A quick question on skew chisels

[carlb40]

Just wondering if the angle of the skew makes a difference? I notice a lot of companies use a 20 degree angle, yet Narex state theirs are ground to 30 degrees.

The reason i ask is i will probably be getting some later in the year. More than likely Narex to go with my current set. But will make my own from some of their standard 8116 (natural) as i haven't seen any in those handles, just a horrible mid brown dyed version. :roll:

 

[AndyT]

Presumably you are not talking about a turning skew chisel?
There are two angles that could be mentioned to describe a skew chisel - the angle by which the cutting edge differs from straight across, and the angle by which the cutting edge is ground ( sharpened) which would normally be 30 degrees.

I can't see the need for skew chisels myself. I think they are quite a recent introduction.

 

[Peter Sefton]

The angle on the skew depends on what work you are looking to do with it, if it's only for cleaning out lapped dovetails 1:8 is about 8 degrees, 1:5 is about 11 degrees from memory. I am sure someone will correct me on those guesses. I have some of the Narex Premium Skew chisel's in the store room that I have re handled in Boxwood as I am also not so keen on the stained handles. They have never been used it was just a little study of mine in how you can improve the already good chisels by swapping handles, something we do on our 8112 Mortice chisels for those customers as fussy as me. PM me if we can help or as you say regrind 8116's to match at whatever angle (suits you sir)
Cheers Peter

 

[carlb40]

Presumably you are not talking about a turning skew chisel?
There are two angles that could be mentioned to describe a skew chisel - the angle by which the cutting edge differs from straight across, and the angle by which the cutting edge is ground ( sharpened) which would normally be 30 degrees.

I can't see the need for skew chisels myself. I think they are quite a recent introduction.

Sorry i should have stated the cutting edge rather than the bevel angle.
I did google it, but all that came up was skew chisels for turning. :roll:

 

[carlb40]

The angle on the skew depends on what work you are looking to do with it, if it's only for cleaning out lapped dovetails 1:8 is about 8 degrees, 1:5 is about 11 degrees from memory. I am sure someone will correct me on those guesses. I have some of the Narex Premium Skew chisel's in the store room that I have re handled in Boxwood as I am also not so keen on the stained handles. They have never been used it was just a little study of mine in how you can improve the already good chisels by swapping handles, something we do on our 8112 Mortice chisels for those customers as fussy as me. PM me if we can help or as you say regrind 8116's to match at whatever angle (suits you sir)
Cheers Peter

Thank you Peter. I'm not quite sure what they will be used for just yet. Could be used for general purpose cleaning up. I could have done with a pair today to make life easier chopping out for the spine in my saw handle LOL.

Not sure i would like the shiny premium chisels, they wouldn't match my standard 8116 ones

I quite like the handles on the 8112's it suits them, seeing other versions with the handles from the 8116 series - they seem to be mismatched LOL

 

[Peter Sefton]

I also like to have sets of chisels that match, it shouldn't matter but it does The 8112 with black handles are perfectly serviceable we have sets of them in our students tool kits and not many customers opt for the Boxwood versions but it offers choice if desired.
Cheers Peter

 

[carlb40]

Cool so i'm not the only one who likes matching chisels

Hmmmm you have got me thinking now on the handle front. I just rechecked the skew chisels on ebay and the handles are a different style to the 8116 natural. :-k

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Some time ago (can't remember when!) I asked why some manufacturers supply skew chisels with 45 degree skew angles - that's far steeper than lap dovetails need for cleaning out. The answer apparently is that some cabinetmakers like to clean up protruding tenons and such like after assembly with a paring chisel, and the 45 degree skew gives a cleaner finish. Left and right for opposite sides of the tenon, of course. Something of a specialist application, that one.

I've ground my skews at just over 10 degrees. In a fit of madness many moons ago, I equipped myself with a pair of 1/4" and a pair of 1/2". In retrospect, I'd have been better off with just one pair, of either 1/4" or 3/8". There again, I've only ever used them for lapped dovetails, never having incorporated a protruding tenon in anything!

Edit to add - something I've just remembered about 45 degree skews - the idea is so that the chisel blade and handle can be parallel to the carcase side (or whatever) whilst paring chamfers on protruding tenons and thus your hands are braced against the job. Using an ordinary chisel with the edge at 45 degrees to the tenon end would mean the handle being up in the air, so your hands could not brace against anything, so you run the risk of digging a corner of the chisel edge into the finished cabinet side.

