Have you tried woodworking without chisels? If you have, then you’ll realize how difficult it is to do so. Chisels have been used for millennia by man to do many things. With a chisel, you can remove excess wood, create intricate joints, make custom designs and so much more. However, it is easy to spend money on the wrong chisels. After a few months of use, these can break off or simply not work as well as you’d like. That is why it is important to use the best wood chisels. In this post, we will consider the eight best options that you can buy right now.
These versatile tools have an important place in woodwork and that is why in selecting these eight models, we considered several important factors. These include the number in the set, handle, blade, sizes, edge, and weight. We will review each of these in the buying guide. In the meantime, let’s consider our top options right now.
Extra features: plastic edge guards, storage zipped bag, kraft paper packaging
This model includes just 4 pieces in total, which is barely above the requirement for a set. However, despite the low number of pieces, it is an excellent option that will give you impressive performance. The blades are vanadium steel blades which makes them durable and lightweight. They last for long. The body is also made of high quality parts that will last for long.
The handle is a beech wood handle that is made to absorb the impact from the mallet. Although the handles might not look premium, they offer premium performance.
The chisels are available in different sizes and have beveled edges. All of these come available at a relatively cheap price.
What we liked: This model is high quality and built to last. The handles are excellent and will last for a long time.
What could be better: The design is quite plain. Therefore, it isn’t very attractive aesthetically.
Extra features: full length blade guard, high impact handle designed for use with a wooden mallet or a claw hammer
The Hurricane Wood Chisel Set is a four chisel set that has the chisels in different sizes. These range from ¼” to 1”. When combined, you have a set that will certainly give you plenty of performance.
The blades of each chisel is made from vanadium steel. This is better than the regular steel found in other options because it is so durable. With the heat treatment, you have edges that are more versatile and useful for sideways carving.
Moving on to the handles, the model has handles that are made to survive high impact. Therefore, there is no worry about breaking the chisel or handle. The grip offered is also impressive, although we found the handles to be somewhat small.
What we liked: The blades are some of the best available and the handles are designed to withstand the impact from the mallets. It offers the safety of handguards as well.
What could be better: Although the handles are durable, we observed that they are small. This can result in some uncomfortable handling.
Extra features: beechwood mallet included, wooden storage box, ideal for carving
Up next is this excellent option that is excellent for carving. It comes with six different sized chisels. The unit contains a mallet which is tough and will give you good impact. The handle of the chisels are made of walnut wood, which is one of the best for this purpose. This type of handle feels super comfortable to hold and is durable as well.
The 60 Chrome-Vanadium blades imbue the blades with impressive durability and sharpness as well. The chisels are available in different sizes, ranging from the ¼”, 5/8”, 1”, 5/8”, ½”, and ½”. It is also one of the most versatile options since the chisels in the set include a straight, curved, and V-straight design/
What we liked: This model comes with one of the best cases available right now. It also has a wooden handle that is durable and feels great to hold. With up to six pieces, you certainly have a versatile option.
What could be better: This model is one of the more expensive options.
Extra features: wooden presentation box, blades have well-seated heavy steel tangs and handles have 2 ferrules to withstand vigorous mallet work, manufactured in Czech Republic
This is the last on this list. It comes as a set of six chisel tools, with each of the blades made from chrome-manganese steel. This makes the blades quite hard and will give you plenty of sharpness. This hardness makes the blades suited for hardwood projects, and will cut through without breaking.
The units are available in several sizes too, from ¼” up to 1 1/16”. One of the options is a 13/16” unit which is pretty rare.
The handles are another important consideration and offer you a durable performance. The European Beechwood is water resistant and very durable. They also feel super comfortable to hold. Furthermore, striking the heads will not cause damage to the chisel.
What we liked: This is an excellent set of chisels available at a good price. The wood will absorb shocks from the mallet and reduce the chances of damage. The handles are also very comfortable to hold.
What could be better: Although the set is versatile, there is a lack of larger size.
Extra features: 1x honing guide & 1x aluminum oxide sharpening stone included, ergonomic handles, metal striking steel end caps, protective caps, professional wooden storage case
First of all, the VonHaus model is an expensive model. It is one of the more expensive options on this roundup. However, it offers value for the price and is worth the cost. One of the best things about this set is that it comes with the best carrying case on the market. The storage case is made of high quality parts that will last for long and will allow you to carry it around comfortably. Aside from this case, it also comes with accessories like a sharpening stone. Therefore, you have all that you need for a durable, sharp set of chisels.
Inside the case, you will find 8 high quality chisels that give you all that you need for your wood work. The chisels range from ¼” to 2” in size. With the aforementioned accessories, whether you are a beginner or an expert user, you will certainly have a good time with this set.
