Power Carving Question

[Randy48]

Most of the wood I carve is hardwood, have yet to try basswood, but did finally order some the other day. The question I have, has anyone ever tried sharpening a chisel for an air-hammer and used it for roughout work on larger projects?

The idea hit me about 2 this morning, so I got out of bed and went to the shop and dug around for 2 hours, but couldn't find my air hammer...guessing one of the boys borrowed it :-/

I think you could get the chissel sharp enough to use on the carving. I am not sure about using the air hammer though. make a wood handle and put the chissel in the wood handle.

I took an old wore out file and ground it down and put a wood handle on each end and use it for a draw knife.

[Donna_T]

Randy,
I don't know why it wouldn't work--as long as you are comfortable with the air hammer and keep safety in mind. I have an old Ryobi power carver--reciprocating--rather then the rotational power that we know of with Foredoms and Dremels. It works for roughing in a carving that's vice held. It just doesn't have the power behind it that an air hammer does. Just keep in mind that a sharp chisel in an air hammer will go through skin and bones really fast, too.

We spend half our time looking for tools and equpment that our kids 'borrow' without telling us. I used to keep an index card on the back of the shop door so I could write down who borrowed what and when---but that only worked for things I knew about. Oh well---good excuse to see them when you have to go looking for your stuff. :

Let us know how the experiment goes.

Donna T

[Randy48]

@ big_Wayne_P hahaha I've got plenty of chisels, I'm looking for something safer then using a 20 inch chainsaw 15 feet up a ladder knocking large chips out of an Elm tree.

I'm getting ready to start a big project I've been planning for over a year and have this thing about using a chainsaw with my feet not firmly planted on terra firma

@ Donna_T, both boys claim they didn't borrow it and I know I didn't loan it out, I've got this thing about tools leaving my shop...'friends' forget they borrow things! I guess I'll do another search this weekend and if I don't find it, I'll have a good excuse to take a trip to Springfield to visit Harbor Freight I'll be sure to let ya'll know how it works!

[Colin-Partridge]

Randy,
I agree dont use a chainsaw on a ladder very dangerous. As you know I tackle these big carvings all the time and using a chainsaw 15 feet up is no problem is you use a scaffold. I dont own one it only cost me $16.00 to rent one section for a week at the local rental store. To me this is a lot better than the 3 or 400 bucks it would cost to buy a section. Plus you dont have to store it or maintain it. Trust me I have done carvings where I have used multiple sections of scaffold and it you use the leveling legs its like carving on Terra Firma.
Colin

I have never tried to sharpen an air hammer chissel. I have sharpened some wood chissels that I used to use when i did some carpentry projects on the side. I had a tendency to let them get in bad shape before sharpening them.

I would use a grinder and get the bevel I liked and get them pretty sharp
Next take a good file and smooth it on down even sharper
Also go across the back side of the chissel a few strokes.
Now holding it at the sape angle as you ground it
run it over your sharpening stone
This should get it extremely sharp
If your stone is only a medium you might want to strop it a lick or 2
I have an old Arkansas oil stone that is course on 1 side and medium on the other
I also have a set of Arkansas finishing stones
that I use
Finest 1 is a White stone
By bringing the edge to sharpness I sharpen in steps and finish with the White stone
before using the strop

This should get your chissel sharp as any knife or razor

[Kenny_S]

Donna T, I don't look anymore. I just ask My son and son-in-law. Usually they at my son in laws. After all he already has my daughter, GD and GSon.

Hows the leg doing! Hope you are back to normal. But of course your normal would be normal. My little bride says I have never been normal. Maybe why she nicknamed me Ab. :

[Randy48]

Wow, talk about removing wood! I honed the air chisel as sharp as my knives, stuck it in the air hammer and attacked a piece of 2X6 I put in the vise. It worked very well

One problem that is easily solved is the chisel 'floats' in the air hammer causing it to turn as it wants to. But by laying your finger along side the shaft, you can guide the chisel with no problem.

As far as being safe, I think using an air hammer for rough-out work on large projects would be much safer then any saw, grinder, or chisel! The stroke of the chisel is regulated by the amount of air pressure supplied to the tool. Even at 9CFM, the length of stoke was less then 1/2 inch. With both hands on the tool, one finger on the trigger and one finger extended to guide the chisel, it would be next to impossible to hurt yourself (remember to wear eye protection!). I took a few wacks at an oak 4X4 with the same results, it made pretty clean cuts and was fairly easy to control.

Too bad it was so cold, I would have liked to made a few cuts into that Elm tree, man I can't wait to get started. Anyone know any magic spells to get rid of the cold