What is a technique to help me hand-chisel a relief-cut accross the grain on soft wood?

chiseling relief cut in small blocks of pine. Chiseling roughly a 2 inch square that is about 3/16'' deep into soft pine blocks. The purpose is to provide a recess for mounting square topped legs to these small blocks which are then used to provide a strong joint to the seat of small stools. I have completed one stool, but the chiseling was very slow and tedious, especially having to chisel cross-grain on the pine. I only ruined one block and had to cut another. However, I feel maybe better technique could help me. Can anyone give me some good tips for hand chiseling soft wood, especially having to cut cross-grain.

I would be doing it with a router and a template. Then I would only have to chisel the corners to make them square.

If you are going to chisel across grain, you need a very, very sharp chisel. How often have you sharpened yours? If you are using one from the hardware store without sharpening it, you probably don't have a very good edge on the chisel.

Related posts:

1. Punch Chisel Set Build A Work Bench Here are the plans to...
2. Diamond Saw Blades Change a Skilsaw blade? I'm trying to put a...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.