The Science of Rented Mules (aka Chisels)

Sometimes when I write, I come to a question that paralyzes me ? and I cannot continue until I get it answered. As a newspaper journalist, I was trained to "write my way around the problem," which probably is one reason I don't work for newspapers anymore (the other reason: there aren't any newspapers).

A few days ago I was writing about chisel handles. Blah, blah, blah. Tang, socket or Japanese. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Ferrules, bolsters and hoops. Gabba, gabba, gabba. Best types of wood for a handle.

And pause.

This is a good question: beech, hornbeam, maple, white oak, hickory, something else? And what can one do to delay a handle from splitting? Use a mallet that is softer than the handle? A mallet that is harder than the chisel? Perhaps the mallet doesn't matter?

So every evening I've been diving deep into the research available on the impact resistance of woods. What makes some woods better for beating and others not so good? I have yet to turn up much science that is really helpful to me. There is a lot of data out there that relates to baseball bats, but most of that relates to woods being beat on the side grain or face grain ? not the end grain.

There is this article from the Royal Society that has some interesting data, but it doesn't really answer the question when it comes to end grain impacts. Bruce Hoadley's book "Understanding Wood" deals with wood failure parallel to the grain, but not about wood impacting wood. Where does the energy go during the impact? What happens if the chisel handle is softer or harder than the striking tool?

I must be missing something out there.

So if you are an impact nerd, could you drop me a line? I'd really like to get this sorted out so I can get on with my life. Thanks in advance.

? Christopher Schwarz

Resources Related to this Post
? David Charlesworth's DVD "Chisel Techniques for Precision Joinery" is excellent. We need more information on chisels in the world.

? Here is one of the best free links ever. The Forest Product Laboratory has just released its 2010 "Wood Handbook." You can download the whole thing for free from the U.S. Forestry Service's web site. Go here. Bookmark it.

Source: http://blog.woodworking-magazine.com/blog/The+Science+Of+Rented+Mules+Aka+Chisels.aspx

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