sharpen

Key Techniques

A dull chisel edge will look flat and reflect light. It also may have nicks in it. Drip a pool of oil on a whetstone. Brace the whetstone firmly on a flat surface. Hold the chisel bevel-face-down, at an angle slightly steeper than the bevel, so you are not grinding the entire beveled face. Grind by pressing gently and moving back and forth.

smooth

Turn the chisel over and lay its flat side on the whetstone. Add more oil if the stone is dry or if a thick paste has built up. Hone the flat side by pressing gently, moving the chisel with a circular motion. You don't want to grind a new cutting edge on this side; only remove the burrs created after grinding the beveled face.

notch

Set your circular saw blade to the desired depth of the notch and make cuts at the top and bottom of the notch. If the notch is wide, make one or more cuts in the center of the notch as well. Position the chisel with the bevel outward. Begin cutting at a slight outward angle that gets flatter as you proceed.

mortise

It is difficult to chisel deeply into a narrow board without splintering it. Begin by drilling a series of adjacent holes within the scored outline of the mortise. If possible, use a drill bit that is the same diameter as the width of the mortise. Finish the cut with a chisel, holding the beveled face toward the inside of the mortise as you gently tap.