Last Updated on September 23, 2020 by builder Aaron Barnett
The best wood chisels are a fun tool to use when you are doing woodworking, and wood carving. Whereas an average set of wood chisels can be a bit frustrating and time-consuming.
Make sure to use a wooden mallet on any wooden handled chisels. And for construction and building work make sure you get a chisel set with a steel striking plate and stick to getting Irwin, otherwise Fatmax, or Stanley.
If you are new to woodworking, a carving or bevel edge set of blades can get you started. The Irwin maples’ are a cheap option that you can’t go wrong with.
As for brands like two cherries and Narex they make a good gift idea, paired with a bottle of whiskey. Or a Pro-choice for any woodworking enthusiast.
Best wood chisel sets
#1 Best wood chisels
Two Cherries 6 Piece set in Wooden Case
- Excellent build ensures long tool life
- Top German brand
- Retains edge very well even with repeated use
- Best Looking hand tools you can find
- Hornbeam handles are sized appropriately for each tool
- Nice Box
- Perfect gift for the old man
- None
#2 Best value wood chisels
Narex 12 Piece set (no case)
- Top Brand made in the Czech Republic
- 12 set, that’s double the blades for the same price
- Holds their edges very well
- Comes with pretty much everything you need
- Lacquered European Beech handle looks good and feels comfortable
- You could just make your own carrying box as your first DIY project
- Don’t necessarily need this many
- No carrying case
#3 Best Narex wood chisels
Narex 6 Piece woodworking Bench chisels in a wooden case
- Pretty good range of tools for hobbyist DIY’ers and pros alike
- Holds an edge well even with repeated sharpening
- Surprisingly well made for the price
- Awesome looking case
- Top Brand
#4 Best Maples wood chisels
Marples Irwin 6 Piece chisels in a wood case
- Arguably #1 choice for fine woodworking, with good value and durability
- One-piece steel construction for strength and durability
- Beveled edges allow for working in tight corners
- Split-proof plastic handles can withstand repeated hammering
- Excellent Choice to start Wood Working
- The case is pretty average
- Requires a bit of honing
- A Wooden Handle allows a softer smoother chisel than the plastic, but a noticeable difference is very small
Best wood carving chisels
#1 Wood carving chisels
Two Cherries 10 piece carving Wood Chisels in a wooden box
- Comes with a small sharpening stone
- Full complete all you would need a set
- Remarkably well-balanced and handles very well
- Wooden octagon handles are comfortable on the hands
- A broad range of tools for almost every use
- Attractive wooden case for storage
- Top German Brand
- Some users note issues with the finish
#2 Best value wood carving chisels
Narex Chisels 9 piece carving wood chisels in a wood box
- Hardened Cr-Mn steel is heat-treated for long life and durability
- Oiled octagonal beech handles are very comfortable
- Comes in a nice wooden box
- A bit pricey
- Fewer chisels than the two cherries
#3 Small wood carving chisels
Two Cherries 6 piece wood carving set in wood box
- A modest but versatile set of tools
- Come’s with a small whetstone
- Trademark Two Cherries quality
- Perfect gift idea
- All you need to start wood carving for a hobby
#4 Flex-cut carving chisels
Flexcut MC150 Carving Wood Chisels For Woodworking
- High-end chisels with ash handles that can be driven by a mallet or by hand
- A choice of 4-6 or a 10 piece set
- Ready razor-sharp carbon blades
- Tidy storage box
- A flexible chisel can do smoother cuts
#5 Cheap wood carving chisels
SCHAAF wood carving 12 piece carving Set (No carrying case)
- Alloy chrome vanadium steel results in long tool life
- Cheap carving wood chisels
- Varied set of tools for most jobs
- Angles aren’t very consistent
- No box
#6 Best DIY wood carving chisels
IMOTECHOM Woodworking Carving Tool Set
- Comes with a high-quality case for storage
- Big set for the price
- Strong and comfortable walnut handles
- Some complaints about the finish
- Complaints that the cut edges arrive out of square
Best chisels for builders
#1 Strongest chisels for builders
Marples Irwin ProTouch 8 Piece in Wooden Box
- The one-piece chrome vanadium steel construction ensures a long-lasting blade
- Minimal vibration and impact due to the comfortable ProTouch handle
- In my experience, these chisels are the strongest chisels that last for construction use and demolition. I have used a bunch of brands that have snapped under heavy use but not these.
- A wide range of sizes in the set provided
- Nice Box
- The metal striking cap allows for hard hammering
- Doesn’t come pre-sharpened out of the box
- The handle material is more comfortable than other chisels, but the surface layer can degrade and melt if it comes into contact with oil-based stains.
