Don writes:

<<So, it is not clear to me that Moxon is advocating the use of an
"undersized" mortise chisel. Rather, he may simply be describing a
little light paring for final clean-up. Final clean-up, possibly
necessitated, in part, by gaging off both faces. In short, his
approach may not differ all that much from later writers and my
own preference.>>

Don,

As always, you have it exactly right.

Your point about how Moxon advocates gauging off of two faces is  
likely the reason he instructs to "pare the sides of the Mortess just  
to the struck Lines." So the chisel isn't undersized, the stock is  
likely over-thick.

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

------------------
Christopher Schwarz
Editor
Popular Woodworking magazine
Woodworking Magazine

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