What are the different parts of a chisel?
What are the parts of cold chisel or
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| The shape of a chisel may vary slightly depending on the job it’s designed for, however most have the same basic features: | ||||
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Chisel head or ‘striking end’ |
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The head (sometimes referred to as the “striking end”) is the topmost part of the chisel and is hit with a hammer to allow the chisel to cut into material. | |||
Chisel body |
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The body is the part of the chisel which the user holds during use. | |||
Chisel forging angle |
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The forging angle follows on from the cutting edge and it is used to allow debris to clear, so that the cutting edge of the chisel does not become blocked. | |||
Chisel cutting edge |
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At the opposite end of the chisel to the head is the cutting edge, which is the sharp edge used to cut materials.
Some types of chisel (such as bolsters and chasing chisels) may have wider cutting edges. |
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What is the cutting angle?The cutting angle refers to the angle a cutting edge is sharpened to. Cold chisels traditionally narrow at the cutting edge on both sides, and usually have a cutting angle of 60 degrees. Because this angle exists between the two sides of the chisel which meet at one end (known as a “vertex”), it is known as an “included angle”. |
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Softer metals may benefit from a lesser angle (e.g. 50 degrees), which makes them easier to cut… | |||
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…whilst a larger angle (e.g. 70 degrees) will be more robust, which is useful on harder metals. | |||
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The angle required will depend on the material to be cut, and may vary depending on the manufacturer. | |||
