Mortising Chisels vs Bench Chisels

When it comes to hand tool woodworking one common question I get is which is better a mortise chisel or a bench chisel. time for the Smackdown! Mortising Chisels vs Bench Chisels do you follow Roy Underhill or Paul Sellers? both the mortise chisel and Behcn chisels can cut mortises but which one is better for it?

Paul sellers Chisel video: Mortising Chisels vs. Bench Chisels

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[rosshollinger]

Personally, I use morticians chisels. They're bad to the bone. You're right, though. Each will do the other's jobs to a point (sorry, had to do it).

[IveysFamilyFactotum]

Best part about being a blacksmith and a woodworker is I'm starting to make my own tools. I have actually already made my own 1/4" mortise chisel and it works great. Great video bud.

[MultiWarrior]

8mm mortise chisel is my most used. Good video

[tooljunkie]

I do like these videos I always learn something new. I made a mistake and bought a set of 3 mortise chisels and the half inch has been collecting dust for past 4 yrs.lol

[markharris]

I love how you got both the English spelling and the American all into one word at the beginning, now to sit back and watch all the people who don’t get the joke.

I bought two Marples morticing chisels off eBay, when they arrived they were beautifully sharpened and it showed me the difference between my sharpening at the time and proper sharpening. As always I asked the seller if they know the history of the tools and they were the lady who was selling them's father's. So I could assure her they would be respected. I never used the 1/2 inch to protect the sharpening and so I could use it as reference.

Now I’ve got some decent bench chisels I’m really into all chisels at the moment. I’ve even finally got my carving chisels sharp thanks to you. I love tools that slice wood, planes, chisels, spokeshaves and I think scrapers can sneak in, only because they’re a tool I like using. I need to buy a drawknife though I'm not too sure if the movement might be too much. I’ll try restricting movement like I do planes. I don’t like saws as I find the sawing action too painful because of my difficulties and I can’t really adapt that movement. That’s where power tools come in.

A great video as always James, thank you.

[magicdaveable]

Mortising Chisels cost more than twice as much. If you take your time with a mortise it can be accomplished with a bench chisel. My bench chisels are all Stanley and in excellent condition. I have had them for 55+ years. They were a gift from a cabinet maker "mentor" on my 15th birthday. I have cherished them and used then with careful precision over all of my life. I turned 70 this past May. I do have a couple mortising chisels that were hand forged by me while learning blacksmithing.

[maxblockwoodshop]

I almost never leave comments since English is not my mother tongue but I must confess that I envy your collection of planes and the way they are display on the background.
Also, very informative video. I use both. Usually whatever is closer to my bench 😁

[unclepewter]

I haven’t done mortises yet but I watched this to decide if I needed to get a mortise chisel or if I could do it with what I have. You have helped me a lot

[paulorchard]

I use both, mortise chisels to get the bulk done and clean up with beveled chisels, except for very wide or long mortises as my biggest chisels are all mortice chisels!

[scannon]

Thanks for the sober explanation, you rescued me from buying another damned tool, which as I’m sure you know is the first refuge of the flummoxed woodworker.

[tryingagain]

Nice thanks. Love my set from Lee valley, but yeah I tend to use 1/8, 1/4 and 5/16 most. Rest are waiting for when needed

[manifestgtr]

Ultimately, I tend to end up buying whatever makes a given job easiest. It’s a slow acquisition process, over the course of years....but look at it this way. You end up with more fun tools to nerd out with and easier jobs. Plus, for me, I can just write all of it off anyway. That’s the benefit of doing stuff like this for a living...

[HeartlandMakesAndOutdoors]

nicely done on this video sir. i was looking for the difference between butt, bench, and socket chisels, for common woodworkers just starting to dabble in mortise and tenon joints on small boxes etc.
thanks for sharing this video and have a blessed week
dale

[gnarthdarkanen]

As a guy who's been growing the hobby organically on a shoestring budget... AND thus, got all his mileage out of bench chisels (almost never in a set more organized than a bucket of rusted "huh?")...



I can honestly say, "Alright... You've sold me. I'll fire up the forge and see about making a few of those."


It might even be worth pointing out, since we ARE talking about the Hobby, here... If one did buy those mortising chisels in a set, rather than the consequence being "spending money on a couple sizes of chisel you're never going to use"... MAYBE it could be "You'll find yourself making any excuse to chop out a bigger mortise sooner than later... just to see if you can!" ;o)

[timort]

Seen a few of your videos today. And meet a devoted hand plane collector who was checking out my 1938 14 hand plane I picked up before I got set up today. You're not big on power tools I can respect that how do you feel about using power to burn wood? The electrocuted wood? After doing that kinda work a hand plane really get a dead flat side quick. So thank you. You have some very helpful advice

[MillerWoodcraft]

this is a great topic, for along time I didnt know the distinction

[johnwillis]

The place to buy vintage chisels, planes, screwdrivers etc is a UK company called Tooltique. They ship worldwide and you will pay less than you would on eBay

[ryanallthewiser]

Great show and good commentary on the pig stickers!!

[Gwynbuck]

Forgive me if I've posted this before, but according to the London School of Furniture, you should always sharpen chisels and planes using a sharpening gauge because that way you get consistency. I like Veritas gauges, I especially like the one that holds narrow bladed chisels. I haven't used it yet to sharpen my mortice chisel ( I rarely use it) but I will, and let you know how I get on if you like. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us mere mortals. Cheers, Gwyn

[sheepewe]

Great explanation! Thank you for showing and tell.