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Chisel specialist

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Windows

Old Oak
Joined
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Cumbria & West Kent
Are there any woodworking educators that specialise in using a chisel? Text or video. Books or online. I feel like I need more chisel info. Is there a person known for their chisel skills?
 
The honest answer is I don't know, but Matt Estlea has done quite a few videos on chisels. I haven't watched any of them yet, but I've generally found his advice to be helpful and quite balanced: without any of the Rob Cosman style "you'll never manage anything unless you buy the most expensive option available" claptrap.
 
He is a bit "shouty", though. Prepare for a bit of over-excitement if you go to his channel. I think I'd rather spend a little time with Paul Sellers if you want instruction. However, if you just want to see a master craftsman using chisels beautifully, then I'd suggest Doucette and Wolfe on Youtube.....or the casual brilliance of Leo on early Tally Ho videos.
 
Mike G":20v1a8hz said:
However, if you just want to see a master craftsman using chisels beautifully...
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You won't find anything remotely better than the late David Charlesworth. His videos on UToob are excellent (I've been watching a few as it's too hot for the 'shop) if a little on the slow side.

How to sharpen a chisel in less than two minutes using a guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un-DVvXnCeA - Rob
 
Thanks. I’ve seen a couple of Matt Eastlea’s. I’ll see what else he’s got. It is a bit higher energy than I usually go for (Mr Chickadee is more my style), but it’s all clear and well explained so I like him OK. Sellers is good too. And I like the English Woodworker.

Don’t think I’m familiar with Doucette, Wolfe, Charlesworth. I’ll check them out.

There’s so many good videos. He’s not a handtool user, but I like Carl Rogers’ vids of renovating a house in France.
 
Had a quick look at the suggestions. Looks like I’ve got plenty to watch there, so thanks. I think I’m going to be watching Mr Charlesworth at 1.25x.
 
Before you disappear too far down the rabbit hole, are you satisfied with the way that you sharpen them ? Are they really sharp ? Just saying ..... :eusa-whistle:
 
Windows":391hq33r said:
I thought this was a good one from Matt Estlea on chiselling:
https://youtu.be/soMoIxJwj14
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:text-+1:

I watched it yesterday evening after posting the comment saying that I rated Matt Estlea's advice but hadn't watched the chiselling ones. I definitely learnt a few new things from that video.

I like how he puts the effort into explaining why different approaches work in different situations and also that where it doesn't matter he says so. While I've learnt a lot from Paul Sellers' videos, they can be a bit "my way is the only way" and I prefer the slightly more balanced opinions that I've generally seen in Matt Estlea's videos.
 
Am I right in thinking ME was a student of PS?

I enjoyed and learnt more from Mat's videos.
 
Malc2098":14jhc6ir said:
Am I right in thinking ME was a student of PS?

I enjoyed and learnt more from Mat's videos.
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not that I know of, I know that Andy Rawls and Frank Strazza are both ex students of his.
 
FWIW, Matt trained at the Ryecotewood Furniture College near Oxford. After finishing his course, as well as setting up his You Tube channel, he worked part time for Axminster in one of their stores and later went back to Ryecotewood as a trainer.

I’ve been watching his videos from near the start of his You Tube career and, in the early days, he showed some of his projects at Ryecotewood. His Roubo workbench and Krenov cabinet are really first class as are some of his other later projects such as building a bass guitar. At the moment, he seems to be updating some of his earlier videos on the use of hand tools.
 
MartinF":dhv5z207 said:
FWIW, Matt trained at the Ryecotewood Furniture College near Oxford. After finishing his course, as well as setting up his You Tube channel, he worked part time for Axminster in one of their stores and later went back to Ryecotewood as a trainer.
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Yep, as much as I like him and his content the fella has no real-world woodworking experience. I know we shouldn't really comment on other people's life choices but with his talent and eagerness he could've walked into a job with John Makepeace, The Barnsley Workshop, or some other high-end cabinetmaker quite easily. Instead, he's just sort of plateaued as far as development has gone which I think is down to the going straight into teaching, that's great if you're happy to just cover the basics forever but if you want to progress you've constantly got to be improving upon what you were yesterday, if your best work was done over five years ago, you're not doing that.

