Bringing Back the Bite: Repairing a Chipped Chisel

Hey, Ya’ll, The Blog Is Back. You know the feeling in your stomach when your favorite chisel decides to take a nosedive onto the concrete floor. We've all been there—that sickening thunk and the dread that follows as you inspect the poor thing. A mangled edge, a chipped point – it's enough to make any woodworker sigh. But fear not, there's life after a drop!

Most prople would instinctively reach for a grinder. Now, I understand the temptation. It's fast, it's powerful. But, a grinder can be a bit like a bull in a china shop. It removes material quickly, and it's easy to overheat that precious steel, ruining the temper. We want control; we want precision.

So, How do I do it without a grinder? Abrasives and a bit of patience. We're going to work our way back to that razor-sharp edge.

If the damage is substantial, a coarse grit belt sander belt is your friend. Cut the belt in half and lay it out flat on a flat surface. a few strokes on this will quickly remove the damage. If the damage is minimal, you might be surprised to learn that plain old concrete can act as a fine grinding surface. It's a great way to gently work out those small dings and chips.

Once the damage is gone, you'll likely have a burr – that thin, raised edge of metal. This is where normal sharpening stones come in. They're excellent for removing scratches from the coursework and getting us closer to a clean, sharp edge.

Now, we're into the sharpening phase. We're looking to create a fresh, keen edge. Changing the scratch patterns as you work will help you see when you can move to the next stone and create a polished, even edge. This is the heart of any good sharpening routine.

To see the sharpening system I use: https://www.woodbywright.com/tool-suggestions/sharpening

We’ll continue working the flat and the bevel of the chisel until the burr disappears completely. The key here is to work that burr, rolling it back and forth until it's gone. This will leave you with a crisp, sharp edge, ready for your next woodworking project.

Repairing a chipped chisel is like sharpening with a coarse grit. It's about removing material and refining the edge. It takes a little time and attention, but the results are worth it.

Last but not least! Why did the woodworker bring a ladder to the shop? Because he heard the tools were getting to be high maintenance!