Any book or DVD on the subject of where to start. Do I use A36 steel, how to I shape them etc...


Thanks in advance for your input


Dan

A good place to start on the shapes is a woodworking catalog. No reason to reinvent the wheel, use what already works. Not sure about the books and DVD's, but there are several wood workers on IFI that might know.

It would be better to find some O1 or 1095 steel. A36 does not have enough carbon to make a knife. You want something that keeps a keen edge to cut cleanly instead of tear the wood. You can file them to shape then use different grades of sandpaper to clean them up. Heat treat them for them to keep the edge you need.

Dan,

You might want to try making a few out of old files first just to get the hang of it. I have bought them in second hand stores for $.50 a piece. I made wood turning chisels and scrapers from. Just a thought.


LarryM

Awsome Idea to try from old files. Cheap way to practice

I will also get some proper steel to make the chisel when I get better at it


Thanks again


Dan

When forging chisels it's best to remove the teeth first so they don't propagate cracks into the piece.

Alexander Weygers discusses woodworking chisels in depth in "The Complete Modern Blacksmith"

I've got "The Complete Modern Blacksmith" out of the library right now (for about the third time).

Thomas is right; it is definitive on chisel making.

You can buy W1 tool steel in 3 foot rods in 1/4" and 1/2" diameters. Easy to forge, easy to heat treat. Woodcarving illustrated had an article on making carving tools about 5 years ago and that is what finally pushed me into smithing. Weigers book is good, too.