Cisaigüe (slick)

Description

The cisaigüe (or slick)—which sits somewhere between a wood chisel, a demi-bisaigüe, and a heavy-duty framing chisel—is primarily used for paring long timber-framing joints, such as sandwich joints or trait de Jupiter scarf joints.

general informations

- Length: approx. 530 mm

- Blade length: approx. 200 mm

- Handle length: 150 mm or 400 mm (choice of two)

- Blade thickness: approx. 5 to 7 mm

- Weight: 700 g to 1.5 kg (depending on blade width)

- Steel: heat treated C70

- Finish: brushed, treated with camellia oil

- Cutting edge: 30 degrees (default)

- Handle wood: ash

- Handle attachment: socket

- Blade offset from handle

Prices for standart sizes

20 mm : 165 euros
30 mm : 170 euros

40 mm : 175 euros

50 mm : 185 euros

extra long handle : + 30 euros

About the steel

I forge my Slicks chisels from C70 carbon steel, which reaches a hardness of 59–60 HRC after heat treatment. It is a durable, shock-resistant steel that is easy to sharpen. Its downside is its susceptibility to oxidation, so it requires some care.

Unlike a full steel chisel, this tool features a handle—made of ash in this case—and is not designed to withstand heavy hammer blows. However, it offers excellent resistance to mallet strikes and feels more comfortable in the hand.

The Cisaigüe is available with an extended handle measuring 400 mm in length. For certain trimming operations, a long handle is advantageous, as it maximizes the gripping area and the force applied to the tool during the cut. It is perfect for the longest scarf joints.

Its 200 mm rectified blade is offset towards the handle, allowing it to reach material at the bottom of joints without obstruction.

Its long socket ensures a solid connection between the handle and the blade. The hand can be placed on the socket to improve the grip on the tool. The chisel is assembled by force-fitting a forged socket into a wooden handle.

This fastening method, combined with riveting and bonding, gives the chisel handle excellent durability. This process ensures the handle cannot work loose or split during heavy-duty chopping or when exposed to fluctuations in temperature and humidity.

Its side bevels are ground at 60 degrees, making it perfectly suited for the sharpest framing joints. It is designed with substantial thickness to facilitate sharpening—leveraging the tool's weight—and to maximize power during paring work.

I usually use a 30-degree sharpening angle, resulting in a razor-sharp edge, but this can be adjusted to your preference.

I also craft leather sheaths reinforced with a stainless steel plate and a wooden U-shaped insert to protect the cutting edge from the hazards of the job site or workshop.

Leather sheath : 17,5 euros by unit

your initials on the tool : + 5 euros

Remember that all the tools I make can be customized, within reason.

Please, fell free to contact me.