Who's made an Ice Chisel?

[JacobMHD]

Was it very difficult? Would you do it again? What materials did you use to make the handle and blade? I've heard of people cutting up a leaf spring to make the blade. Anybody have any experience with this?

[hydro]

I've made a few. for the handle, the one I liked best was made from 3/4" round bar stock. The blade can be any piece of steel, just sharpen it every so often. You can use an old leaf spring for the blade, but they can be hard to weld due to carbon migration and cracking of the weld (high carbon steel issues). I don't really think you need to harden the blade anyway, just grind it sharp when it gets dull. You want a tee handle or a ring on the end to hang on to in use.

Post a picture when you are done so we can see your handiwork!

[Phred52]

I've made ~150 chisels over the years. I've built them for my bosses friends and to offer for sale. I live on the Minnesota River and that was the primary way of making a spear hole until, and even after the chainsaw came along. The ONLY one I have was one I made FOR myself. Here's my 'recipe': 1/2"x 3"x 6" piece of truck leaf spring (aka, the blade). A torsion bar from an older Chrysler product about 30" long with a 3/4" to 1 1/2" pipe reducer welded on the "north" end. then a 2' length of 1 1/2" pipe with a cap and an eye-bolt welded (from the inside) in the top end, then I filled it with lead. If you haven't deduced by now, It's a 2 piece, that breaks down to about 32" max length. I've had this chisel since the mid 70's and the only way anyone will get it is to 'pry it from my cold, dead hands'. But, I could send pics!! Post your email, I have the pics. Phred52

[Tom7227]

Sounds to me like you're not going to be strong enough to use it to your mid-70's. Brut setup

[JacobMHD]

jacobmhd at gmail dot com

I look forward to seeing your handiwork.

[hydro]

Mopar torsion bar.....Nice touch!

[Phred52]

Jacobmhd, You have mail. 'My bad' on the pipe size and fitting, it's a 1" (id) pipe and the fitting is 3/4" to 1" pipe reducer. Tom7227, Actually, it's surprisingly light. It weighs in at 17#. If, in my mid 70's, I can't lift that much weight...I figure that'll be the least of my problems! Phred52

[Phred52]

Hydro, Well..Ya!

[Pooh]

had a leaf break in my 92 ford pickup, so after replacing the broken one i had a "head." I bought a 5'6" piece of 1" solid cold rolled for a handle. I cut the head out with an angle grinder and cutting blade. works great.

[Gordie]

Leaf spring material makes the best chisels ever. I also have made a couple out of the blades from road graders and those are right up there with leaf springs. I also like the first three foot off the handle to be 3/4 -1 inch round stock then the rest light wall tubing.

[Ferny]

When I was a youth I read in my "Herters Guide Book" that Indians could chisel a hole with a pointy piece of wood. It would explode the ice instead of slicing like a chisel. So I was going to do one better. I made one out of 3/4" bar stock and ground it down to a point. Dad wasn't too happy with me! I was so exited to try it and it worked like crud! I don't recommend it! The things you do as a kid :-) My favorite chisel was a 2 piece homemade jobber I got from the divorced lady next door neighbor. The lower piece was filled with lead and the upper piece was hollow pipe with a ring welded on top. They joined with a threaded coupler. I wish I knew where it went!

Ferny.

[SFC]

The first chisel I used as a kid is still at the bottom of the lake. That happened about 20 seconds after my Dad told me to make sure I didnt lose it.