IMPROVEMENTS IN STONE CUTTERS' TOOLS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, THOMAS WOODS, of Nicholasville, in the county of Jessamine, and State
of Kentucky, in the United States of America, farmer, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STONE CUTTERS' TOOLS," and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention relates to a stone cutter's chisel or tool; and it consists in the
combination with a suitably tempered steel bar or rod composing the chisel-bit
proper, of a longitudinally bored or slotted wooden stock and a battering-head
projecting slightly beyond the top of said stock, the point or cutting end of the bit
being adapted to be protruded a short distance from said stock and successively
sharpened when worn by cutting away the wood composing the stock, whereby
almost the entire length of the bit can be utilized without undergoing the heating,
drawing and retempering operations when sharpening it for further use.
But in order that the said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the manner of performing the same, and for
that purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the accompanying drawing, the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the corre-
sponding Figures.
Figure 1 is an elevation of my improvement, showing an etching tool or bit
mounted in a bored and slitted wooden stock having strengthening ferrules
thereon.
Figure 2 is a central, vertical section of the same.
Figure 3 is a transverse section, on line x, x, figure 1, on an enlarged scale.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on line x, x1, figure 1, also on an enlarged scale.
Figure 5 is an elevation of my improvement, showing a flat, steel chisel mounted
in a slotted wooden stock, also provided with ferrules..
Figure 6 is a central vertical section of the tool shown in figure 5 taken on
line y, y, thereof, and showing the flat face of the chisel-bar in elevation.
Figure 7 is a transverse section on line y¹, y, figure 5, showing the upper or
round portion of the tool, on an enlarged scale.
Figure 8 is a transverse section on line y³, y, figure 5, showing the lower or
elliptical portion of the tool, also, on an enlarged scale.

page_text: A represents the stock or handle of the tool, which is preferably made of wood,
so as to be readily cut when desired, and tapered from its head to the cutting end.
It is centrally bored, and provided, a portion of its length, from said cutting
end upward, with a narrow slit a.
B, B, are ferrules or rings fitting upon the stock, for strengthening it against
splitting.
C is a bar or rod of tempered steel composing the cutting-bit of the tool.
In figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, I have shown the bit as being a round and very slightly
tapering one, and driven into the central bore of the stock with its point pro-
jecting a short distance therefrom. The bore at the head or handle part of the
stock is of larger diameter in cross section than in the other part of the stock,
to accommodate a battering-pin D, which receives the blow of the workman's
hammer,
A socket d is provided at the lower end of pin D, to fit upon the top of round
bit C, which projects upward partially beyond the narrow bore of the stock.
When the bit is of flat, chisel shape, as shown in figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, it is set
into a slot of like configuration made in the stock. I have shown the chisel-bit in
figures 5 and 6 as being tapered both in width and thickness, which is of the
desired form, as it fits more snugly in its coincident slot in said stock.
It is obvious that the stock can be both slotted and bored as shown in figure 8,
to accommodate either the flat chisel-bit shown therein, or the aforesaid round
etching-bit, without departing from the nature of the Invention, and the same
results attained.
The battering-pin for the flat cutting-chisel, shown in figures 5 and 6, is pro-
vided with a head D¹, at its upper end, for receiving the blows of the hammer,
and a transverse slot dat its lower end for engaging the top of the chisel-blade.
It is quite obvious that both bits C could be continued upward to project beyond
the top of the stock, and the battering-pins dispensed with, but I prefer the use of
a battering-pin in connection with the stock and bit as it economizes in the use of
material composing that part of the bit which could not well be used, and it can
be repeatedly used with other bits when their predecessors have been entirely
utilized.
In fitting the parts of my tool together, when the round bit is used the ferrules
are first tightly driven into their proper relative positions on the stock; then the
bit itself is driven into place in the bore of said stock, with its point projecting
a suitable distance therefrom for service; and then the battering-pin is driven
firmly in place into its receptacle at the top of the stock.
In fitting the parts together when a flat bit is used, the bit is first placed in its
slot in the stock, from the side thereof, with the battering-pin driven into place
above it; and then the ferrules are firmly set into proper place on the stock.
In the handling of my tool, the blows of the hammer or mallet thereon, have a
tendency to tighten the ferrules on the stock, and thereby securely bind all the
parts together.
When the bit becomes dulled by use, it is sharpened by grinding, and as the
material thereof wears away by said use and grinding the ferrules are removed
one by one upward, and the wood cut away sufficient to permit a suitable portion
of the bit to project from the stock. When the lowermost ferrule does not
closely approach the lower end of the stock, so as to hold the wood tightly on the
bit, a ferrule somewhat larger than the one previously removed may be driven on.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is.
1. In a stone cutter's chisel, the combination with a cutting-bit or tool C, of a
wooden encasing handle or stock A, said bit being adapted to be protruded from
said stock and successively sharpened by suitably cutting away the lower end of
the stock, substantially as herein before set forth.

page_text: 2. In a stone cutter's chisel, the combination with the bit C, and the encasing
stock A made of wood or other similar material, of the battering-pin D, driven
into place in the upper part of the bore of said stock. immediately above said bit,
substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
3. In a stone cutter's chisel, the combination with the bit C, and the wooden
encasing handle or stock A, of the ferrules B, substantially as herein before set
forth.
4. The combination, in a stone cutter's chisel, of the bit C, wooden encasing
handle or stock A, battering-pin D driven into place at the head of said stock in
the bore thereof immediately above the bit C, and the ferrules B, substantially as
hereinbefore set forth.