I've been doing it wrong. La-tee-dah just a-hammering away. Let the gouging be proof of a job not so well done.
The tough part is remembering to keep the chisel parallel with the work and let the edge do the work. Everyone's natural inclination is to lift up the handle of the chisel like you're scraping with a razor blade. Frustration and impatience don't help.
How do you use your Great chisels without using a hammer? I am not an expert. my set was from Sears about 200 years ago. Never broke but not used to remodel a house. We made custom stuff like baby cradles.
My best chisels are for trimming and making minute slices for things like box cuts, dove tails and the like so I can make a good fit. They only need a hone once in a while unlike other chisels that have softer metal. Granted, they do take longer to fully flatten and sharpen the back of the blade but it’s well worth the time and effort once it’s done. To be truthful, I can literally shave with them. I use less pricier and softer metal chisels on rough work and depending on the chisel and kind of work, I’ll either use a wood mallet or for the cheap chisels, a 13oz trim hammer. After I use one, I always have to re-sharpen it on one or more of my diamond plates before honing again.