Chisel steel...What type?

[Grit Monkey]

Hello all.

I'm a Joiner by trade and came across a job the other day that required a longer than usual wood chisel so I've decided to make what I need. But I don't know what steel to use to make a chisel from or where to source the steel from.

Any advice gratefully received.

Cheers,

Martin.

 

[Paul.]

I would use gauge plate, available in various sizes, have a look at cromwell tools here or find a local engineers merchant.
you will need to harden and temper the cutting edge, but easy enough to do.

 

[Grit Monkey]

Thanks Paul,
I already have a couple of sets of Marples chisels http://www.cromwell.co.uk/MAR5973121M but they aren't long enough. To give an idea the locks that i fitted had lock bodies of 8" long so couldn't chisel the mortice properly hence my wanting to make my own.

 

[bigbadbugga]

Couldn't you cut the handle off an old chisel and just weld on a longer shank?

 

[GrahamGKD]

Could you grind one from an old file? Looking at your latest post I presume it is a mortise chisel of specific width that you need, in which case the file approach could be hard work unless you have a file about the right width? I have used silver steel a quite lot in the past, although not for a chisel - a quick look on google has brought up a wide range of silver steel and tool steels.
Hope this helps,
Graham.

 

[Grit Monkey]

I don't have any "old" chisels, they are bevelled for soft and hardwoods respectively.

Graham, I had thought about going down the old file route but would be a bit weary about the steel being a bit too brittle?

 

[GrahamGKD]

I don't have any "old" chisels, they are bevelled for soft and hardwoods respectively.

Graham, I had thought about going down the old file route but would be a bit weary about the steel being a bit too brittle?

I agree, brittleness could be an issue, particularly if it a mortise chisel you will be giving a bit of welly. I guess if you had a suitable donor file you could test it for brittleness first (load it as it will be loaded in use)? I have some wood turning chisels which have been made from files and they have been fine.
Graham.

 

[Grit Monkey]

I agree, brittleness could be an issue, particularly if it a mortise chisel you will be giving a bit of welly. I guess if you had a suitable donor file you could test it for brittleness first (load it as it will be loaded in use)? I have some wood turning chisels which have been made from files and they have been fine.
Graham.

I think i have one knocking about the shop that i could use i just don't know if the sides are parallel, i guess taking the cutting edge off the file wouldn't be too much of a problem?

 

[GrahamGKD]

I'm not sure how much work it would be - I guess it will depend on what grinding tools you have to hand and how course a file it was. All of the tools I have which were made from files were made by my old man and, sadly, he is not around to ask how long he toiled over them. Is this chisel for long term use or just for a one off job? If the latter, then presumably you wouldn't need to be too fussy about cleaning up the back edge. Be careful not to let the file get too hot when grinding.
Graham.

 

[brightspark]

I think i have one knocking about the shop that i could use i just don't know if the sides are parallel, i guess taking the cutting edge off the file wouldn't be too much of a problem?

take the sides down on a belt or disc sander to true it up and get the serations off an ali oxide belt or disk will rub it off and sharpen the end no probs

 

[GrahamGKD]

.... there's always the option of something like this:

http://www.westyorkssteel.com/ground_flat_stock.html

No prices listed though - you may run up against minimum order quantities or the like? This supplier mentions half metre lengths for the metric.
Graham.

 

[Grit Monkey]

At the moment it's for a one off, i have 15 doors with locks to fit but i'm sure that it would come in handy at other times in my career.

Well i guess i'll be off to the car boot at the weekend i'm also going to go to a car boot at the weekend and see if i can pick up some choked up files and maybe a bigger bench grinder than the argos special i have now!

Thanks for the input anyway, i'll take some pics as i progress and if all works out well i'll post them.

 

[Grit Monkey]

.... there's always the option of something like this:

http://www.westyorkssteel.com/ground_flat_stock.html

No prices listed though - you may run up against minimum order quantities or the like? This supplier mentions half metre lengths for the metric.
Graham.

I've saw that when i googled, it just so happens i'm working in the same town they are located.

 

[mike os]

Might be worth givin these guys a shout, usually have a few old & long chisels etc.

My first choice would be the second link

http://www.oldtoolstore.co.uk/
http://www.antiquetools.co.uk/toolbox.php?category=Axes, chisels etc

 

[GrahamGKD]

Let us know how you get on. If you go the tool steel route clearly you will need to harden and temper when you are done. For silver steel I've always heated to cherry red and then plunged into waste oil - job done. I believe the proper way would be to harden by plunging in water and then 'temper' it back by re heating to a specific colour (straw?) and then allowing to cool slowly - I'm a bit vague on that one though - someone on here will know?
If it is a mortise chisel I guess you will need a decent length tang up into the handle and a ring top and bottom of the handle to stop it splitting?
Sounds like an interesting little project.
Good Luck,
Graham.

 

[Grit Monkey]

Thanks, it is quite an interesting little project.
A full tang would be preferable but i have a bit of hardwood in the shop i can make a handle with, also as you say, a ferrule top and bottom of the handle would be the order of the day.

 

[pedrobedro]

You could use O1 tool steel ground flat stock from Cromwell. You can grind it to shape and heat treat it with a blowlamp then quench to harden and temper in a domestic oven at something like 250° for an hour. I've made a few knives from it and it's available in various sizes. A file will need annealing overnight before it can be worked as it is hardened but it has to be the right kind of file as newer ones are just surface hardened not all the way through. Nicholson are good for the job. Cromwell link.

 

[GrahamGKD]

I suspect that when my old man made tools from files he just worked them in the hardened state, being careful not to get them so hot when grinding as to start any annealing process. Not sure though.
Graham.

 

[graffian]

What about old leaf spring?

 

[Pete.]

What about getting some 1/2" silver steel, forging the end to a chisel shape and harden&temper?