Erich Weidner
05-25-2020, 11:31 PM
A very recent thread on chisel land thickness makes me want to ask...
When is a chisel like the Blue Spruce dovetail chisel better than a regular bevel edged chisel?
I'm just getting started with dovetails. I also am trying to decide which chisel style I like best. I have had the blue plastic Marples chisels for over a decade but recently bought a LN 3/8" chisel, a BS 1 1/2" pairing chisel, and a Veritas 3/4" bench chisel to try different styles. (Well, really just the LN and Veritas, as the pairing chisel is obviously a different beast... I just wish I had got the long handle on it)
Anyway, aside from the size difference, the Veritas has very thin lands (so sharp I've been cutting myself holding them and I think I'm going to stone them a bit). The LN is comparatively much thicker. All of the videos I own feature accomplished wood workers using "regular" bench chisels for dovetailing. I've seen mention of fishtail chisels for clean-up as well.
So, when does something like the BS dovetail chisel come into its own vs a quality regular beveled bench chisel? Or is it frivolous?
When is a chisel like the Blue Spruce dovetail chisel better than a regular bevel edged chisel?
I'm just getting started with dovetails. I also am trying to decide which chisel style I like best. I have had the blue plastic Marples chisels for over a decade but recently bought a LN 3/8" chisel, a BS 1 1/2" pairing chisel, and a Veritas 3/4" bench chisel to try different styles. (Well, really just the LN and Veritas, as the pairing chisel is obviously a different beast... I just wish I had got the long handle on it)
Anyway, aside from the size difference, the Veritas has very thin lands (so sharp I've been cutting myself holding them and I think I'm going to stone them a bit). The LN is comparatively much thicker. All of the videos I own feature accomplished wood workers using "regular" bench chisels for dovetailing. I've seen mention of fishtail chisels for clean-up as well.
So, when does something like the BS dovetail chisel come into its own vs a quality regular beveled bench chisel? Or is it frivolous?