Feather splitting wedge

J

Jason Fry

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Jun 5, 2008
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Tips on the shape and thickness of a splitter for feather billets?

I’ve got a small one half inch thick by 3 1/2 long by 1.5 wide that I’m gonna split by hand.

I also have a power hammer so could theoretically use a top tool of some kind for later billets.
 
Jason Fry said:
Tips on the shape and thickness of a splitter for feather billets?

I’ve got a small one half inch thick by 3 1/2 long by 1.5 wide that I’m gonna split by hand.

I also have a power hammer so could theoretically use a top tool of some kind for later billets.
Click to expand...
so, I'm assuming you're splitting the 1-1/2" down the 3-1/2"....
This should be relatively easy and the rounder the chisel point, the more it will drag the material. I'd probably use my thinnest fullering chisel. No picture, but going off of memory, it's ground down to about a 3/64" dia at the edge and maybe 45 degree bevel?
 
Correct on the plan for the split.

I have a hot cut that I can start it with, but it’s not deep enough. I have a regular chisel, but it’s rounded and not quite wide enough. Thinking I may make something dedicated out of a piece of leafspring or similar.
 
Are you doing it by yourself or do you have a buddy who's going to help?

If you're doing it yourself you might want to try to rig up some kind of guide... Like a guillotine tool or the like... Holding a "long", thin workpiece and whacking it with a long thin tool is gonna be a pain...
 
I wouldn't worry about the shape/angle/size of the "wedge". All you are concerned about is the amount of "drag" you want the layers to have. That's determined by the radius of your chisel.
 
A.McPherson said:
Are you doing it by yourself or do you have a buddy who's going to help?

If you're doing it yourself you might want to try to rig up some kind of guide... Like a guillotine tool or the like... Holding a "long", thin workpiece and whacking it with a long thin tool is gonna be a pain...
Click to expand...
Definitely a two person job. I'd consider it on the power hammer with a bar welded to the wedge and another to the billet, but not really feasible by hand.
 
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