Footprint tool

[Bob LambParticipant @boblamb44747]

Some years ago I picked this up from a "real" local tool shop that was closing down. It fits onto a ¼" bevel edged chisel and I was told it was for lifting a small shaving from the face of a piece of wood to enable a panel pin to be inserted and then the sliver was glued back to make a hidden fixing. I have to admit I have not had much success in using it! I tried to find old footprint catalogues on the web without success (probably me) but I would like to know what it is actually called and the best way to use it.

One other thing which may be of interest – while I was looking I did find a download which is freely available of a Stanley tools catalogue No 34 from 1914 which was quite interesting. I couldn't link to it easily but just google Stanley tools catalogue No 34 and the pdf is there somewhere. Does anyone know of any other catalogues like this hiding out there somewhere?

Bob

[Bob LambParticipant @boblamb44747]

[John PurdyParticipant @johnpurdy78347]

Bob

I found a similar tool in an old (1990 ) Lee Valley catalogue. They call it a "blind nailer" or an "invisible nailer".

I just checked the lee Valley site and they don't appear to list it any more.

John

Edited By John Purdy on 18/02/2023 17:49:49

[peak4Participant @peak4]

Probably the best site I've found for old catalogues is via Archive.org
https://archive.org/details/internationaltoolcataloglibrary?sin=TXT&sort=-week

There's a similar one for Lathe Manuals
https://archive.org/download/lathe-manuals

Bill

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Stanley call them "Chisel Gauges" their No96 is almost identical sometimes also go by the name "chisel gauge"

[Bob LambParticipant @boblamb44747]

Many thanks to John, Peak and Jason. I now know what it is called and I will put my poor attempts at using it down to the fact I don't have the special Veritas chisel to give a clean edge. The link to via Archive.org is also fascinating and I can see a few hours being spent there! Thanks to all once again, Bob.

[Martin ThomsonParticipant @martinthomson36607]

I don't post often, but, your error is so obvious and nobody else has pointed it out…

Your chisel is upside down. It's never going to work at all that way around. It should have the bevel down – I would assume that was obvious as if you were doing this without the extra tool you'd use the chisel bevel down… But I guess proper use of wood chisels is not well understood.

Also you have to be careful to cut inline with the grain, even if the grain is curved, even then you'll get some tearout.

I have an antique stanley version of this tool somewhere, which, from memory (it's not a tool I use anymore and is probably tucked away in my "I have tool problem" storage unit) is a little different, but in principle, the same tool you have. It never worked well, and to be honest was never worth the effort. Careful use of a chisel or appropriate gouge generally worked better.

I now have the veritas version and it is a totally superior tool due to the superior grind on the chisel, but still isn't all that useful, and I wouldn't recommend anyone buy it.

The classic way to fix this before the veritas version was to hollow grind the back of a chisel that you reserve for this specific tool. It doesn't need much, just ensuring that the two edges are the high points. But realistically that still doesn't help much. It's a great idea but in practise, doesn't work.

[Bob LambParticipant @boblamb44747]

Martin, you say my error was obvious – my “chisel bevel was upside down”. Problem is, even with my thinnest chisel, with the bevel downwards, the blade will not project below the base of the tool. Maybe the Veritas has a larger mouth to enable their modified blade to actually reach the work OK. The footprint one does not.

It does actually cut OK with the bevel upwards -in fact it is the only way the chisel will project below the base in order to make a cut. The narrow gap between the blade and the front of the mouth enables the shaving to lift upwards without splitting and I can get it to work fine, but I have never really had a reason to use it in anger!

Both my Record rebate plane and side rebate plane also have the blades held at a low angle and are designed to cut with the bevel upwards. I know the low angle blade was mainly for end grain but they work equally well along the grain. They made a hell of a lot of them and they work well so I assume that Record understood which way up the blade should be!

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