Preferred Method for Cutting Mortises Wider than the Chisel

[Curt Putnam]

The title says it all. What is your preferred method for cutting a mortise that is wider than the chisel (no longer but wider.) Example: Cut a 3/4" wide X 3" long mortise with a 1/2" chisel

Thanks, Curt

[Tony Wilkins]

The title says it all. What is your preferred method for cutting a mortise that is wider than the chisel (no longer but wider.) Example: Cut a 3/4" wide X 3" long mortise with a 1/2" chisel

Thanks, Curt

From what I’ve read in multiple sources, it’s best to avoid that situation and go with either smaller mortise or a double mortise. Best would be to have a 3/4” chisel. But I haven’t come against this. If I did, I’d probably start on one side with your preferred mortise technique and then use the same chisel to take off the remainder.

[ken hatch]

The title says it all. What is your preferred method for cutting a mortise that is wider than the chisel (no longer but wider.) Example: Cut a 3/4" wide X 3" long mortise with a 1/2" chisel

Thanks, Curt


Curt,

A couple of options, both work and I expect there are others. One is to drill and then pare, it is not my favorite but it can work well. Another is to use a chisel that is smaller than half the size of the mortise. Make twin mortises then chop the middle. Which one I use depends on how large I can make the twin mortises.

BTW, sometimes it is best to just make twin mortises if there is room.

ken

[chris carter]

1/4" down both sides and then whack out the middle. Been there, done that.

[James Pallas]

What Ken and Chris said. Two 1/4” mortises and an easy clean up in the middle. Driving a 3/4” chisel thru some woods will give you a beating as much as you are giving it.

[Jim Koepke]

The title says it all. What is your preferred method for cutting a mortise that is wider than the chisel (no longer but wider.) Example: Cut a 3/4" wide X 3" long mortise with a 1/2" chisel

Thanks, Curt

My preferred method is to use a bigger chisel.

438722

This 3/4" chisel was marked USN on the top and Winstead Edge Tool Co on the underside. It cost $3 plus tax at a second hand store.
The 1/2" lock mortise chisel on the bench cost close to $70, with shipping from Great Briton, on ebay. Lock mortise or swan neck chisels are rarely seen in the wild.

jtk

[Zach Dillinger]

I would bore them out then pare to my layout lines. It's quick and accurate.

[Curt Putnam]

Thank you gentlemen! Sonce I have 16 more of these suckers to do, I have chosen to drill and pare.

[Jim Matthews]

Good call.
It will work, and you'll finish.

FYI - you can chop mortices with regular bevel chisels.

[ken hatch]

Good call.
It will work, and you'll finish.

FYI - you can chop mortices with regular bevel chisels.

Or firmer chisels, Narex makes some firmer chisels that work well for larger mortises

ken

[steven c newman]

5/16" mortise..vs. 1/4" chisel..= "hopscotch"
first cut to the left(or right) side, move a little bit, next chop to the other side....repeat until the other end has been reached. Clean out the chips, and repeat again, until the depth is reached. I then pare the sides with a wide chisel...1" or wider.

Then, onto the next mortise....without having to leave the bench.

[george wilson]

Not a problem once you have used a chisel enough to easily do accurate work with it. I have done 4",and even 6" wide mortises many times with a 1" or 3/4" chisel. PRACTICE !!!!!

You can find yourself doing very wide mortises even on tavern size tables if you use the correct haunched mortise and tenon joints.

[lowell holmes]

Or you could drill a hole and use dowel pins glued into the holes.

[Tom Bender]

As George says, this is easy to do with a bit of experience. This project will get you there, however you should have more chisels. I'd drill first then then use 3/4" and 2"chisels. Might grab a 5/8" to rough it out.

[roger wiegand]

No one ever told me you were supposed to cut them all in one go, so I've just chopped them out alternating sides with a narrower chisel. A couple of time when I've tried doing a mortise the exact width of the chisel I've sometimes managed to wedge it pretty good. Having a little clearance actually seemed useful. Why does what I've been doing not work?

[steven c newman]

Works for me. Like when I have a 6mm mortise chisel...but need to chop a 5/16" wide mortise.."hopscotch" down and back....1" wide chisel to shave the walls smooth...

But, then again...I cut the tenons first...and size the mortise to the tenon...I can always bare a mortise a bit bigger, then trying to fatten up a tenon...

Suppose to allow for a layer of glue? Like the thickness of a dollar bill....

[Dan Kraakenes]

Wood Owl auger bits..Brace and drill out.

Chop out rests with chisel.


Chopping is waste of energy..
I dont even have a pure mortise chisel.