Chisel

[SteveF]

got a ward w&p 1 3\4" chisel today for 30p at boot fair today
it is chipped about 2mm in corner of cutting edge
sorry cant upload picture at the moment

it is blunt but clean

should i grind back to a straight edge or just sharpen and ignore the chip ?

 

[AndyT]

Unless your intended use needs the whole width of the blade - which is unlikely - I see no disadvantage in taking the easy way - so just keep sharpening and using it until you naturally sharpen past the chip. That's probably what I would do, provided it's a small chip.

But if it bothers you, grind it straight across, put a new bevel on, then hone using your preferred method.

 

[SteveF]

thx Andy

I was hoping for that response

no angle grinder and am waiting for a new belt for belt sander

 

[AndyT]

For sharpening chisels, there's actually no need for a grinder at all. I wouldn't attempt to use an angle grinder - you get different speeds on different parts of the disc and there is no way to hold it down safely. A belt sander is said to be ok but don't let grinding sparks ignite any dust left from sanding wood.

If you don't want to buy a bench grinder, you can make do with coarse abrasive paper on a block of wood, or buy a coarse (=cheap!) oilstone. That's what I did for years - it just takes a little longer. I now have a bench grinder but hardly every use it for wood chisels.

 

[SteveF]

i have a cheap stone i have no use for but reckon would take an hour to rub off 2mm

 

[Phil Pascoe]

If you've a lathe , glue some Alox to a plywood disc - I've done this for decades.

 

[SteveF]

new belt arrived for belt sander so i will "grind" it back with some 60 grit

 

[Corneel]

Don't overheat it.

 

[SteveF]

i seem to be getting a few ward chisels so may start a collection and not want to kill this one

including a massive pig sticker

i am now wondering if i make matching handles...or is that geeky \ weird ?

 

[bugbear]

Unless your intended use needs the whole width of the blade - which is unlikely - I see no disadvantage in taking the easy way - so just keep sharpening and using it until you naturally sharpen past the chip. That's probably what I would do, provided it's a small chip.

But if it bothers you, grind it straight across, put a new bevel on, then hone using your preferred method.

If the chip was a nick in the middle, I'd agree, but the corners of a chisel are very often used when cleaning up joints, so I suspect grinding is called for.

BugBear