Classic designs influence new WoodRiver chisels

Woodcraft has added bevel edge socket chisels to its line of WoodRiver tools, designed with balance in mind to increase comfort and effectiveness, and inspired by details featured in classic chisels by Stanley, Keen Kutter, Buck Bros., Swan and T.H. Witherby, the retailer says.

Darin Lawrence, Woodcraft’s director of product development, explains that bevel edge socket chisels are necessary for dovetails, for example, because the geometry of the grind sweeps back and out of the way when cutting in tight spaces. The resulting flat area, or ‘land’, is a consistent 0.7mm on these new chisels, which is narrow enough for tight access but wide enough to prevent an “uncomfortable” sharp edge.

“The design of our socket chisel takes inspiration from early chisels of the 20th century. Most chisels have a land that is considerably wider towards the tip and widens towards the handle of the chisel. The top profile of our socket chisels is ground back towards the center leaving a consistent land on the side of the chisel. This allows the chisel to fit into narrow corners with angle sides such as when cleaning out dovetails,” says Lawrence.

Each chisel incorporates a lightly finished bubinga handle fitted to the socket. Inspired by the traditional Stanley 720 and 750 series chisels, the handle’s tapered cone is wedge fit into the corresponding cone at the base of the chisel, allowing it to be removed easily.

The eight chisels feature 4” long 100 CR-V steel blades ranging in width from 1/8” to 1-1/4”. They sell for $35 to $45 each. A four-piece set of 1/4”, 1/2”, 3/4” and 1” chisels sells for $150.

For more, visit www.woodcraft.com. 

This article originally appeared in the October 2017 issue.