A framing chisel is a wider wood chisel used for carving, notching, and making mortise and tenon joints. There are two types of framing chisels, tang and socket, with the latter being easier to work with. A high-quality chisel has a thin cross-section and should be kept sharp.
A framing chisel is a wood chisel with a wider blade than that used for carving or cabinetry. Along with the wooden hammer used to strike it, it is an essential tool for wood construction and is also useful in conventional wood frame construction. Framing chisels are used for carving wood, making notches, and making mortise and tenon joints. Common framing chisel blade sizes are 1.5 inches (3.81 cm) and 2 inches (5.08 cm).
There are two types of framing chisels. A tang chisel has a blunt end that is wedged into the wooden handle, and a socket chisel has a squared off end that fits into a socket in the handle and is held in place by clamps or wires. Repeated blows from a hammer are less likely to break a socket chisel handle, and if it does break, it is more easily replaced than a shank chisel handle. Additionally, a socket chisel is easier to work with than a tang chisel because it transfers less vibration to the user’s hands.
The hammer for a framing chisel can be a block of hardwood attached to a wooden handle, or it can be turned from a single piece of hardwood. A heavier hammer is more effective than a light one, but it should be light enough that you can swing it repeatedly without causing fatigue. A framing chisel should never be hit with a regular hammer, because the wooden handle is more likely to break.
Like all tools, framing chisels come in various grades. A high quality framing chisel is recognizable by a thin cross section, indicating a higher grade of steel in its construction. A heavier cross section usually indicates a lamination of lower carbon steel around a core of higher grade material. A chisel with the “cast steel” imprint was probably made by a craftsman before 1860, at a time when chiselmaking was an art. While the quality of these old chisels may vary, some are the best ever made.
Keeping the blade of a framing chisel sharp is key to maintaining its usefulness. This can be done by periodically grinding it on a damp water stone or a lubricated wet/dry sheet of fine grit sandpaper laid on a flat surface. If the chisel is used where nails are present, care should be taken to avoid them. A framing chisel can be a precision tool when used properly and only for its intended purpose.
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