Peachtree Corner Chisel: Instant Square Mortises for Hinges

The Straight-Shooter Take

When your routing door hinge mortises with a trim router and template, the router bit leaves rounded 1/4-inch corners. Taking a standard bench chisel to square out twelve corners on three heavy doors takes time and invites sloppy gouges. Peachtree's spring-loaded corner chisel self-centers right into the rounded radius so a single mallet tap gives you a crisp 90-degree mortise.

Fit, Finish & Mechanical Integrity

The tool consists of a precision-ground 90-degree cutter blade nested inside an aluminum positioning guide. The internal spring keeps the cutting edge retracted until you drop it in the corner and strike the anvil cap with a wooden or brass mallet.

• Self-Centering Guide: Outer corner guides rest tight against the routed shoulders
• Striking Anvil: Steel top cap transfers hammer force cleanly to the blade
• Blade Hardness: Holds a keen edge through dozens of door hangs

Real-World Durability Check

1. Solid Oak Door Hanging: Squared out 24 hinge pockets across 6 interior doors. Each corner cut took less than 3 seconds per pocket.
2. Edge Retention: Inspected under shop magnifying lamp after 50 cuts; edge remained sharp with zero micro-chipping.
3. Fit Test: Hinge leaves dropped into mortises flush with zero hand trimming needed.

Bottom Line: Keep or Pass?

If you hang doors or install mortised hardware on custom furniture, this tool pays for itself on the very first door. A clean, simple finish carpentry helper.