No one of any note has ever come out of teaching.

What's that got to do with chisel work? Nothing at all really. But I think if you really want to learn how to use tools properly you need to learn from someone who has actually used them in anger on a daily basis, a consummate professional will have learned all the tricks and cut a lot of the unnecessary processes out of the task, a lot of the very best wrote books, very few have YouTube channels.
 
Trevanion":3dzp457l said:
Yep, as much as I like him and his content the fella has no real-world woodworking experience. I know we shouldn't really comment on other people's life choices but with his talent and eagerness he could've walked into a job with John Makepeace, The Barnsley Workshop, or some other high-end cabinetmaker quite easily.
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Sorry to take issue with that, but he's not nearly good enough for JM or Barnsley. He's not a bad UToob presenter (if a bit 'shouty') but he's not up to snuff for really top endy work - Rob
 
Woodbloke":10azitgt said:
Sorry to take issue with that, but he's not nearly good enough for JM or Barnsley. He's not a bad UToob presenter (if a bit 'shouty') but he's not up to snuff for really top endy work - Rob
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I agree with that, but I was more on about when he was still learning at Rycotewood and making good work, he could've easily progressed much further from that point and become an excellent cabinetmaker by now doing top endy work under the wing of someone who knew what they were doing. Since then he's just stagnated and blamed it on running his own business and the mental health problems that have come with that.
 
When it comes to using a chisel, one of the best was David Charlesworth. I learned an awful lot from him (and wrote about this in the past two Quertus magazines).

My own dovetailing videos are somewhat dour, since I freeze in front of the camera (my iPhone) :oops:

However, if you want to see one which focuses on lipped dovetail drawers, and/or are an insomnia seeking a cure, try this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0Ic08E ... DerekCohen

6a.jpg


Regards from Perth

Derek
 
I can't stand watching your videos Derek. This is because it is clear that however hard I try, I won't be that good. :shock:
 
Also, your workbench and tool holders are actually better than most of my furniture :lol:
 
Did anyone listen to the interview with Norman Foster (talking of architects) on R4 at the weekend? Quite interesting. I got to see his flat once above his offices. Not that this has anything to do with golden ratios except the renowned Norm was a big fan of Frank Lloyd Wright who was reputed to use the golden ratio.
 
AJB Temple":3p6ty11v said:
Did anyone listen to the interview with Norman Foster (talking of architects) on R4 at the weekend? Quite interesting. I got to see his flat once above his offices. Not that this has anything to do with golden ratios except the renowned Norm was a big fan of Frank Lloyd Wright who was reputed to use the golden ratio.
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:text-offtopic:
Think you posted on the wrong thread mate.
 
Chisel work is easy so long as your have sharp tools.
The way I sharpen my chisels is by far the best way, and here is how it should be done………

:twisted:
 
derekcohen":1f8yb3x1 said:
When it comes to using a chisel, one of the best was David Charlesworth. I learned an awful lot from him (and wrote about this in the past two Quertus magazines).

My own dovetailing videos are somewhat dour, since I freeze in front of the camera (my iPhone) :oops:

However, if you want to see one which focuses on lipped dovetail drawers, and/or are an insomnia seeking a cure, try this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0Ic08E ... DerekCohen

6a.jpg


Regards from Perth

Derek
Click to expand...

2 x Doe's Foot and a Holdfast ... brilliant! Why can't I ever come up with solutions like that?
 
Thanks Derek for sharing.
derekcohen":1bihw280 said:
When it comes to using a chisel, one of the best was David Charlesworth. I learned an awful lot from him (and wrote about this in the past two Quertus magazines).

My own dovetailing videos are somewhat dour, since I freeze in front of the camera (my iPhone) :oops:

However, if you want to see one which focuses on lipped dovetail drawers, and/or are an insomnia seeking a cure, try this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0Ic08E ... DerekCohen

6a.jpg


Regards from Perth

Derek
Click to expand...

When you talk about modifying a scraper, do you have a picture of what the tool looked like before you modified it? I am curious about what sort of tool I would buy to modify if I wanted to have a go at the same thing.

Thanks

Mark
 
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