Make Your Own Woodworking Tools
Making your own chisel isn’t as hard as you might think, but there are a few things to know. Historic chisels were made with iron, with steel fused to the tip for a stronger, more durable cutting edge. Host Peter Ross still makes them that way, and he’s happy to show you how to do the same. In the video, he also shows you how to temper the blade and how to know when the heating temperature is perfect for the best strength. Basic bench work with files and abrasives add the finishing touches to a strong woodworking tool for your shop.
About the Host
Peter Ross was introduced to blacksmith work while in high school, then attended the Rhode Island School of Design. After his schooling, Ross worked under Dick Everett, an accomplished smith specializing in the reproduction of 18th-century work. In 1979, Ross became a journeyman blacksmith at Colonial Williamsburg, and three years later was made master of the shop. For the next 25 years, Ross studied surviving artifacts and worked to re-discover forgotten historic methods. Today, Ross operates his own company making holdfasts, compasses and other tools for woodworkers.