Top 3 Mortise chisel sizes

[JohnMorgan of Lititz]

I received a LN gift cert. for Christmas and I really need some mortise chisels. I don't want to spring for the whole set since I need to buy a 4.5 smoother too. So, I was wondering if you had to choose two or three chisels, what sizes would you go with?

The needs will be for smaller furniture like end tables, coffee tables and the like. I envision 1/2", 3/8", and 1/4" being the most common sizes needed and 1/2 and 3/8 the top two. Am i thinking along the right lines?

[Terry Beadle]

Most furnature projects use 4 qtr and 5 qtr stock. Therefore I'd go with the 3/8ths.

The 1/4 is good for thinner projects but since it's smaller, you can get away with a 1/4 inch bench chisel.

JM2C

[Robert Rozaieski]

In general, when chopping a mortise you're going to use a chisel about 1/3 the width of the mortise stock. That means for typical 3/4" thick stock you want a 1/4" chisel, for 7/8"-1" thick stock you want a 5/16" chisel and for stock thicker than 1" up to about 1-1/4 you want a 3/8" chisel. Unless you chop a lot of mortises in thick stock, like 1-1/2" and up, you won't use a 1/2" mortise chisel much. But when you do work stock this thick (like heavy table legs for things like dining tables, you need a 1/2" chisel as the joints in these heavy pieces typically see a lot of stress.

If you are going to go with 2 chisels, I would go with 1/4" and 3/8". If you can swing 3 chisels I would say 1/4", 5/16" and 3/8" unless you will do a lot of heavy tables and worbench type pieces, in which case, substitute the 1/2" for the 5/16".

[JohnMorgan of Lititz]

Thanks, guys. That's exactly the advice i was looking for.

Cheers!

[Danny Thompson]

3/8, 1/4, 1/2

[Wilbur Pan]

I would add that if you have a plow plane or (God forbid) a favorite router bit size for making grooves, having a mortise chisel that matches the width of your groove is real useful for frame and panel work.

[lowell holmes]

I agree with Robert. I have the 1/4 and 3/8 LN mortrice chisels. I use them both frequently.

I have a 1/2" chisel that is called a mortise chisel, but it doesn't come close to the LN chisels. I don't need the 1/2" mortise chisel often.

[Jack Camillo]

In general, when chopping a mortise you're going to use a chisel about 1/3 the width of the mortise stock. That means for typical 3/4" thick stock you want a 1/4" chisel, for 7/8"-1" thick stock you want a 5/16" chisel and for stock thicker than 1" up to about 1-1/4 you want a 3/8" chisel. Unless you chop a lot of mortises in thick stock, like 1-1/2" and up, you won't use a 1/2" mortise chisel much. But when you do work stock this thick (like heavy table legs for things like dining tables, you need a 1/2" chisel as the joints in these heavy pieces typically see a lot of stress.

If you are going to go with 2 chisels, I would go with 1/4" and 3/8". If you can swing 3 chisels I would say 1/4", 5/16" and 3/8" unless you will do a lot of heavy tables and worbench type pieces, in which case, substitute the 1/2" for the 5/16".

My sentiments exactly

[JohnMorgan of Lititz]

What's a router?


I would add that if you have a plow plane or (God forbid) a favorite router bit size for making grooves, having a mortise chisel that matches the width of your groove is real useful for frame and panel work.





joking! :)

Looks like the 1/4 and 3/8 are the one's to have. I believe I'll start there. Seems for what i'm going to be doing, that will cover the bases for now.

Thanks again!

[Derek Cohen]

Unless you are making tables (and even then ...) ...

If you buy three mortice chisels, get 1/4", 5/16" and 3/8" (as Robert suggested).

If you buy two mortice chisels, get 1/4" and 5/16".

If you buy one mortice chisel, get a 1/4".

If you really must make a really large mortice and tenon joint and lack a 1/2" for a large mortice, you can always make two 1/4" side-by-side.

Regards from Perth

Derek