technique or wood?

Nov 21, 2011 2 Replies

Newbie question -



was using a 1" x 3/8 square chisel hollow end grain in a maple blank. The depth was about 4". Started the cut and for the first 1/2 in depth the chisel appeared to be cutting fine but then it grabbed and the chisel cut down to the full depth like going through butter with a streamer of wood ribbon shooting out. Made several more cuts to complete the hollowing and each cut did the same thing - slow cut first and then whoosh - actually scared me a bit when the chisel dug in.



M question - was this something with the wood or possibly I didn't have the chisel at the right cutting angle until I was in 1/2 in?



Still don't have the hang of using a gouge for hollowing but if the chisel keeps cutting like that I won't worry.



Vic


Hello,Vic! My guess is that your blank had dried down about 1/2" - and was still wet below that. Wet wood cuts easy compared to dry wood. So you got used to pressing firmly in to make that chisel cut into that 'dry cement' of the first 1/2" - - then - when it hit the wet wood with that same amount of pressure -- - it just took off!

AH! OK, that makes sense. Sure is nice when it cuts like that though!!

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