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View Full Version : How to Sharpen Chisel for crosscutting veneer



phil harold
04-08-2016, 9:45 AM
Every one says to use a knife or a chisel to crosscut veneer
I have a nice 2" chisel that could be used for it.
do you sharpen it straight or with a radius?

I have to cut a lot of 8" wide veneer to make a banding

any tips are welcomed

Chris Fournier
04-08-2016, 10:35 AM
I have a dedicated tool for this but you can fake it. No need for a two inch chisel.

http://www.veneersystems.com/index.php/action/item/id/78/prevaction/category/previd/5/prevstart/0/ Joint strip cutter.

Check out this ink and you can see how to set up a blade in a shop made body. I have modified my blade to be rounded I found that it started easier and blew out the grain less.

Mike Henderson
04-08-2016, 12:20 PM
People who use a chisel to cut veneer round the cutting corner slightly. However, you can cut veneer cross grain with a veneer saw. If you're worried about tearout at the end, take a piece of blue tape about 1" long and wrap it around the veneer at the end of the cut - so that you cut through the blue tape as well as the veneer. The blue tape will prevent tearout. If you're really worried, use a longer piece of blue tape.

Mike

[The other approach, of course, is to make your cross grain cuts first, then trim along the grain. If you have a minor tearout on the crosscut, you'll remove it when you trim along the grain.]

Greg Wease
04-08-2016, 2:49 PM
Check out the chisel that Paul Schurch sells here: http://schurchwoodwork.com/all-products/veneer-chisel/

His diagram shows a .020" radius on one corner.

Alan Lightstone
04-09-2016, 7:45 AM
Check out the chisel that Paul Schurch sells here: http://schurchwoodwork.com/all-products/veneer-chisel/

His diagram shows a .020" radius on one corner.

I use Paul Schurch's approach on my own chisel. Works fine, as do most of his suggestions.

I find the V-edge straight edge he sells invaluable for cutting veneer also. Yes, a regular straight edge works too, but the extra weight really helps it stay in place and not move during a cut.

And Mike's approach using a veneer saw first also works just fine. Many ways to skin a cat on this one.

phil harold
04-09-2016, 8:08 AM
Thanks Guys
I have no saw yet,
So one of my chisels will be modified and dedicated for this job

Mike Henderson
04-09-2016, 12:13 PM
Thanks Guys
I have no saw yet,
So one of my chisels will be modified and dedicated for this job
If you get a veneer saw, it likely will not be usable out of the box. There are tutorials on the web on how to prepare one. You can buy one prepared from Joe Woodworker but it's better if you learn how to do it yourself. Your saw will eventually get dull and you'll have to work on it again.

I would find it hard to work with veneer without a veneer saw. Most of my cutting is with a veneer saw. It's only when I'm doing some fine work that I use a knife (not a chisel).

Mike

[I did try using a chisel - my veneer teacher tried to get us to use one - but it never worked well for me. I found it much easier to use a knife.
I use these Japanese woodworking knives (http://www.japanwoodworker.com/Product/156567/12-Right-Handed-Blue-Steel-Woodworking-Knife-(Kogatana).aspx)- one right hand and one left hand.]