halving joint chisel:which way up?

Question

Hi, I teach in a secondary school, when I was a pupil, and when I was at teacher training the waste wood from a cross-halving would be removed with a bevel edged chisel flat side up; making a small "hill", the chisel would only be turned flat side down for the final paring. A new guy fresh from collage has arrived this week and upset the cart. His college said flat side down, all the time. The reason I was given was to stop the chisel digging in beyond the line, which has happened when students put the flat side down. Whats your thoughts? An up or down answer is enough.

ta Roy

Bob Minchin · Accepted Answer

FWIW I gently deepen the scribed marking lines first, with the bevel towardsthe waste, then complete the job with your method.I was taught woodwork in the sixties if that helps.regardsBob

The3rd Earl Of Derby · Answer

Flat side down, and the final phase chiseled level with bevel facing down.

Nick · Answer

I would imagine that whatever works for you is good. However, I was taught

50 years ago to keep the bevel edge upwards and this works for me after many thousands of joints. I refer to the bevel edge of the chisel and not a bevel edge, as opposed to firmer, chisel. In not so very short, mark the joint, cut the shoulders with tenon and remove waste with sharp chisel FLAT side down. hth

The3rd Earl Of Derby · Answer

But the scribed lines where only a guide as to where to cut with a tenonsaw on both sides of the joint and then the excess chisled out.

Grumpy owd man · Answer

.....guy fresh from collage has a....CollEge  dear boy, C..O..L..L..E..G..E!   OBVIOUSLY NOT AN ENGLISHTEACHER.

Nick · Answer

Dear boy,wtf do you refer to?Certainly not me. I am well aware of the Queens English; also the correct spelling and enunciation of college, collage and university.Now, please be a good chap and piss off.

Guy King · Answer

The message from "misterroy"  contains these words:Whatever works, according to taste, which in my case is flat against the wood.

The3rd Earl Of Derby · Answer

And its *Cannibalise* not Canibalise.Practice what you preach Grumps, I'm allowed to mispell as I'm partiallyilliterate,however there are some instances where I know a word looks wrongwhen its mispelt.

Dave Plowman (News) · Answer

Not in this case...

halving joint chisel:which way up?

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