1764 / Big Horn 21010 1/2 Inch Mortise Chisel

I like that it has square sides in relation to the bottom side because that makes it easier to make a nice square hole

I'm learning how to make furniture. One of the first skills that I need to learn is how to make mortise and tenon joints. After watching a few videos and doing some research online, I decided to make the joints mortises using only a chisel. I went to a large chain hardware store to get my tools. While they had a few sets of Stanley woodworking chisels, they did not have any tenon saws, mortise chisels, or marking gauges. Disappointed over their not having all the tools I needed, I decided to just buy everything that I needed online.Upon receiving this chisel, I was glad that I didn't buy the Stanley chisel set. The quality of this chisel really impresses me. The edge is almost razor sharp, and the lines are finely-crafted and extremely straight. It feels like an actual craftsman's tool made for doing precision work. Now, I just need to improve my ability and make some cool stuff.

Don't expect this chisel to work out the box. In fact, don't expect it to work at all without a good hour of elbow grease. Out the box, the finish and the cutting edge is very rough. By rough I mean the surface is like 200 grid sand paper, with deep tool marks running parallel to the cutting edge. And the edge, well, there isn't much of an edge. I spent half an hour on the belt sander, starting with 220 grit, and then 400 grit, to flatten the back, remove the tool marks, and shape the edge to 30deg. Then spent the next hour hand polish all sides and the cutting edge to a 2000 grit finish.Once you do that, it cuts mortises very well. The steel seems to hold its edge quite well. Even in tropical hardwoods, with hard pounding to make some deep mortises, the edge seems to hold extremely well, thanks to the English Shefield steel. Overall it's a diamond in the rough. Though for $35 a piece, I expected the machining to be a lot more refined than it is.

These are really great chisels. The steel looks to be of top quality and is beautifully ground. The edges on these mortise chisels are dead flat, and the bevel tip is ground perfectly flat. The tip definitely needs to be honed upon receipt, as I think is typical of all chisels.The handle is very comfortable - long and well shaped (6"). The leather shock washer between the steel and the handle is a nice touch - not sure it's necessary, but is indicative of the quality. I think these will be really nice to use for a very long time.

I ordered three sizes of these chisels - 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch. These are nice chisels and the steel is extremely hard. I know the steel is hard because I spent many hours sharpening these chisels and getting them ready for use. I used water stones of 220, 800, 1200 and 8000 grit. As mentioned by another reviewer there are rough tool marks on the metal, far from being polished. I would have been much happier had these tools been ready to use right out of the packaging.

Good mortise chisel

Chisel required about an hour of set up for my taste[although it would have worked as shipped] after that it holds up to pounding and stays sharp. I couldn't find another 1/2" mortise chisel of this quality anywhere near this price.