Try paring cut's with a Japanese chisel. You will never go back to western
style chisels again ! They have there place in Woodworking. Might not buy
more than 3-4 though.I just happen to own 2................1/8 in and a 1/2
in. one. NOT real good one's but medium grade. They are not meant to BANG on
with a big hammer ! More like tapper hits, if ever. Try a 1/4 to a 1/2 in
one first to see if you like the way they feel, before commiting to a full
set.
"Andrew Barss" wrote in message
...
Steve Knight wrote:
: O
:You either tap it out with a hammer, or else you have to hone the back
:every time you sharpen (essentially making the chisel thinner, and thus
:the hollow shallower). Advocates of Japanese chisels say it's worth the
:hassle. Others, like me, like to use a very good quality Western
chisel,
:hone and polish the back once, and be done with it!

: you have to hone the back of anything you sharpen. atleast the final
grit.

Only to remove the bent-over wire edge produced by sharpening/honing
the primary face of the bevel. What makes the Japanese chisel
different, and disadventageous in my opinion, is the need to
remove metal from the entire back every time you sharpen. No Western
chisel, including laminated ones with very hard steel on the
cutting surface, have this drawback.

The Japanese-style chisels sure look cool, but I think the
hollowing is a quirk, not a needed feature.


-- Andy Barss