Mortise Chisel (from scratch) / Cut, ground, forged, glued...Full build

When it comes to woodworking, having the right tools can make all the difference in your projects. Having a mortise chisel is like having a piece of history. While most people use a standard chisel to chop out square holes, a mortise chisel...just feels right. The problem with making your own mortise chisels is the tang. You want to make something that ensures that the chisel handle won't break in time as there's a lot of mallet work that needs to be done.
My idea was to use a 'spine' with mortises inlayed between each tooth in the handle with tenoned square stock locking it in place. Will it work? We'll have to see, but so far it's doing its job well!
I used O1 tool steel, jatoba and maple for the handle. I also used conduit tubing for the ferrels. If you'd like to see some of the tips and techniques used, check out the next line to see the individual tips.
Bitesize tips from the video → • Mortise chisel bitesiz...
Send me email → [e-mail]
Become a patron! → Patreon.com/makethings/
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
MAKER TEAM
Michelle B
Keith Current
William L McNally
Jerry Adams
Zach Finch
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Mike Lornitis
Les N.
Gary G.
Aubrey G.
Nukebert

[@MarkMcCluney]

"Sawdust" was the only word that gave me trouble but it was so obvious once I realised! Thanks Rob. Oh, and a most splendid chisel as well, a very impressive build.

[@MakeThings]

Thanks a bunch Mark!

[@FixitFingers]

Great variety of skills there Rob for a lovely outcome.

[@teeringzooi]

I have a good excuse for not making this..
- No lathe
- No forge
- No metal cutter
Dear me would this be hard. Beyond my capabilities, you just once again went over the top Rob, amazin' 😊

[@TheMessyStudio]

Cool mortise chisel, Rob!

[@mattsadventureswithart5764]

Looks amazing.
Please tell us that you thoroughly cleaned the ways of your lathe after grinding on it and before you moved anything else on them.

[@LitoGeorge]

I declare you will mushroom the back of the handle despite the ferrule, way before that handle slips in that labyrinth of slots in the tang. Overkill x extreme. Great work :)

[@makenchips]

Well done Robert well done

[@MCsCreations]

Fantastic work, Rob! Really well done! 😃
In case you didn't plug the back of the handle yet, you could glue a carriage bolt head in it. 😉
Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@edmundnyamupepema]

Thank you Sir! I am inspired to try this out even without that lathe and forge💯/💯

[@jimrosson6702]

Absolutely amazing work

[@MakeThings]

Thank you very much!

[@TwistedWorkshop77]

That turned out great! Hand made tools are the best!

[@MakeThings]

You got that right!

[@MASI_forging]

It's a masterpiece 🙌🙌

[@sydres]

Lovely tool, but interesting build choice I've never seen a wood chisel built like that!

[@SweetSillyFun]

Nice build. Gotta be careful with that towel on the lathe though. If your hand gets caught up, you’re gonna have a bad day.

[@figrollin]

A) this is stunning
B) those clamps look great - can you share the name/brand?

[@MakeThings]

Thanks! If you are talking about the blue ones, they are harbor freight ones. Thanks for the comment.

[@EK--ry3lr]

Very nice. Wondering why the craziness of the handle? Does it grip the wood better?

[@nukebert1]

Very nice. How many hours?

[@MakeThings]

About 10 hours all together!