Normal chisels should not be used on a lathe because they cannot always resist the forces exerted. They may break or become caught, and you run the danger of injuring yourself or knocking the wood off the lathe. Instead, use two-handed lathe chisels or gouges with the appropriate handle length. One option is to buy a set of fixed-handle chisels. Fixed-handle chisels are best for general-purpose work on most types of wood. The handles stay in one place so you can work the tool with more control and less risk of injury. Fixed-handle chisels are available in different shapes and sizes for many different projects. Tripod-supported chisels are designed for working on tall trees or large timbers where a regular standing height isn't feasible. The tripod stabilizes the chisel so that you can reach higher up on the tree without being affected by the distance to the ground. These tools are usually made out of steel or aluminum and feature a ball-and-socket joint at the base of the shaft for stability when used with a tripod. Lathe chisels have a sharp cutting edge attached to a rotating piece of metal called a head. On fixed-head chisels, the head stays still while the shoulder rotates around it. This allows you to make deeper cuts into the wood's surface than possible with a normal chisel.