Why you should try mortising by hand

Great video, just ordered a decent mortise chisel for my table project where I need to do this in hardwood. Now to get it done!

Excellent. Thanks.

Thank you for your very helpful video. I'm in Malaysia and yr tutorials are really beneficial. I did my first mortise and I'm really pleased.

Excellent video, all the little details that count, thanks.

This video has removed my doubt that i couldn't do chiseling..thank u

Brilliant tutorial containing great advice. Thank you Stumpy Nubs.

Thank you.

One more point may be that by leaving that 1/8 inch margin at each end you are able to lever without damaging the ends of your mortise. Nicely done.

That seems a lot easier than the bench chisel,
why dont other wood workers talk about them ? Now I am not so apprehensive about doing mortises. Let me go order my mortising chisel!

I just tried this with an ordinary 10 mm wood chisel. A bit of effort but it got easier by the second one and now I'm confident I can hand make a tenon (with my japanese pull saw) and a mortice with my plain ordinary wood chisel. And yes, it is satisfying!

Saudações. Excelente vídeo, que me ensinou algumas diferenças importantes entre os formões. Este canal é excelente nos detalhes técnicos e aprecio ver os vídeos.
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Greetings. Excellent video, which taught me some important differences between chisels. This channel is excellent in the technical details and I enjoy watching the videos.

Paul Sellers has an amazing video on cutting mortises

This is the best clip under 10 mins

I'm so thankful for you and your videos. Its cool to think that all your knowledge will be available to me and the rest of the world forever, helping us to be the best woodworkers we can be and pass this on to others the way you do for us. Your a hero. Thank you for everything you do.

Oh its so nice to see so many woodworkers in US use Czech Narex chisels.

My woodworking teacher taught me to NEVER, EVER weld a metal handle on to ANY metal tool because the heat from the welder will ruin the temperament.

I tried using a chisel for a mortise and made a mess. However, after watching your video it all made sense. It was easier and enjoyable.
Thank you for sharing!

All I can say is thank you!

Watched this for the fun of it and liked it, I just finished chopping mortises in a window sash I am making. Yes, I can mark and cut faster than any setup on a machine. No need to buy a set of chisels, you typically only use two sizes in most work. Practice makes perfect, so I practice more.

I learned way more in this video than I thought I would. I've had this exact chisel in my shop but always used a bench chisel for mortises. No wonder I found it so time consuming. Thanks for posting.

Thank you very much

Thanks for this video. I am starting a job next week as a carpentry and joinery tutor and I am watching videos like yours to brush up on my skills as I have not worked as a carpenter/joiner for some time. I found your video very good. Thanks.

The Narex mortise chisels are tapered. The tip is more narrow than the shaft. I assume the tip determines the width of the mortise.

Great video! Thanks so much for the demo and explanation.

I just got my first set of proper mortising chisels for Christmas. I'm really looking forward to chopping a mortise with them! Their Narex, too, like my bench chisels.

Mortising with my bench chisels is not fun.

james what size should i use on 3/4

Thanks Stumpy, I have been woodworking for 30 years, I did not know about mortising chisels.

Great video. Im from Costa Rica. I have a question. What is better to begin as a woodworker guy?
Track saw or ciecular saw?do you have any video that i can check? I always learn something new from your chanel.
💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

Very good explanation

Wonderfully clear. Just tried my first mortise earlier today, got lots of room for improvement but I was still really happy, Can’t wait to see how much better it would be with a mortising chisel.

Great content. Really useful for someone having problems cutting mortises with standard chisels.

Thanks for this tutorial. M and T is one of those joints that has always scared me to try, so I have gravitated towards dowels. This looks like something I think I could do with a bit of practice.

Whose mortising gauge would you recommend?

I have several Narex chisels, mortise and bench. The handles are a bit large for me but they’re excellent and reasonably priced.

I know this is an old video, but I have a question. The sides seem to be fairly rough on the mortise using one of these. Is that any concern with glue surface?

I am in my first year as a woodworker. I've been a carpenter by trade since my early 20s. It is so clear that you not only are a wealth of knowledge but a passionate woodworker! Thank you for the content you create! And the website is legit sir. What a wonderful resource you have created to share with all of us! Dying breeds? Nope. Keep it alive!

Beautifully cut! Its so long since I used a Mortice chisel I had forgotten all about them. Must look out for one at a car boot sale. Not too hopeful though!!

Apparently, the flat sides on narex chisels are not at right angles to the flat face of the bottom of the chisel they are tapered allowing the chisel to twist, some manufactures say this is a feature that prevents the chisel from jamming in the mortise.

I work on Hammond Organs. These were extremely expensive and considered high-end mass-produced furniture in their day. My earliest organ is a 1937 model, and I have been trying to figure out how they made their mortises: there are pencil marks on the stretchers, indicating they had not moved to a purpose-built machine yet. I have no doubt they used mortising chisels. I have also been trying to figure out how to replace a stretcher - two tenons, one mortise - for about 8 years. Now I know exactly how to tackle this problem. Thank you!

Another superb video with great explanation.

Nice presentation and nice mortise.

Thanks James—very instructive!

Any recommendations for thru-hole mortise by hand?

Fantastic tutorial. You just took all of my angst out hand cutting mortises.

I like old school methods. 👍

I've only just come across your videos. You are a natural educator and an excellent teacher. Thank you for making your videos!

Good video, keep up with the good work.

I usually do my mortise with a drill press or on the router table. I went did some hand mortises with a regular chisel. Did the job but wasn't really satisfied with my mortises by hand. So I got the 3/8" Narex mortising chisel for $18 through Lee Valley. Was a huge difference doing a mortise with a mortising chisel verses the regular chisel. Less money verses the $76 Veritas, $47 Sorby or the $55 Hirsh. I didn't see this video till after I got my Narex mortising chisel. They're a good mortising chisel. One question though, Have you compared the differences between the brands. Even though I only plan on doing 3/8" mortises, I plan on getting more sizes in the Narex brand. Narex is a good chisel for the price, no doubt.

Live and learn, indeed.
I started chopping mortises when I was ten years old. How I am 66, and watching this video I realised how it should be done properly.
Thanks a lot for it👍