 

[David C]

My 1/4" skew chisels are set at 1 in 6, which is the angle I use for carcass dovetails, as suggested by Joyce.

If you have a grinder, there is no need to buy anything special. Just modify regular chisels, (with care regarding overheating).

David Charlesworth

 

[Jacob]

Yes, or manage without them altogether, they are by no means essential.
It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that because these things exist, they are necessary. No doubt they are available in sets! :lol:

 

[Racers]

You could knock one up from some Ground flat stock


They are very handy things for half blind dovetails.


Pete

 

[bugbear]

Yes, or manage without them altogether, they are by no means essential.

Would you kindly describe your process of cleaning waste from the corners of lap dovetails?
On the face of it, there does seem to be an obvious difficulty, which is nicely addressed by some of the chisels described in this thread.

BugBear

 

[carlb40]

Some time ago (can't remember when!) I asked why some manufacturers supply skew chisels with 45 degree skew angles - that's far steeper than lap dovetails need for cleaning out. The answer apparently is that some cabinetmakers like to clean up protruding tenons and such like after assembly with a paring chisel, and the 45 degree skew gives a cleaner finish. Left and right for opposite sides of the tenon, of course. Something of a specialist application, that one.

I've ground my skews at just over 10 degrees. In a fit of madness many moons ago, I equipped myself with a pair of 1/4" and a pair of 1/2". In retrospect, I'd have been better off with just one pair, of either 1/4" or 3/8". There again, I've only ever used them for lapped dovetails, never having incorporated a protruding tenon in anything!

Edit to add - something I've just remembered about 45 degree skews - the idea is so that the chisel blade and handle can be parallel to the carcase side (or whatever) whilst paring chamfers on protruding tenons and thus your hands are braced against the job. Using an ordinary chisel with the edge at 45 degrees to the tenon end would mean the handle being up in the air, so your hands could not brace against anything, so you run the risk of digging a corner of the chisel edge into the finished cabinet side.

Thank you.
One of the skew chisels i found was being used to clean up a tenon shoulder

 

[carlb40]

My 1/4" skew chisels are set at 1 in 6, which is the angle I use for carcass dovetails, as suggested by Joyce.

If you have a grinder, there is no need to buy anything special. Just modify regular chisels, (with care regarding overheating).

David Charlesworth

Thank you David. I had no intention of buying skews, as said my intention would be to grind my own

 

[carlb40]

You could knock one up from some Ground flat stock


They are very handy things for half blind dovetails.


Pete

Thank you Pete.

I don't really like the look of fishtails I know it shouldn't make a difference, but it does.

 

[carlb40]

Yes, or manage without them altogether, they are by no means essential.

Would you kindly describe your process of cleaning waste from the corners of lap dovetails?
On the face of it, there does seem to be an obvious difficulty, which is nicely addressed by some of the chisels described in this thread.

BugBear

Pretty sure he covered that last year in one of the sharpening/ out of square edge threads.

I started this thread to ask on specific skew angles. If jacob wishes to answer your question, he can start his own thread on it.

 

[Jacob]

Take my word for it - it can be done.
Have a go yourself, I guess you never have done a blind dovetail socket.

 

[bugbear]

Yes, or manage without them altogether, they are by no means essential.

Would you kindly describe your process of cleaning waste from the corners of lap dovetails?
On the face of it, there does seem to be an obvious difficulty, which is nicely addressed by some of the chisels described in this thread.

BugBear

Pretty sure he covered that last year in one of the sharpening/ out of square edge threads.

It's very rare for Jacob to actually describe technique - and a quick google doesn't show anything positive.

I started this thread to ask on specific skew angles. If jacob wishes to answer your question, he can start his own thread on it.

Jacob says the correct angle is 90 degrees. ;-)

BugBear

 

[Jacob]

.....
Jacob says the correct angle is 90 degrees. ;-)

BugBear

No I didn't say that. You are getting in to troll mode again BB - have you stopped taking the pills?

 

[bugbear]

.....
Jacob says the correct angle is 90 degrees. ;-)

BugBear

No I didn't say that. You are getting in to troll mode again BB - have you stopped taking the pills?

I could simply do without your repeitive negativity:

.. I will keep banging on in the same vein, 'til the cows come home!

BugBear