Well, really, Samurai Sword steel (folded and layered with harder steel at the edge than the body) makes the ideal chisel. :-) My thought about the used file story is that these are the cheapest and most readily available material that works well to make a decent chisel. It's not like one would seek out used files because they really make the best chisels, IMHO. One can buy very good chisels that will hold an edge well, but they cost a fair amount. The bridge notching chisels I have seen in Japan are very cool - they are angle chisels, with an angled cutting edge. The bridge notches are cut in from the side, which helps to keep the string termination really clean. The chisel cuts the vertical drop and the notch at the same time. The Kawai factory 'propaganda' video shows one of these in use, if you have a Kawai dealer nearby. I have attached a scan of one of the chisels in use, but it's not from the best angle. Don Mannino _____ From: caut-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Mark Schecter Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 12:47 PM To: caut at ptg.org Cc: caut at ptg.org Subject: Re: [CAUT] Steinway Documentary (Paul T Williams) I'm no metallugist, but I recall from discussions elsewhere about making woodturning tools from files, that files are often, if not always tempered quite brittle, and that therefore they can be dangerous if used under heavy force along or across their length. Maybe cutting bridge caps is OK, if driven by hand, not mallet, but used on a lathe where the tool is forced down at both ends with the middle over a fulcrum is not considered safe. Anyway, preserving the temper may not be your best course. I suppose arguments might ensue about the best metal for chisels, so if anyone would care to enlighten me, what's wrong with M2 or other high speed steel chisels for cutting bridge caps? -Mark Schecter On Sep 15, 2009, at 11:02 AM, Susan Kline <skline at peak.org> wrote: Very interesting. I have a worn out file here someplace. Maybe I'll try that, too. Paul I think just about everybody has a worn out file. Somehow one never throws them away. I really should try grinding one (lots of cooling down in water to keep the temper) and making a chisel someday. Turning a handle, making a ferule, all that neat stuff. Susan -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/caut.php/attachments/20090915/c0b482ac/attachment-0001.htm> -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Chisel_Closeup.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 647560 bytes Desc: Chisel_Closeup.jpg URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/caut.php/attachments/20090915/c0b482ac/attachment-0001.jpg>
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