Workshop Tip: Flip any chisel right into a dovetail chisel

A dovetail chisel has angled sides, letting it nestle properly into the nook of a dovetail socket. Commonplace bench chisels have flat areas on the sides, referred to as “lands,” which forestall them from working all the way in which into the corners, and may make apparent dents there. To show a bench chisel right into a dovetail chisel, many of us use a bench grinder, which requires a gentle hand to provide a easy, even consequence. A stationary belt sander makes the job quite a bit simpler. Begin by creating an angled mattress as proven, utilizing a bit of plywood. The angle of the mattress ought to match or exceed your favored dovetail angle. Slide the chisel ahead and again towards the belt, with a light-weight contact, and cease simply because the angled aspect reaches the underside of the chisel. You’ll love the outcomes. For Japanese chisels, you should utilize a black-oxide coating or different patina answer to show the freshly floor metallic black.

—DEREK COHEN, Rossmoyne, Western Australia

Illustrations by Dan Thornton
From Tremendous Woodworking situation #299