Rehandled Mortise Chisel

I picked up a nice Marples oval bolstered mortise chisel a while back, and after using it on one project the handle split.  I had not re-handled a tang chisel, so it was a new experience for me.  Unfortunately, I did not take pictures of the process, but I will explain what I did and I have a picture of the finished product. 

And here it is next to the original handle that is cracked.  I tried to use the original as a model for my new handle.  Mine actually fits at the bolster slightly better and is about a 1/2 or so longer. 
 

The first step was to saw the blank to width out of 8/4 ash.  A square section worked nicely.  Next, I had to flatten an edge and square an adjacent edge to it.  Then, I could square off the end of the blank.  On the square end, mark the center of the blank.  Then I drilled a pilot hole for the tang.  Then I measured the tang at the bolster and marked the top of the blank.  I then attacked it with chisels to finish up the tang mortise.  An 1/8 firmer style chisel is almost a must here.  

The blank should fit almost all the way on the tang, except maybe 1/4 inch of space between the blank and the bolster, leave less space for harder woods.  Then hammer it home with a mallet.  Then I shaped the handle.  I used a spokeshave, a block plane, a rasp, a file and some sandpaper.  I finished it off with a few coats of tung oil.  I have used it on a few projects since making the handle, and I am very pleased. 

Antique Workbench

If you ever find yourself in Harford county, MD try to stop by Jerusalem Mill.  Jerusalem Mill is a small historic town with some interesting attractions for woodworkers and non woodworkers.  It is home to one of the few covered bridges in the state.  But of greater interest to woodworkers is going to be the gun shop and woodworking shop.  The gun shop is a two floor historic building which was, you guessed it, used to make guns at one time.  The first floor really shows little evidence of this these days but still retains the appropriate period look.  The second floor however is home to some unfinished gun stocks, a shave horse, and this antique workbench. 

This bench has a solid top, with solid legs can't that appeared to mortised into the top.  It has a leg vise up front and a traditional style tail vise at the end.  You can't really tell from this photo but the legs at the end where the leg vise is located splay out, I assume this is to give it stability against forces when planing.  Also notice the drawer in the middle, which is something most of us don't do these days to our benches.  This bench appeared to be well used, it is very marked up along the front edge from saws and other tools.  The top was most certainly not flat. 

Behind the gun shop is the woodworking shop.  The woodworking shop was built by the volunteers that use it.  It contains a much more recent, continental style workbench, that they use these days to do their work.  I checked out some of the tools they had there, all vintage: wooden planes, tang chisels, draw knives and oil stones for sharpening.  I am sure I missed some, but those are tools that stood out to me. 

All in all it was a very interesting visit and highly recommended to other woodworkers.  By the way go in the warmer whether, folks typically dress up and "work" the shops.  The village also has a blacksmith shop with demonstrations.  The center of the town is the mill, which I did not tour on my visit. 

First Post!

Welcome to my new blog.  I am a hobby woodworker, and I enjoy using handtools.  So check back for plenty of handtool centric content.