Morticing chisel question

[harry strasil]

I have found that using beeswax or a candle to lubricate my mortice chisels, especially my foot morticer and scissors morticer chisels makes them cut much easier and have a tendency to not stick in the mortice as much.

Does anyone else use this technique?

I also use beeswax or a candle stub to lubricate my saws also, I like my saws to cut a very narrow kerf as its easier to follow a line and they seem to cut faster.

[Brian Kent]

Sounds like a great idea. I was really surprised what a difference the wax made on wood and metal planes.

I do have a question, though. What are "foot morticer and scissors morticer"? I have never wanted to mortice my foot or a pair of scissors before!

[Greg Cole]

Foot mortiser is exactly what it implies....
Harry has a nifty one that works well per an older post of his IIRC.

He'll tell you about it or post the linky...

Greg

[Marc Casebolt]

Harry,

I have not tried waxing a mortice chisel, but I have a question for you.
Wouldn't that leave wax in the mortice? It seems to me that it could cause a problem with the glue joint.

Marc

[harry strasil]

Marc, I have never had a problem with any glue joints although I do like to use pegged joints a lot. The wax is used on the chisels in the intitial stages of chopping the joint, never on the paring to the line finish parts.

Brian, the tailed toolers use a designated morticer with a drill bit inside to make mortices, A Scissors morticer was the forerunner of the Foot Morticer, which is the forerunner of the designated mortisers of today.

[Don C Peterson]

I use it on my plane soles and saws, never thought of using it on my mortise chisels though...

[Mac Cambra]

Wouldn't wax prevent a good glue joint?