DIY skew chisels?

[Eric The Viking]

There has to be a catch I haven't spotted...

... what's to stop me getting an inexpensive bevel-edged chisel, either s/h or from somewhere like Lidl, and grinding a skew on the end (re-tempering if necessary)?

Instinct tells me there has to be a reason not to do this, but I'm not presently sure what that might be.

DIve in, but if I'm being stupid, please be gentle

E.

 

[Racers]

Nothing to stop you at all.

Pete

 

[marcros]

it has been done before on here. Pete Maddox possibly, and if I recall correctly with aldi or lidl chisels. There may be more than one thread, the 2 variables may not be connected.

 

[marcros]

not quite right but this may help a-quick-question-on-skew-chisels-t76518.html?hilit=lidl%20skew

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I have used a pair of red and yellow Marples ground like that for 35yrs. The only thing I'd say is that I don't see any point in grinding them at more than about twenty degrees - some commercial ones are ground at forty five.

 

[Eric The Viking]

I have used a pair of red and yellow Marples ground like that for 35yrs. The only thing I'd say is that I don't see any point in grinding them at more than about twenty degrees - some commercial ones are ground at forty five.

I was thinking on similar lines - perhaps slightly more, say 30deg, but 45 seems silly, not least because of the sideways force that would make it harder to control. I was also going to go for 1/4" or 3/8"(tops), as I want them for cleaning up dovetails mainly, not heavy work.

I think I'll go a-car-booting (or perhaps just round the secondhand shops locally), and see what I can find.

Thanks everyone.

E.

 

[bugbear]

I have used a pair of red and yellow Marples ground like that for 35yrs. The only thing I'd say is that I don't see any point in grinding them at more than about twenty degrees - some commercial ones are ground at forty five.

I was thinking on similar lines - perhaps slightly more, say 30deg, but 45 seems silly, not least because of the sideways force that would make it harder to control. I was also going to go for 1/4" or 3/8"(tops), as I want them for cleaning up dovetails mainly, not heavy work.

I think I'll go a-car-booting (or perhaps just round the secondhand shops locally), and see what I can find.

Thanks everyone.

E.

Don't forget the rule of bulk grinding; keep the edge as thick as possible as long as possible. Thin metal heats up very quickly.

BugBear

 

[Eric The Viking]

Don't forget the rule of bulk grinding; keep the edge as thick as possible as long as possible. Thin metal heats up very quickly.

BugBear

Thanks - good point. I've got a wet grinder, bought after a 'learning experience' ;-)

E.

 

[Racers]

it has been done before on here. Pete Maddox possibly, and if I recall correctly with aldi or lidl chisels. There may be more than one thread, the 2 variables may not be connected.

Pete Maddox? his name is very like mine :wink:

Mine is a very unusual spelling, I am the only Peter Maddex in the country!

Pete

 

[bugbear]

it has been done before on here. Pete Maddox possibly, and if I recall correctly with aldi or lidl chisels. There may be more than one thread, the 2 variables may not be connected.

Pete Maddox? his name is very like mine :wink:

Mine is a very unusual spelling, I am the only Peter Maddex in the country!

Pete

I've done enough genealogy to know that most spellings are a matter of whoever/whenever first
wrote the name down, which is often quite late. But they often change quite a lot even after that.

BugBear

 

[marcros]

it has been done before on here. Pete Maddox possibly, and if I recall correctly with aldi or lidl chisels. There may be more than one thread, the 2 variables may not be connected.

Pete Maddox? his name is very like mine :wink:

Mine is a very unusual spelling, I am the only Peter Maddex in the country!

Pete

woops!

 

[Racers]

it has been done before on here. Pete Maddox possibly, and if I recall correctly with aldi or lidl chisels. There may be more than one thread, the 2 variables may not be connected.

Pete Maddox? his name is very like mine :wink:

Mine is a very unusual spelling, I am the only Peter Maddex in the country!

Pete

woops!

Not a problem it happens a lot.

Pete

 

[Paul Chapman]

... what's to stop me getting an inexpensive bevel-edged chisel, either s/h or from somewhere like Lidl, and grinding a skew on the end ?

Exactly what I did with a couple of sets from Lidl



Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Yea!!! I have an £8 Aldi set! I'll have to get another!

 

[rafezetter]

I saw this link only last night doing exactly this and a fishtail - starting with old vintage chisels:

http://lumberjocks.com/mafe/blog/20478

 

[gregmcateer]

Would these be ok for making the tenon for chucking when turning, or is that a no-no?
TIA
Greg

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Not perfect, but if the recess was already turned why not? It's only a tiny bit to dovetail it.

 

[Eric The Viking]

... what's to stop me getting an inexpensive bevel-edged chisel, either s/h or from somewhere like Lidl, and grinding a skew on the end ?

Exactly what I did with a couple of sets from Lidl

Great minds 'n'all!

I just need to watch for the offer now...

E.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

There has to be a catch I haven't spotted...

... what's to stop me getting an inexpensive bevel-edged chisel, either s/h or from somewhere like Lidl, and grinding a skew on the end (re-tempering if necessary)?

Instinct tells me there has to be a reason not to do this, but I'm not presently sure what that might be.

DIve in, but if I'm being stupid, please be gentle

E.

If you're thinking of lapped dovetails, you've got three options, really.

1) A fishtail chisel - grind from something like a 3/8" firmer, or buy new.

2) A pair of skews, left and right. Grind from cheap 1/4" firmers or b/e chisels - or buy new.

3) Use a small (1/8") b/e or firmer to clean out the last of the waste in the socket corners. You end up with a slight cut into the backwall of the socket, but that'll not show once the joint is assembled.

Option 3 is probably the cheapest (since you'll more than likely already have a 1/8" chisel), the other two are 'neater' - but is neatness really necessary in this case?

There are other uses for skew chisels, but not many. I won't bother repeating, since a thread giving details has already been linked to.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

The Aldi ones have had write ups that are brilliant for an £8 set of four. Their F clamps are good too.