[TheForge] woodworking tools

[Bob Smolen]

Can anyone describe how to forge mortising chisels which are tanged and have
a shoulder for the wood handle to seat against. Many years ago, Roy Unerhill
had the Smiths in Williamsburg make some chisels like this . I believe they
necked around  fairly heavy stock  in two places maybe 1/2 in. apart to form
a bolster. The bolster was flattened  into a shoulder for the handle by
using either  a hammer set tool or a butcher tool (?)to grab the bolster and
squeze out a wide shoulder.
I dont recall the whole process but I think the stock was held in the hardie
hole and the edge of the bolster was placed on the edge of the hardie hole
and worked to form the shoulder. If anyone has done this,please advise the
general procedure and whether the results were satisfactory. Two smiths
worked on the piece in the Underhill program and they formed the chisel in
no time at all.
Thanks,
Bob S.