or CHISEL, an instrument much used in sculpture, masonry, joinery, carpentry, &c.

These are chissels of different kinds; though their chief difference lies in their different size and strength, as being all made of steel well sharpened and tempered; but they have different names, according to the different uses to which they are applied. The chissels used in carpentry and joinery are, 1. The former; which is used first of all before the parting chissel, and just after the work is scribed. 2. The paring chissel; which has a fine smooth edge, and is used to pare off or smooth the irregularities which the former makes. This is not struck with a mallet as the former is, but is pressed with the shoulder of the workman. 3. Skew former: this is used for cleansing acute angles with the point or corner of its narrow edge. 4. The mortise-chissel; which is narrow, but very thick and strong, to endure hard blows, and it is cut to a very broad basil. Its use is to cut deep square holes in the wood for mortises. 5. The gouge, which is a chissel with a round edge; one side whereof serves to prepare the way for an augre, and the other to cut such wood as is to be rounded, hollowed, &c. 6. Socket-chissels, which are chiefly used by carpenters, &c., have their shank made with a hollow socket at top; to receive a strong wooden sprig, fitted into it with a shoulder. These chissels are distinguished, according to the breadth of the blade, into half-inch chissels, three quarters of an inch chissels, &c. 7. Ripping chissels; which is a socket-chissel of an inch broad, having a blunt edge, with no basil to it. Its use is to rip or tear two pieces of wood asunder, by forcing in the blunt edge between them.