Reply To: Having trouble chopping bench mortises
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Softer wood needs a razor sharp chisel and smaller bites. You want the chisel to slice the wood not tear through it. If the chisel is not riding the bevel through the wood you either have not cleared enough wood so that it has room to do so or you are taking too big of a bite. Try cutting a mortise with a freshly sharpened chisel and small bites. Concentrate on the sound as you chop. The sound is the key. When you hear the sound change to a dull thud stop hitting. Before you start to pry, push/pull the chisel slightly in the opposite direction to ensure that the fibers are free then pry the waste wood out. That little rocking motion of the chisel just before you pry can make all the difference in the world.
Post some picks if you can and lets see if we can get it worked out.