The blade of the chisels are made from vanadium steel and are bevel types. Therefore, you get a durable set of chisels. Another cool thing about these chisels is that the handles are rubberized and give excellent grip.
The ends of the chisels have metal caps that make it useful despite using mallets.
What we liked: This set is designed for anyone, whether a beginner or expert. It offers impressive durability and the best carrying case of all the options on the market.
What could be better: Well, before you use the chisels, at least for the first time, you have to sharpen it.
Extra features: 1x honing guide & 1x sharpening stone included, ergonomic handles, protective caps, blow molded plastic storage case
This set is designed to work with a wide variety of woodworking projects, which is why its six pieces are of different chisels. The chisels are bevel edged and come in different sizes. When combined, all these result in a chisel set that will provide you with all you need for your work.
The blades are hard and sharp. They are vanadium blades, which mean that they will last for a long time. The factory sharpened blades will last for a long time and do not need to be sharpened very often.
The handles are also excellent because they are made of rubberized plastic. The result is that you have chisels that are quite easy and comfortable to hold. It offers you excellent grip and will also serve you well despite heavy malleting.
The model also comes with several accessories. You will find a sharpening stone included that comes in useful whenever you feel that the blades are feeling somewhat blunted. To improve the durability of the chisels, it is important that you keep it properly. That is why it is excellent that this unit comes with a plastic storage case.
What we liked: We enjoyed the handle of this model. It offers you good grip. It is also made from vanadium material which is durable and will help you with your chiseling work.
What could be better: The chisel set has just six pieces. Considering the price and that several other units have more than six pieces, we expected more from this unit.
Extra features: 1x honing guide, 1x sharpening stone, 2x carpenter pencils included, thickened ergonomic handles, heavy-duty metal striking steel end caps, protective caps, blow molded plastic storage case
Our top choice, the REXBETI Premium Wood Chisel Set, is an impressive collection of chisels that contains nearly all that you would need for your chiseling activities.
It comes with 10 pieces, which have different sizes. The chisels range from the ¼” to the 1 ½” sizes. Therefore, you have just the right size to handle your wood working. Aside from these, the unit also boasts of several very handy extras. Aside from the chisels, you will find a pair of pencils, a sharpening stone, honing guide, and very importantly, a carrying case. This carrying case will make your chisels last for longer as they are well stored. We observed that this case is pretty durable and can even accompany you on your work on a job site, The stone will ensure that your chisel points remain sharp and ready to be used whenever you want.
Away from all of that, the handles on the chisels are of good quality. They are constructed out of plastic and even have impressive metal striking caps that will provide more durability and resistant to malleting.
The REXBETI Premium Wood Chisel Set made especially for beginners to wood working and that is evident in the features and the lower price.
What we liked: The model offers plenty of versatility and durability. It boasts of metal caps that reduce the impact of mallets.
What could be better: Well, this model is focused on beginners.
Extra features: full length blade guard, steel butt
For those on a budget, then you need a chisel set that is affordable. However, in your quest to find an affordable set, you certainly would not want to compromise greatly on the functionality. Enter the WORKPRO Wood Chisel Set. This set is a very affordable set that manages to combine a low price with plenty of functionality.
With this set, you get a high quality set of chisels that will come in handy in different situations. If you need a chisel for general use or are looking to add more chisels to your set, then you will certainly enjoy using this set. It offers three different chisels that come with different features and sizes.
The blades are of vanadium steel, which improves the durability and sharpness over time. You can store it for a long time without the chisel losing its sharpness or general ability.
The chisels have a steel butt too that will give you plenty of durability. It sharpens really quickly as well and will be sharp against different types of woods. The handle is of a bi-material which is quite durable. ½, ¾, and 1” size chisels offer you good overall performance.
What we liked: WORKPRO Wood Chisel Set is mainly attractive because of the low price. It also manages to give impressive durability all round.
What could be better: Well, we observed that the blades need to be sharpened before they are used. This can cause some discomfort. It also does not come with extras.
In the section above, we considered eight of the best wood chisels that you will find on the market right now. Although there are several models that you can buy, these eight help to narrow the list down to the best. It will thus be easier for you to buy the right model. Now, in this section, we will discuss all the things that you need to know about chisels, especially the features and factors to consider before you make a buying choice.
The simple answer is anyone that is interested in woodworking will be best served using a chisel. If you believe that you will get into woodworking, whether now or later, then you should think about getting a set of bevel edge chisels. Although there are different types, this type of chisel is the best to start with.
When you begin, it pays to start with a set of around ten or at least five. Why? Well, starting with this number will give you plenty of versatility and options. You have more to work with, and you don’t have to spend plenty of money to get started. WORKPRO Wood Chisel Set offer bevel chisels.
After your foray into the bevel edge chisels, you can then move on to the bench chisels. These are very common types of chisels and they offer the most versatility among the models that you will find on the market. Due to their design, they are suitable for a wide number of woodworking tasks. You can use them for the simple and complex work without worrying too much about the quality of your work. These chisels are designed such that they fit into joints with remarkable ease.
Choosing a chisel set will give you plenty of options because there are so many tips available to you to help you do different jobs.
In searching for the right option, look for units that have a narrow straight chisel, wide chisel, deep gouge, medium gauge, and several angled chisels.
When combined with a round-nose chisel, a set like this will give you all that you need for the aspect of woodworking you might be concerned about. You should also seek to include a parting tool and some other hand tools.
The chisel is such a versatile option that it should be one of the first tools to consider when you get into woodworking. With the set of chisels handy, you will always have the right option for you work.
Now that we have seen why a chisel set is so important, it is time to consider some of the most important features that will help you to select the right chisel set from the plethora of options that you have on the market.
There are several types of chisels and chisel sets on the market and the onus is on you to find that which will suit you right to the ground. To that end, you must have the knowledge of the different types of chisels that we have. There are several types, but three out of these are considered to be the most important types of chisels for woodworking. Let’s discuss these in more detail.
The first type to be considered are bench chisels. These chisels are very popular among woodworkers because of its sheer versatility. The chisel is designed with users in mind and is made to be used for almost every type of woodworking activity. With these chisels, you can cut out wood joints in a cabinet, shave off lumber, and do much more.
The name ‘bench chisel’ is even an indication of the versatility and usefulness of the chisel as it is often found ready on a woodworking bench.
The bench chisel comes with different types of edges. Some have straight edge while other come with a bevel edge. From our research and reviews from other users, the bevel edge is most popular type on the market. It is beloved for several reasons. For one, this type of edge gives the wood worker a great degree of control and balance. The bevel design also accommodates different joints. An example is the VonHaus Craftsman Woodworking Wood Chisel Set.
The straight edge also comes with its advantages. While it doesn’t give as much balance as the bevel type, it is thicker and will serve you better if you want to carve large sections of a hard material.
You can get these two types of bench chisels in different sizes. With these in your set, you can handle almost any type of woodworking.
It should be noted that although these are excellent and versatile options, you should use them correctly and use only a wooden mallet with them.
The mortise and tenon joint is one of the first type of joints that every wood worker learns. It is popular in wood working and requires a certain type of chisel to be able to work on it. Well, that is what the mortise chisel is for. Although a bench chisel is versatile and can even handle some mortise and Tenon joints, it simply cannot handle these as well as the mortise chisel. This chisel is specifically designed for this type of joint.
The mortise chisel with withstand the heavy use, including prying and pounding that results from mortising. A bench chisel can work, but it will easily get damaged for such work.
The design of these chisels make them particularly suited to this type of work. They are thick and heavy which makes it easier to carve out a mortise in very hard materials. Additionally, there are other types of mortise chisels, the sash chisel that will do the more intricate mortising for you.
Either type of mortise chisel is available in different sizes on the market right now.
Woodworking involves paring, and these chisels are designed for just that. Mortise chisels can cut larger joints off, but the paring chisels are made to cut smaller and intricate joints in a finished work.
The design of these enables them to handle such work. They are designed with long and thin blades that are thin enough to penetrate small joints and spaces.
These chisels do some of the most delicate work, thus, you should never use a mallet on them. Instead, it is advised to use only you hand power to use them. Using hand power ensures that you remove just the right amount of material.
Although they can certainly be used alone, the paring chisel can also be paired with other types of chisels for the best finish.
Another thing to consider when buying a chisel set is the method of manufacturer. To this aspect, there are two main schools – the Western and the Japanese chisel. Many have debated over which of the two is the better type of chisel, and you must understand the features and differences between the two before you decide on which of them to choose.
The heart of the matter is focused on the type of steel that these chisels are made from.
Japanese chisels are famous for hard steel, high carbon steel, that is harder than what is found in the Western chisel. This steel is made of high carbon that contains very little impurities. On the other hand, the Western chisel is made of regular steel.
With this in mind, what are the advantages of either of the two types of chisels?
First, Western chisels are softer and will dull quicker. However, it is easier to sharpen when dull. Japanese steel will maintain its edge for longer; however, it will be longer to sharpen. Therefore, Japanese steel is excellent for jobs that need frequent malleting. The issue is that you will have to take breaks to sharpen the blade.
Another difference is that the shape of the blades and handles are different. Japanese chisels come with shorter blades and handles that are most difficult to hold than the Western chisels.
Overall, in terms of the handles and blades, the general view is that you use what you feel more comfortable with. The cool thing is that you can buy a chisel set with both Western and Japanese chisels.
