended up making all the other chisels I needed for carving using square-cut nails and concrete nails. If I haven't got a shape I need, I make it....

 

[chipper]

I would try making one, you might find out how easy it is and save yourself alot of money. I use old files and drill rod to make mine. If you keep the files cool enough by dipping them in water constantly they will probably hold a really nice edge. Just grind off what you don't need.
The drill rod works the same way. File/grind the end the way you want it and heat treat it like a knife.

On small projects like gouges and chisels a propane torch for soldering pipes will probably be just the ticket.

Regards
Loyd Shindelbower
Loveland Colorado

 

[paulvallandigham]

MY most often used chisel is 3/8" wide. I have 1/4, and 1/8, and then 1/2" chisels, that have been used occasionally, but not often enough to justify buying them for this project. Because most of the inletting is done for you, I don't remember ever using a gouge on a "Kit" gun. I also think Mike Brook's List is pretty good. A good exacto knife or very sharp pocket knife blade can be used where lots of chisels are sometimes used. I did use a bottoming chisel on the lock mortise of my shotgun kit, because the original work by the factory did not cut the mortise deep enough. I doubt you will have such problems with any kit made in this country, today.

 

[LRB]

You can buy bargain chisles, or high dollar chisles. The result is in the hand of the craftsman!!!

 

[bioprof]

I've only been gunbuilding for a few years, but have a little experience that I'd like to share. I've bought several carving chisels from Woodcraft and some have been good and some not so good. I first started out using an 1/8" straight chisel, but found that I was getting chipouts along the edges of the chisel. I bought a Henry Taylor fishtail gouge with a slight curve and use that a lot more than the straight chisel. With the fishtail gouge, you get a clean cut along the sides so that you don't get chipouts. They work really well for removing the background around relief carving.

Check out Woodcrafts closeouts. They have some pretty good prices on Henry Taylor chisels. You have to sharpen them before you use them though. With the Pfeil chisels, you can use them right out of the box.

I think a V-parting tool is essential if you plan on doing any incised carving. I bought a Henry Taylor V-parting tool, but was very disappointed. I never could get it to work well and it didn't seem to be hardened properly. I also have a Flexcut V-parting tool and it works much better.

I still use a small screwdriver that I made into a chisel when I built my first rifle, so you can get buy pretty cheap if you want to. If you can afford quality, your chances of succeeding are a lot better though.

 

[Old40Rod]

If your first pre-carve build is anything like mine, what chisels you need is a bit of a "field of dreams" question... if you have them, you will use them. With a pre-carved stock, you can probably get away using 1/8" and 1/4" straight chisels. I also had a small round gouge, 6mm I believe, and it came in handy also.

You can always pick up decent larger straight chisels at your local hardware store. The smaller chisels and gouges are harder to find locally if you live in a rural area. So if you are short on funds, I would order the smaller ones first.

 

[schloss]

Well, I decided to go ahead and try to make some chisels. Yesterday, I made a 1/4 and a 3/8, as well as starting on a small knife that I was planning to use for marking inlets.

I had an old saw blade sitting around, so I decided to give it a shot with that. The chisels went pretty quick and easy, but I think the knife will be too thick for me, so I'll probably re-make that one.

I'm not as rural as I used to be, I can get chisels, but finding the smaller ones is definitely an issue. I think I'm going to make as many as I can. I've got plenty of spring steel and old sawblades laying around, so I think I'm just going to make as many of them as I can. I little nervous about making gouges right now...

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[Black Hand]

....I little nervous about making gouges right now...

They are a bit more of a pain, but can be made with a hammer, torch and file......

 

[mazo kid]

I had an old saw blade sitting around, so I decided to give it a shot with that.

I was just going to mention that....in the winter, I throw a saw blade in the wood burner and let it "simmer" for a few hours. You can then (when it cools!) cut it with a hack saw to what ever size and shape you want, re-harden and fit a handle if that is your need. Saw blades can be picked up sometimes at construction sites for the asking.

 

[Zonie]

Saw blades can be picked up sometimes at construction sites for the asking.
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Yah but them little black pieces of carbide sure are hard to file. :rotf: