What is a bent chisel/slate bar?
What is a bent chisel/slate bar? |
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Bent chisel digging bars, also called slate bars, are long and narrow with a diamond point tip at one end and a bent chisel edge at the other. The shaft is usually hexagonal, which aids the user’s grip. |
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The bent chisel’s angle acts as an inbuilt fulcrum, negating the need to insert a block of wood or other ‘stand-in’ fulcrum under the end of the bar when levering objects. | |||
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These bars are usually available at a length of around 1.5m (4’11”) – a little longer than a standard household broom – and weigh about 6.5kg (14lb) – approximately the same as 16 cans of Heinz Beans. | |||
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As they are mainly used for prying and lifting heavy objects, and for breaking ground, they should be forged and heat treated for strength. Most are made from carbon steel. | |||
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A polished finish may help the chisel edge to penetrate tight spaces, and reduce friction when breaking hard ground, or thin layers of concrete, tarmac or rock, with the diamond point. | |||
Best suited to: |
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Levering heavy objects (without the need for an added fulcrum) | |||
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Breaking up thin layers of concrete, tarmac or clustered rock |
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Separating heavy objects which are tightly packed together |
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