Converting a screwdriver into a very sharp detail chisel

[Marty Backe]

I needed a very small chisel for a dovetail box that I'm making. I'd love a Blue Spruce detail chisel, but those are $70 and I'd have to wait a month to get one. So I made do by converting a small screwdriver into the detail chisel that I needed. Even though the edge doesn't hold up very long, it's very sharp and works great.

[Terry Beadle]

Thanks for posting the video.

Some other ideas for special purpose chisel blades are old broken triangle files. They will be capable of rehardening too.
There are some blades you can buy for japanese binki's ( marking gauges ) that are really nice and cost about $10.
I once made a good working 1/8th chisel out of a $8 Home Depot chisel.
Of course you can buy 1/16 square O1 bar from McMaster Carr for less than $5.

Just some ideas.

Enjoy the shavings...and it would be nice to see the completed dove tails in a photo...hoot!

[Frederick Skelly]

Thanks for posting your video Marty. I hadnt thought of that. How often do you resharpen? For example, did you get all the waste out between all the pins before you resharpened?
Fred

[Mike Wagner]

I've also converted "old" good steel wood chisels you can find at flea markets. Turn a custom handle and they're very usable.

Mike

[Kevin Beitz]

I like using old files...