Small chisels for carving

["Clive Murray-White" <clivemw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi all,

I'm going to join in on the side of small wood carving chisels for finishing
and fine work and I use mine exclusively on marble.

I discovered how useful they could be quite by accident, I'm one of those
people who will pick up anything to hand and give it a go.The chisel that
started me off on this line had lost its wooden handle and was just a grubby
looking bit of very nice steel, I sharpened it up carefully, diamond file
and fine diamond sharpening block, logic to this no heat at all.

For fine work I use a very light Japanese double ended hammer with the
handle cut down to exactly the point that suits my feel. Light taps on old
(good steel) wood chisels work wonderfully.They will dull, but so does
tungsten, I've simply got used to giving everything a gentle pass over the
fine diamond block every so often.

Another great find for fine work was the discovery of a couple of short bits
of 1/8 steel rod with tungsten tips brazed on to them, I don't know what
anyone would have used them for but I've sharpened one up to flat 1/8" wide
and the other about 1/4" very useful indeed, 1/8" rod is a bit uncomfortable
to hold so I've wound some fabric Elastoplast around them.

I have a quite a few "real" Alex Tiranti chisels but quite often my
accidental alternatives do just the right job better.

Regards To All Clive