Chisel blades and handles are made from different types of materials. When choosing a chisel set, it is important to consider, the material that these are made from. First, let us consider the material of the blade.
From our research and reviews from users, most chisel blades on the market are made out of carbon or vanadium steel. Also known as tool steel, carbon steel is steel that has carbon added to the iron. This addition makes it harder than your regular steel. This hardness makes the blade stay sharper for a longer time. It also affects the time it takes to resharpen.
The other material is vanadium steel. As the name implies, this type of steel has vanadium added which makes it even better and tougher than the aforementioned carbon steel. An example is the GREBSTK Professional Wood Chisel Tool Set. With the increased hardness comes a much sharper edge that will hold for longer than the regular steel or even carbon steel. No wonder, then, that this type of steel is used even in other things like surgical tools. You can use it for a long time without any need to sharpen it.
The handle material is also an important consideration when you are choosing your chisel. The grip of the handle is made from wood or plastic, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. The wooden handles are usually made to look beautiful, offer plenty of balance, and will last for a longer time. That is why you will find most experienced wood workers using a wooden handle chisel. They come with almost no disadvantages. However, because of the quality and special method of production, these chisels are usually quite expensive. The IMOTECHOM Woodworking Wood Carving Tools Chisel is a wooden option.
The plastic handle is found in other chisels too. It is divided into the hard or soft grip plastic. The hard models feature a PVC composition, which is easy to get and offers a high level of resistance to impact. Soft grip handles on the other hand come with a rubber and plastic composition. It isn’t as hard as the wooden or PVC handles, but it offers lovely grip that is arguably more comfortable. Due to the ease of production and low price, this type of material is found in chisels that are designed for beginners. The REXBETI Premium Wood Chisel Set, comes with a rubberized handle. Another example is the VonHaus Premium Chisel Set for Woodworking.
Related to the material of the handle is the type of handle design. There are two main types of handles in this regard. These are the socket and tang handle.
The socket model comes with what looks like a socket for a shank. This fits into a similar protrusion from the handle.
On the other hand, the tang chisel features a pointed shank that is attached to the handle.
From our research and reviews from other users, the socket handle is more expensive that the tang chisel. This is down to the quality of build – socket handles last longer than tang handles. They will last for longer despite the regular beatings from a mallet. With the socket handle, you can use it as a wedge.
This is one of the reasons why the socket chisel is preferred by most users. Nevertheless, you can still enjoy good performance from the tang models as long as you use them appropriately.
Another thing to consider, which is perhaps the most important thing to consider is the purpose of the chisel. You must know what you plan on using it for so that you will not waste your time and money on chisels that prove ineffective. For instance, if your woodworking project has several mortise and tenon joints, then you should certainly get a mortise chisel for the best performance. Other types of chisels will likely prove to be useless and will get damaged quickly.
If you aren’t sure the type of chisel to buy, a chisel set comes in handy as it has all of the chisels that you might need.
If you aren’t sure on what to choose, we recommend the bench chisel since it offers the most versatility. A mortise chisel is best if you need to create several mortises during your project. The paring chisel is for delicate work and will be good for use in furniture that requires plenty of detailing.
As with all types of tools used in woodworking, you should consider the dimensions of the chisel.
In choosing chisels, the size that you decide on is dependent on the type of chisel and its purpose. You can get chisels in different sizes, ranging from 3” models to as little as 1/16”.
Apart from the width of the chisel, you should also consider the length of the unit. The longer the blade is the greater the level of control that you get, especially for chiselling a flat surface.
To that end, paring chisels are really great.
If your woodworking involves small, tight joints and spaces, short chisels will give the best performance.
As you hunt for the best chisels for your work, you should also consider the extras that might come with the unit. The most important extras are those that will ensure that your chisel stays sharp for a long time.
There are several types of accessories for this purpose. These include the bench grinder, some sandpaper, or a whetstone.
You will also need a place to store the chisels, therefore, you should think about getting storage cases, racks or magnetic tool holders.
Another thing that you will need is a good mallet.
As with other woodworking tools, chisels come in a wide range of prices. Some are cheap will others are more affordable. You have to consider your budget and see how much you are willing to spend on a chisel set. This will determine the model that you buy. In the case of chisels and chisel sets, more expensive models often give you better performance and durability.
However, you can certainly find some relatively cheap options that still give you plenty of quality.
A warranty is an important inclusion in any chisel set. This warranty is important because it will ensure that you can replace or repair any chisel set at no additional costs.
The GREBSTK Professional Wood Chisel Tool Set comes with four versatile pieces. The handle is made of beech wood which absorbs the impact from the mallet.
We hope that you go through this list and find the best wood chisels for you use.
