Go Scott--

So true, it's one of the fundamental problems of life to find an
adequate chisel beater for those big mortises.  Seems like I remember
a galoot on the list who was selling them a while back--

> Scott Grandstaff, Box 409, Happy Camp, CA  96039
> scottg@s...
>
> Tools <http://users.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/>
> Tools <http://oldtoolsshop.com/Galoots/sGrandstaff/>
> Kitty's PageWorks <http://users.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/>

Just to add a little content to the thread, though.  When I did a
similar project, way back when, it was a treadle lathe (peekaboo,
Larry), made of 4 x 4 oak pallet material, and I used a corner chisel
a lot.  I love and cherish my corner chisels, because they completely
eliminate those nasty little feathers and splits that cling along the
sides of the mortise, and because they make for nice, accurate
corners.  They have a couple of liabilities though, that seem to make
most people avoid them.  They are a terrific pain in the ass to
sharpen, especially laminated chisels that are way harder than files
(like my Witherbys), and because you really can't pry with them.  It's
an irresistable temptation, but the result is popping chunks out of
the delicate corner edge.  Experience comes from bad judgement, as
they say...

And of course, there is the perrenial galoot dilemma that you always
need more tools.  I remember well my epiphany that it actually takes
four corner chisels to make a full set. ;^)

PK
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