Double Bass Chisel Technique and Safety Do and Don’ts

[Jake deVilliers]

thankfully with an edge you don't have to worry about kerf...
as in...Oregon 3/8 pitch full chisel chain!

That will definitely leave a mark!

 

[Matthew Tucker]

I guess I need a caulk plaster mold

No that's way over the top. You just need some kind of cradle that you can clamp the bass top into or onto. Unless the top is immensely fragile it can support itself quite nicely.

Of course, if you use blunt tools, you have to press harder, and then the top might not like it.

So there's another lesson there.

Another useful lesson is - use the biggest tool you can find that will do the job comfortably. Don't try to hog out a bass back with a tiny thumb plane. Don't try to cut a neck mortise with a 1/2" chisel. etc. Don't try to cut through a big log with a dozuki. etc

 

[bigolbassguy]

Good point. Last year, my neighbor was cutting some corrugated plastic with a dull razor knife. He ended up powering through it suddenly, and buried the knife into his wrist. It happened because he had to use more force on a dull knife. Another neighbor took him to emergency. Luckily, he came out of it OK with some stitches, but the doctor emphasized how dangerous dull hand tools are.

George

I had an experience reminiscent of that Julia Child scene on SNL with Dan Aykroyd. I'd let a blade get dull and continued working with it. After sharpening it I went back to work, and on the first cut went straight through the work ... and my left thumb. I opened a vein and blood started literally squirting out. The closest first aid was a roll of duct tape. (ahh, duct tape) I had to have a friend drive me to the ER for 7 stitches.

I hope somebody learns from this. I know I did. That was 4 years ago and I haven't really hurt myself since.

 

[forester]

thankfully with an edge you don't have to worry about kerf...
as in...Oregon 3/8 pitch full chisel chain!

i take that back.
with the proper tool and execution, a near flawless birdsmouth can be had across the knuckle.

 

[rgarcia26]

No that's way over the top. You just need some kind of cradle that you can clamp the bass top into or onto. Unless the top is immensely fragile it can support itself quite nicely.

So I Followed your advise.. well more or less.. my Work bench is made of MDF so I don’t mind driving holes to it , I trace the silhouette of the DB top on my bench.. I opened a series of holes around it, I drive 5” screw thru it, I made a jig similar to an spool clamp but attach to the bench to support the top…