Mortise chisels are used for ‘chopping out’ joints (chiselling away the waste wood). They are particularly useful for cutting mortise joints as they are strong enough to withstand heavy blows with a mallet.
The handle is normally made of ash or beech with a steel hoop at the top to stop it splitting. It also has a strengthening piece called a ferrule which prevents the handle from splitting at the bottom when it is hit repeatedly by a mallet. The blade is made from tool steel and the bevel is ground to an angle of 30 degrees.

HOW THE MORTISE JOINT IS CUT

1. A try square and a marking knife are used mark the lines at the top and bottom of the mortise.

2. The stock of the mortise gauge is pressed against the side of the wood. It is then pushed along the wood until the mortise is marked out correctly.

(click for more detail regarding mortise gauge)

3. The mortise chisel is then used to remove the waste material. A mallet provides the blows to the chisel. With great care, an accurate mortise can be cut.

QUESTION:
1. Draw a mortise chisel and label all the important parts.
2. Draw the stages involved in using the mortise chisel to cut a mortise joint

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