Tool Talk

Woodworking Forum => Woodworking Forum => Topic started by: lptools on September 21, 2019, 09:02:23 AM

Title: !/2" Solid Steel Mortise Chisel
Post by: lptools on September 21, 2019, 09:02:23 AM
Hello, This came in today, 1/2" width Mortise Chisel, 12" long, octagon handle.  This is the first one I have seen. No visible markings. Regards, Lou
Title: Re: !/2" Solid Steel Mortise Chisel
Post by: Bill Houghton on September 21, 2019, 03:01:16 PM
Never seen a mortise pattern in solid steel before.  I've owned some solid steel carpenter's chisels over the years.  Sears offered them for a while, for people who didn't want to worry about breaking the handles; but the Stanley No. 60 carpenter's chisel is such a good tool that I never felt motivated to sharpen up the Sears tools, so I released them into the wild again.
Title: Re: !/2" Solid Steel Mortise Chisel
Post by: lptools on September 21, 2019, 03:07:21 PM
Hello, Bill. Thanks!! Any thoughts on origin, or, maker? It looks pretty symmetrical , so I am guessing this is not a one-off. Somewhere around here is a set of Craftsman or Mayhew Solid Steel Chisels, I believe these were meant for some heavy duty chopping. Regards,Lou
Title: Re: !/2" Solid Steel Mortise Chisel
Post by: Lewill2 on September 21, 2019, 03:46:53 PM
Are you sure it isn't a cold chisel for cutting exhaust systems apart? The back end looks like it has been hit pretty hard to mushroom the end like that.
Title: Re: !/2" Solid Steel Mortise Chisel
Post by: lptools on September 21, 2019, 05:27:26 PM
Hello, Lewill2. I am never sure about anything!!! The side profile leads me to believe it is shaped like a mortise chisel for wood. You are correct, the end is badly mushroomed, most likely from being struck with a steel hammer. Who knows what the former owner used this for!! I will see if I can find another mortise chisel to compare, or maybe it's time for me to go to the mechanics' catalogs!! Regards, Lou
Title: Re: !/2" Solid Steel Mortise Chisel
Post by: lptools on September 22, 2019, 10:45:07 AM
Here are a couple profiles of mortise chisels. I am still looking for a cold chisel ( for steel) that has this shape. Regards, Lou
Title: Re: !/2" Solid Steel Mortise Chisel
Post by: lazyassforge on September 22, 2019, 11:29:35 AM
Could that be a cape chisel? I believe they were used for cutting key ways. Th
Bill D.
Title: Re: !/2" Solid Steel Mortise Chisel
Post by: lptools on September 22, 2019, 12:04:29 PM
Hello, Bill D. I looked at Cape Chisels.Their profile to me looks more like a spear head.The flat back of the one that I have seems to run somewhat parallel to the handle, and that area is a lot longer than on most cold chisels.This could have been modified by the former owner, Thanks, Lou
Title: Re: !/2" Solid Steel Mortise Chisel
Post by: papadan on September 22, 2019, 12:33:01 PM
That is a Cape chisel, I have several that I used in my work on heavy equipment to clean out key ways and get into tight spaces behind bearings.
Title: Re: !/2" Solid Steel Mortise Chisel
Post by: lptools on September 22, 2019, 05:09:00 PM
Hello, Dan. Thanks for the reply.  I would love to see a picture of a cape chisel, or a half round nose chisel,  or any other cold chisel , that resembles the one that I posted.The longest cape chisel that I found in an old Mayhew Catalog is 8" overall. The one that I posted is 12" long overall. The area that could be sharpened on the one that I posted is 6-3/4" long, that alone is longer than the overall length of a common cape chisel. I am still looking in the chisel area for a Timber Framer's Mortise Chisel. It will most likely have a socket and a handle, but I want to compare blade profiles. The photo is from the Mayhew Catalog, 2nd from left is a cape chisel, notice how the top & bottom of the blade area both taper toward the center line of the handle, mine does not. 2nd photo shows an All Steel Wood Chisel, longest one on that page is 11", so I know someone didn't grind one down to make this one. Regards, Lou :grin:
Title: Re: !/2" Solid Steel Mortise Chisel
Post by: Bill Houghton on September 23, 2019, 09:27:39 AM
Nothing to contribute to the question of what your chisel is, but I wonder where the "cape" in "cape chisel" came from?  The online dictionary suggests maybe it comes from the geographic use of the word "cape," as a peninsula jutting into the water, but I'm skeptical - the overall shape of a cape chisel is not different from that of other specialty metalworking chisels.
Title: Re: !/2" Solid Steel Mortise Chisel
Post by: papadan on September 23, 2019, 12:06:24 PM
Lou, at 1/2" wide you do have a big one. Most of mine are 1/8 -1/4" wide. Not sure what My biggest is, have to get out there and find out.
Title: Re: !/2" Solid Steel Mortise Chisel
Post by: lptools on September 23, 2019, 02:29:05 PM
Hello, Dan. This is getting too personal!!!  :grin:  Let's call it a Cape Chisel!!! Regards, Lou