Does anyone make a mortise chisel
of the hollow type, that cuts, not a square hole, but
a dovetail-shaped one?

If not, why not? It'd make for quick work of blind dovetails,
and allow for all the hand-layout flexibility one would want.

There are line dovetail machines. They are expensive.


On 12/24/2011 9:21 PM, whit3rd wrote:
Does anyone make a mortise chisel
of the hollow type, that cuts, not a square hole, but
a dovetail-shaped one?

If not, why not? It'd make for quick work of blind dovetails,
and allow for all the hand-layout flexibility one would want.

tiredofspam wrote:
There are line dovetail machines. They are expensive.


On 12/24/2011 9:21 PM, whit3rd wrote:
Does anyone make a mortise chisel
of the hollow type, that cuts, not a square hole, but
a dovetail-shaped one?

If not, why not? It'd make for quick work of blind dovetails,
and allow for all the hand-layout flexibility one would want.


Old wood carvers, making say molding, would routinely create tools for a
specific purpose to expedite their work. One drawback I see with the
tool you've described it that it would be even more difficult to sharpen
than a vee-tool and it is sure to dull quickly because you would
probably use it with a mallet. Not only that, it would not be flexible
in size, while your set of flat chisels are quite accommodating in this
regard. As tiredofspam suggested succinctly above, the day for this
handtool has passed.

Bill

On Sun, 25 Dec 2011 01:17:01 -0500, Bill wrote:

tiredofspam wrote:
There are line dovetail machines. They are expensive.

I believe those are only good for thru and half-blinds, dude.


On 12/24/2011 9:21 PM, whit3rd wrote:
Does anyone make a mortise chisel
of the hollow type, that cuts, not a square hole, but
a dovetail-shaped one?

If not, why not?

Uh, 'cuz physics demand that the entry hole be smaller than the dovie?


It'd make for quick work of blind dovetails,
and allow for all the hand-layout flexibility one would want.

A brace and bit, then a saw and a paring chisel gets that done quickly
enough

Or you can cut a groove and use a dovetail plane, like my Knight.

Or you can move to a dovetail bit on a router, setting a slightly
(couple RCH) wider entry.


Old wood carvers, making say molding, would routinely create tools for a
specific purpose to expedite their work. One drawback I see with the
tool you've described it that it would be even more difficult to sharpen
than a vee-tool and it is sure to dull quickly because you would
probably use it with a mallet. Not only that, it would not be flexible
in size, while your set of flat chisels are quite accommodating in this
regard. As tiredofspam suggested succinctly above, the day for this
handtool has passed.

Not while da da da DA Ta DA Neanders and Galoots still live!

--
Truth loves to go naked.
--Dr. Thomas Fuller, Gnomologia, 1732

On Sun, 25 Dec 2011 01:17:01 -0500, Bill wrote:

One drawback I see with the tool
you've described it that it would be even more difficult to sharpen than
a vee-tool and it is sure to dull quickly because you would probably use
it with a mallet.

Bill, do you have the slightest idea of what a hollow mortise chisel is?
They are not used with a mallet, but in a drill press. Or a specialized
drill press called a hollow mortising machine. Here's a pictu

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?
p=41702&cat=1,180,42240,53317,41702

I thought at first that the idea wouldn't work because one side would be
exposed, but upon reflection decided that the wedge shape would
compensate for that problem. Seems like it would work, but I wonder how
much of a market there would be for it.

Seems someone may have done it if you can make sense of the following
Chinglish:

"Dovetail tenon mortising machine for processing or semi-implicit linking
Dovetail Dovetail Tenon Tenon .Dovetail-shaped cutter mounted on the
vertical axis, the two sheet metal work table clamped vertically with
each other at work."

The above is from:

http://www.lgwheelloader.com/mortising-machine.html

--
Intelligence is an experiment that failed - G. B. Shaw

Larry Blanchard wrote:
On Sun, 25 Dec 2011 01:17:01 -0500, Bill wrote:

One drawback I see with the tool
you've described it that it would be even more difficult to sharpen than
a vee-tool and it is sure to dull quickly because you would probably use
it with a mallet.

Bill, do you have the slightest idea of what a hollow mortise chisel is?

Yes, I've never used one, but I do know, and it did not register with me
that was what the author of the original post was referring to.
Evidently I had the wrong picture in mind. Please excuse me, if I was
wrong on any count. I was certainly not offering advice (I mean I'm not
dangerous)! : )

Bill



They are not used with a mallet, but in a drill press. Or a specialized
drill press called a hollow mortising machine. Here's a pictu

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?
p=41702&cat=1,180,42240,53317,41702

I thought at first that the idea wouldn't work because one side would be
exposed, but upon reflection decided that the wedge shape would
compensate for that problem. Seems like it would work, but I wonder how
much of a market there would be for it.

Seems someone may have done it if you can make sense of the following
Chinglish:

"Dovetail tenon mortising machine for processing or semi-implicit linking
Dovetail Dovetail Tenon Tenon .Dovetail-shaped cutter mounted on the
vertical axis, the two sheet metal work table clamped vertically with
each other at work."

The above is from:

http://www.lgwheelloader.com/mortising-machine.html

As to the "why not" perhaps there would be no market for such a device?

--
Often wrong, never in doubt.

Larry Wasserman - Baltimore Maryland - lwasserm(a)sdf. lonestar. org

On Dec 24, 9:21*pm, whit3rd wrote:
Does anyone make a mortise chisel
*of the hollow type, that cuts, not a square hole, but
a dovetail-shaped one?

If not, why not? *It'd make for quick work of blind dovetails,
and allow for all the hand-layout flexibility one would want.

How narrow are the pins?

On Sunday, December 25, 2011 6:44:55 AM UTC-8, Larry Jaques wrote:

On 12/24/2011 9:21 PM, whit3rd wrote:
Does anyone make a mortise chisel
of the hollow type, that cuts, not a square hole, but
a dovetail-shaped one?

If not, why not?

Uh, 'cuz physics demand that the entry hole be smaller than the dovie?

I'm thinking of a mortising machine that cuts the endgrain of
a drawer front (for instance) to make the pins, by plunging
dovetail-shaped holes.