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Wood Chisels and Gouges Forged from Tool Steel
A woodworking chisel is a flat steel blade with a bevelled edge, hardened and tempered, on a wooden handle; bevelled sides let it into tight corners. A gouge is the same with a blade curved in section, for hollowing. Forge a set of widths from tool steel, harden them, temper to a dark straw and hone them sharp.
The picture: a bevel-edge wood chisel with its ferrule and wooden handle.
Advanced
A day for a set
Instructions
1
1
Forge the blades
Forge the blades
Draw tool-steel bar out flat to each blade width, taper it slightly toward the edge and forge a square tang on the other end. For gouges, set the hot blade over a round groove of the swage block and drive it in to curve it.
Materials for this step:
Flat Tool Steel Bar1 piece
Charcoal1 as requiredTools needed:
Blacksmith Forge
Anvil
Cross Peen Hammer
Swage Block
Blacksmith Tongs
Welding Gloves
Safety Glasses2
2
File and bevel
File and bevel
Anneal by cooling slowly in the ashes, then file the faces flat, file the side bevels, and file the edge bevel, leaving it a little thick.
Tools needed:
Metal File3
3
Harden and temper
Harden and temper
Heat the blade evenly to a cherry red and quench it in water. Polish it bright, then heat the back gently and quench again as soon as a dark straw colour reaches the edge.
Materials for this step:
Water10 litersTools needed:
Blacksmith Forge
Quench BucketBlacksmith TongsWelding GlovesSafety Glasses4
4
Handles
Handles
Turn hardwood handles, fit a brass ferrule at the front of each, drill a pilot hole and drive the tang in. Oil the handles.
Materials for this step:
Hardwood Strip2 pieces
Brass Sheet1 piece
Linseed Oil0.05 literTools needed:
Wood Lathe
Hand Drill5
5
Hone
Hone
Flatten each back on the stone and hone the bevel until a fine burr forms, then remove it.
Tools needed:
Whetstone 1000 Grit6
6
Temper colours
Temper colours
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Materials
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Tools Required
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