How Do You Use Carving Chisels Safely and Efficiently?
Woodwork, metal, and stone carving require many tools. Most of the work is done with the help of carving chisels used to cut, carve or shape materials. They are available to use by hand and or electronically. While some people struggle with carving chisels, others can use them freely and precisely.
There are many types of chisels available in the market, with many of them having different purposes, but most fall under these three categories: fishtail, skew and straight.
Safety Precautions for Using Chisels
Before learning how to use chisels, you need to make sure you’re taking all the necessary measures to keep yourself safe:
- Always wear eyeglasses to protect your eyes from any shards or chips that may fly off towards your face.
- Consider investing in thumb guards to keep your hands protected from any accidental slips of the chisel.
- Use a face screen if you are working with a material that is releasing a lot of debris into the air.
- Ensure you’re wearing a facemask to protect your lungs from inhaling air that has small particles of debris in it.
How To Use Chisels Properly
Below are a few ways to use carving chisels safely and efficiently:
1. Choosing the right materials
With so many available in the market, it is best to remember that thicker materials require stronger carving chisels while smaller or thinner materials require lighter chisels. Using a heavy carving tool for a light material might make the material crack or break.
2. Try mortise cut
The mortise is commonly used in furniture and is one of the strongest joints in woodworking. Its method is very similar to peeling. It is done by facing the bevel down and peeling slices of the material. You can control the amount of depth to slice by raising or lowering the chisel.
3. Concentrate
Many disasters happen when we aren’t paying attention. For example, your gloves can be cut through if the blades are strong enough and often the material you are cutting can slip. So, consider always keeping the blade side facing and never towards your chest.
4. Sharpen your tools
Dull carving chisels are dangerous tools because you will put too much pressure on the chisel, which might make the material, or worse, the chisel break. Consider investing in sharpening tools. Try to go for chisels that have retractable or changeable blades so that you can buy ones of your liking in the future as well.
5. Scraping
When scraping, try to position the carving chisel vertically to make the material smoother when carving. Scraping is also the best way to bring dimension to your work. You can give it edges or round up the corners quickly by this method.
6. Lighting and workplace
Make sure your workplace is brightly lit and isn’t cluttered or messy. Lighting is crucial so you can see the details clearly and work on your project. Unorganized workplaces tend to get you injured while simply looking around for tools or such.
7. Have a clear mind while carving
Carving is a slow yet fun process that takes time to see the results, so frustrations and mind-occupying thoughts are better avoided. A mind filled with thoughts is a disaster in workplaces where you work with tools like carving chisels because one slip could lead to an injury.
Final Thoughts
With our help, you can expand your inventory in chisels, knowing which ones to go for your work. Always make sure to wear masks and goggles while working.