Slick

[Philip Davies]

A slick is a big chisel on a long handle, used by shipwrights and timber framers.
This is the 4th slick I’ve made from an old billhook.

“Why bother?” You might ask.

The billhook had a cracked handle and the edge was nicked in several places. I can’t leave it out with the rest of the scrap steel for the travellers to take, it’s just common sense, and anyway against company policy (My responsibility also extends to destroying kitchen knives and housebreaking implements) We don’t bother taking steel to the scrap merchants, unless it’s austenitic stainless, we haven’t room to collect a ton of it. So, as the billhook had to be cut up anyway, I made another big chisel.
According to a video of their manufacture, billhooksb were tempered in oil, not otherwise heat treated, so presumably the whole tool will retain an edge.
Perhaps the recipient will tell me.

[DIYer]

Thanks Philip Davies! We've added your Slick to our Chisels category,
as well as to your builder page: Philip Davies's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Slick by Philip Davies

tags: chisel