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Removing The Waste – Pin Piece

Begin by creating a step down on the waste side of the knifewall. Clamp securely in the vice and pare down near the shoulder line (about 1mm away) with a sharp chisel. Take out of the vice and lay flat on the bench top. Place the flat side of your chisel right up against the shoulder line and chop – not too hard – with a chisel hammer. Move the chisel up to get the full width of the shoulder. If you chop too hard now, you will compress the fibres on both sides of the shoulder, moving the knifewall over. This would result in having a gap when the joint is done, or even the dovetail being out of square.

Clamp the tail piece back in the vice and pare away the waste right by the shoulder. Use a chisel hammer if you get too much resistance. This is done to make room for chopping deeper. Continue to chop on the bench top and pare down in the vice until you reach approximately half way. Then flip over and do the same from the other side.

When you’re about to break through, choke up on your chisel and take lighter chops to avoid overshooting into your bench. You can clean up the shoulder by clamping upright in the vice and paring from the front. Place the cutting edge of your chisel right on the knifewall and apply a controlled push, wiggling sideways a little to ease the cut. Do not pare all the way to the other side as you would split off the unsupported fibres. Instead, turn around in the vice and clean up the rest from the other side.

Create a relief on the waste side of the knifewall with a sharp chisel
Create a relief on the waste side of the knifewall with a sharp chisel
Using the widest chisel that will fit, place the flat face right up against the shoulder line and chop, not too hard
Using the widest chisel that will fit, place the flat face right up against the shoulder line and chop, not too hard
Clamp securely and slice down with the chisel to make room to chop deeper. Use a chisel hammer if necessary.
Clamp securely and slice down with the chisel to make room to chop deeper. Use a chisel hammer if necessary.
Chop a little deeper, always flat on the bench top. Holding the chisel like this may give you better control.
Chop a little deeper, always flat on the bench top. Holding the chisel like this may give you better control.
Choke up on your chisel when you're about to break through
Choke up on your chisel when you're about to break through
Clean the shoulder by paring carefully from both sides. Avoid undercutting.
Clean the shoulder by paring carefully from both sides. Avoid undercutting.

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