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I'm digging into Somogyi's "Making of..." book and am intrigued with his method for installing binding and purfling at the tail wedge. Essentially he installs the tail wedge purfling and then finally the wedge after the top and back are bound, and miters the side purflings in place with what appears to be about a 1/16" chisel.

All that to say, any good recommendations for very narrow chisels? I've found at least one 1/16" chisel at Japan Woodworker but thought I'd pick your brains for other suggestions. I've also heard of folks grinding their own small chisels from old files and whatnot. What's involved with that process?

Thanks,
Jon

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

I have used a belt sander, very judiciously, to make an O-1, 1/8th" Ashley Iles or two into a 1/16th". Lie-Nielsen sells a 1/10th"-I haven't looked lately to see if they now offer it in the recently released O-1 line. I have the A-2 and it is a great piece, but around $55-60 USD plus shipping. I was in contact with L-N a great deal then on some sharpening deals and got one of the first-maybe 3-4 years ago and I rarely have to hone it--even when it bumps into dried glue. It is listed in their mortise chisels. I have 1.5mm and 2mm in some Japanese chisels that are also reliable edge holders-sacrilege here-I glue the rings on and smooth the tops. Thus, I have been suspended indefinitely from the Wonderful World Of Handtool Elitism-ain't that a durn shame? It's a tough room. Mike T.

LMI has some narrow chisels. 2mm I think.

Highland Woodworking sells a Hirsch 2mm chisel that is pretty nice. I have one, and love it. It would be easy to grind it down smaller than that. I use mine all the time. It's tall enough to keep from flexing much as you use it. Nice little chisel.
http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/hirs ... hisel.aspx

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Lee Valley has a 1/16" Veritas detail chisel that is excellent if a little pricey. They also have some Japanese carving chisels that are much cheaper and work great as well.

I've made small chisels from Swiss jeweler's gravers, which come in various shapes and sizes. They usually need a little regrinding and a handle. It's been a while, but I used to get them from a jeweler's supply.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Thank you for the tips everyone, that gives me a lot more options to consider.

At Japanwoodworker.com I found this one, a 1/16" white steel Matsumura bench chisel.


I'm guessing if you use a belt sender to grind a custom size you would have to be real careful not to let it get too hot, is that right? I found one site where a guy would buy "music wire," which I assume is piano strings of some kind(?), and work it into micro-chisels for carving.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

Music wire is medium carbon steel that is medium hardened. It would work, I guess, but not hold an edge like well hardened and tempered tool steel.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

I have a long, nice one from LMI (1mm), another nice long one ("Pfeil", 2mm, from local tool shop) and two short cheap ones (2mm and 1.5mm) which I made from steel nails. All four of them work fine. The "nailies" hold the edge pretty well, I was really surprised when I started to use them (well, I never removed a lot o wood with them though )