Japanese chisels vs. cocobolo, with lots of pics
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Dan Barr
I think that the whole japanese chisel issue can be summed up this way.
If you were to try to use a japanese chisel to chop a dovetail on cocobolo, you'd be up $#!+ creek after the first mallet blow. (much less lignum vitae)
I got curious after reading this in a previous thread about chisels. I finally had some time tonight to test out this proposition.
So here's the test set up. On the Japanese chisel side, a "delicate" 3 mm Imai bench chisel (oire nomi), about $50 from Hida Tool, which is the same cost as a 1/8" Lie-Nielsen bevel edge socket chisel. On the cocobolo side, a cocobolo bowl blank 2" thick. If you look closely, you'll be able to see how much I overpaid for this bowl blank. ;)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2355/...3fb5551bb0.jpg
I did a quick touch up of the chisel on a natural fine waterstone before starting. No chips here.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3078/...441c32cfac.jpg
I sawed the sides of the dovetail.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2375/...c38776af26.jpg
And started chopping.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2166/...7c24d2523c.jpg
Close up of the chisel stuck in the cocobolo after a good whack. Notice that the width of the place I'm chopping is actually twice as wide as the width of the chisel I'm using, so I'm really doing twice the chopping I would if I were using a properly sized chisel.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2008/...9f9fc7f7cd.jpg
After getting about halfway through, I started chopping from the other side.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2096/...7a50884e6e.jpg
All done! Total chopping time was a few minutes, not counting the time I took to take pictures.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/...f1eceab0a3.jpg
No chips in the chisel after cutting a 2" thick dovetail in cocobolo.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2192/...c347cd98e4.jpg
Here's what I think is the impressive part. I took a scrap piece of pine, and did some endgrain paring with this chisel, without any additional sharpening.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2096/...3f980762dc.jpg
So hopefully this will put to rest the question of whether a Japanese chisel can be used with very hard woods.
I guess I stand corrected
looks like that chisel did fine job on a dovetail. but, is ONE dovetail really putting anything to rest here? What is your bevel angle?
Thanks for taking a look into this though.
Dan