For finishing flat surfaces, the chisel shown in [Fig. 1342] is employed. It should be short, as shown. It should be held to the work in a horizontal position, or it is apt to dig or rip into the work, especially when it is used upon soft wood. Some expert workmen hold it at an angle for finishing purposes, which makes it cut very freely and clean, but increases the liability to dig into the work; hence learners should hold it as shown.
Fig. 1343.
Fig. 1344.
Another excellent finishing tool is the skew-chisel, [Fig. 1343], so called because its cutting edge is at an angle, or askew with the body of the tool. This tool will cut very clean, leaving a polish on the work. It also has the advantage that the body of the tool may be kept out of the way of flanges or radial faces when turning cylindrical work, or may, by turning it on edge, be used to finish radial faces. It is shown in [Fig. 1343] by itself, and in [Fig. 1344] turning up a stem. It is held so that the middle of the edge does the cutting, and this tends to keep it from digging into the work. The bevels forming the cutting edge require to be very smoothly oilstoned.
The whole secret of the skillful and successful use of this valuable tool lies in giving it the proper inclination to the work. It is shown in [Fig. 1344], at e, in the proper position for taking a cut from right to left, and at f in position for taking a cut from left to right. The face of the tool lying on the work must be tilted over, for e as denoted by line a, and for f as denoted by the line b, the tilt being only sufficient to permit the edge to cut. If tilted too much it will dig into the work; if not tilted, the edge will not meet the work, and therefore cannot cut. For cutting down the ends of the work, or down a side face, it must be tilted very slightly, as denoted in figure by c d, the amount of the tilt regulating the depth of the cut, so that when the cutting edge of the tool has entered the wood to the requisite depth, the flat face of the tool will prevent the edge from entering any deeper. In cutting down a radial face the acute corner of the tool leads the cut, whereas in in plain cylindrical work the obtuse is better to lead.
For cutting down the ends, for getting into small square corners, and especially for small work, the skew chisel is more handy than the ordinary chisel, and leaves less work for the sand-paper to do. Beginners will do well to practise upon black walnut, or any wood that is not too soft, roughly preparing it with an axe to something near a round shape.