Al Navas
05-25-2009, 9:17 PM
From my blog:
The bottom line: I love my new chisel.
I felt lucky to get one of the new Czeck Edge Hand Tool (http://sawmillcreek.org/%5Burl=http://www.czeckedge.com/%5D) dovetail chisels while I was in Cincinnati last week. The dovetail chisel is "...a design collaboration..." between Bob Zajicek and Jameel Abraham, of Benchcrafted (http://benchcrafted.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-chisel-for-fine-work.html%5D). I promised Bob Zajicek, owner of Czeck Edge, I would use this little jewel as soon as I got back home.
As things turned out, outdoor duties went to the top of my priority list, and I was unable to use the chisel when I returned. Finally, on Saturday I had a chance to go back into the shop. If I am away from the shop more than a few hours, I get itchy to touch wood and tools.
What better way to get a feel for a dovetail chisel than to hand-cut dovetails on a small walnut drawer front?
http://sandal-woodsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/czeck-edge-dovetail-chisel.png
After marking and sawing, it was time to chop the waste. I was struck by how easily I was able to balance the chisel with my fingers (photo above).
http://sandal-woodsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/czeck-edge-dovetail-chisel-2.png
I believe the total length of only 6 inches contributes to the feeling of perfect balance. This is critical to me, as I like to feel the scribed baseline; I position the chisel edge in the line, tap lightly, and remove one shallow layer of waste (photo below).
http://sandal-woodsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/czeck-edge-baseline.png
This results in a perfect cut at the baseline. After that, and pounding much harder on the handle, the short chisel length also makes it very easy to undercut by 1° or 2°, to ensure a good joint fit.
I definitely got the feeling I would be able to whack this little chisel, and not damage it. But, after the sharpening Jameel Abraham did, I was reluctant to try driving it through a ¾-inch board. I might do it next time it needs sharpened, though. I witnessed Jameel drive one of the prototype chisels deeply into a thick board on his traveling workbench, with zero damage to the resin-impregnated handle, or to the cutting edge. Very cool!
The bottom line Love at first tap. The resin-impregnated handle will likely outlast me. The blade gives the feeling that it is nearly indestructible, and the edge is holding up beautifully. I will be using this new chisel a lot!
And now a hint for my readers: Don't look for these chisels on the Czeck Edge web site yet. They should appear in the near future.
Additional chisel details:
Dimensions and other important information: The blade is 3/16" thick O1 tool steel hardened to RC 62. The sides are ground at 20 degrees, and form a point with the back. There is no blade taper; the profile is like a 'mini mortiser'. The chisel is ¼" wide; Bob will be also be making them in 3/16" and 5/16" widths to start. And he will probably add a 1/8" and maybe a 7/16" and 1/2" later on, "if folks let us know and the demand is there".
Last, these will retail at an intro price of $45. If anyone wants to be added to the waiting list, drop Bob a note through the Czeck Edge website (http://www.czeckedge.com/contact.html) . Bob says "We are looking at mid-July for availability".
Acknowledgments: I thank Bob Zajicek for allowing me to take one of his three new display dovetail chisels to try out. In addition, my thanks to Jameel Abraham, of Benchcrafted (http://benchcrafted.com/%5D) and Khalaf Oud Lutherie (http://www.khalafoud.com/), for sharpening this chisel. More than one individual harassed Jameel for "taking too long" to sharpen it. Of course, perfection can wait - the chisel was sharp, wonderfully so. Although Jameel graciously asked if I would like to do the sharpening, I refused, on the grounds I would likely damage his water stones permanently; I use the Scary Sharp technique (read: sandpaper) to sharpen my tools. I have no idea what to do with water stones.
Thanks for looking!
.
The bottom line: I love my new chisel.
I felt lucky to get one of the new Czeck Edge Hand Tool (http://sawmillcreek.org/%5Burl=http://www.czeckedge.com/%5D) dovetail chisels while I was in Cincinnati last week. The dovetail chisel is "...a design collaboration..." between Bob Zajicek and Jameel Abraham, of Benchcrafted (http://benchcrafted.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-chisel-for-fine-work.html%5D). I promised Bob Zajicek, owner of Czeck Edge, I would use this little jewel as soon as I got back home.
As things turned out, outdoor duties went to the top of my priority list, and I was unable to use the chisel when I returned. Finally, on Saturday I had a chance to go back into the shop. If I am away from the shop more than a few hours, I get itchy to touch wood and tools.
What better way to get a feel for a dovetail chisel than to hand-cut dovetails on a small walnut drawer front?
http://sandal-woodsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/czeck-edge-dovetail-chisel.png
After marking and sawing, it was time to chop the waste. I was struck by how easily I was able to balance the chisel with my fingers (photo above).
http://sandal-woodsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/czeck-edge-dovetail-chisel-2.png
I believe the total length of only 6 inches contributes to the feeling of perfect balance. This is critical to me, as I like to feel the scribed baseline; I position the chisel edge in the line, tap lightly, and remove one shallow layer of waste (photo below).
http://sandal-woodsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/czeck-edge-baseline.png
This results in a perfect cut at the baseline. After that, and pounding much harder on the handle, the short chisel length also makes it very easy to undercut by 1° or 2°, to ensure a good joint fit.
I definitely got the feeling I would be able to whack this little chisel, and not damage it. But, after the sharpening Jameel Abraham did, I was reluctant to try driving it through a ¾-inch board. I might do it next time it needs sharpened, though. I witnessed Jameel drive one of the prototype chisels deeply into a thick board on his traveling workbench, with zero damage to the resin-impregnated handle, or to the cutting edge. Very cool!
The bottom line Love at first tap. The resin-impregnated handle will likely outlast me. The blade gives the feeling that it is nearly indestructible, and the edge is holding up beautifully. I will be using this new chisel a lot!
And now a hint for my readers: Don't look for these chisels on the Czeck Edge web site yet. They should appear in the near future.
Additional chisel details:
Dimensions and other important information: The blade is 3/16" thick O1 tool steel hardened to RC 62. The sides are ground at 20 degrees, and form a point with the back. There is no blade taper; the profile is like a 'mini mortiser'. The chisel is ¼" wide; Bob will be also be making them in 3/16" and 5/16" widths to start. And he will probably add a 1/8" and maybe a 7/16" and 1/2" later on, "if folks let us know and the demand is there".
Last, these will retail at an intro price of $45. If anyone wants to be added to the waiting list, drop Bob a note through the Czeck Edge website (http://www.czeckedge.com/contact.html) . Bob says "We are looking at mid-July for availability".
Acknowledgments: I thank Bob Zajicek for allowing me to take one of his three new display dovetail chisels to try out. In addition, my thanks to Jameel Abraham, of Benchcrafted (http://benchcrafted.com/%5D) and Khalaf Oud Lutherie (http://www.khalafoud.com/), for sharpening this chisel. More than one individual harassed Jameel for "taking too long" to sharpen it. Of course, perfection can wait - the chisel was sharp, wonderfully so. Although Jameel graciously asked if I would like to do the sharpening, I refused, on the grounds I would likely damage his water stones permanently; I use the Scary Sharp technique (read: sandpaper) to sharpen my tools. I have no idea what to do with water stones.
Thanks for looking!
.