#2 Best wood chisels for carpenters
Marples Irwin High-Impact 5 Piece Set With Carrying Case
- Blades are made of durable high-carbon chrome vanadium steel
- Strong large striking plate
- Split proof acetate handle withstands heavy use
- Nice case
- Not very sharp out of the box
- Handles not as comfortable as the Irwin pro touch
Best wood-turning chisels
#1 Best woodturning lathe wood chisels
IMOTECHOM 8-Pieces HSS Wood Turning Lathe Set
- Strong and tidy wooden case
- 10-Inch hard and comfortable walnut wooden handle
- A variety of 8 different sized tools for woodturning
#2 Best woodturning blades
PSI Woodworking lathe carving 8 pieces In box
- Hardwood handles are comfortable to use even for long periods
- M2 High-Speed Steel is even more durable than carbon steel
- Can snap under heavy use
Wooden mallet for chisels
#1 Best wooden mallet
Crown 4-1/2-inch Beechwood Mallet
- 20 oz perfectly balanced wooden mallet
- Made from dried beech
Wood chisel sharpening tools
#1 Best value sharpening stone
Sharpening stone 1000/6000 Grit
- High-value stone
- Can be used for sharpening a wide variety of steel alloy tools–not just chisels
- Non-slip bamboo base keep stone steady
- No need for specialized honing/sharpening oils–only water
- Fine grit side of the stone will wear away, so keep a good even sharpening technique.
Bench grinder for sharpening chisels
Makita Slow Speed Grinder Vs Craftsman Variable Speed Bench Grinder
- After heavy use of your chisels, it is faster to hone your chisel first with a bench grinder, before hitting a whetstone.
- Most bench grinders operate at 3500+ RMP.
- For sharpening chisels, a slower speed can be easier and reduce the chance of burning the blade.
- The Makita slow speed bench grinder spins at 2850 RMP. Other options are getting a variable speed bench grinder that can be turned down to 2000 RMP although only available with DIY brands.
Introduction
Whether you plan on doing some serious DIY woodworking or you simply want to try your hand at wood carving, a good set of chrome steel chisels is a must-have.
Wood chisels are a tool that has dated back even more than 8000 years bc, previously made out of copper, and bronze, and used to cave both wood and stone. Nowadays chisels are made from various levels of hardened steel blades.
Chisels make for a great first set of hand tools for many reasons. Even the most well-designed models are relatively inexpensive, and they last a lifetime with proper care.
Most of all, they provide you with an easy way to get started with woodworking, even if it is simply chipping away at a block of wood, to carve something awesome.
Chisels are especially good choices for those that have never worked with tools before. Even kids can use them effectively with a bit of supervision, and they may just lead to a long-term interest in woodworking.
Woodworking chisels
If you think that you will want to get into woodworking eventually, getting a set of bevel edge chisels is the first start.
You might want to start with a set of five or ten, which gives you a good number to work with without having to spend too much money right off the bat.
Bench chisels are among the most common type of chisels, simply because they are so versatile, and can be used for many woodworking tasks. These chisels can also be used for more complex work, due to the bevel edge that makes them fit into joints easily.
It is always a good idea to purchase a set of chisels even if you are just starting out. This will ensure that you always have the right-sized chisel for the job, in your workshop apron.
Have a look at how the Two Cherries bevel chisels are made in the video above.
Wood carving chisels
Wood carving requires a more specialized set of hand tools, one that can do more than just gouge out big chunks of wood. You need something that allows for a more delicate touch, which is better suited for intricate and detailed shaping.
Two cherries Top Designed Carving Set
Having a variety of different tips will also enable you to do a wider range of jobs. When shopping for a set of carving chisels, look for one that includes a narrow straight chisel, a wide chisel, a deep gouge, a medium gouge, and a couple of angled chisels.
If you really want to round out your set, you could add a round-nose chisel, a parting tool, and a skew woodturning chisel. These hand tools will allow you to do pretty much any kind of wood carving art.
The flex-cut chisels have flexible blades for even smoother cuts
Most carving chisels come pre-sharpened, so you can use them immediately. The most practical bench chisels are made with high-quality carbon steel blades, so they will last a long time if you take reasonably good care of them.
By the way, have a look at this cool wood carving project I found on youtube done by Doug Linder:
Chisels for builders and diy
For DIY and home building work you need a chrome vanadium steel blade with a steel striking plate.
Builders need chisels that can withstand regular heavy use. Like demolition and taking things apart. Woodworking and carving chisels aren’t suitable for heavy-duty woodwork and carpentry and will fail within your first few attempts.
For joining work, mortise chisels are especially useful. They can be used for making mortise joints, and most are tough enough to handle a variety of other jobs.
You don’t necessarily have to buy a full set of mortise chisels. For most DIY home builders, one or two mortise chisels and a few bevel-edge chisels should be enough for most purposes. A good size to start out with is a 3/8-inch chisel, which isn’t too big or too small.
You might also want to pick up a ¼-inch chisel, which works well with ¾-inch and 7/8-inch boards. For hand-trimming joints, you should also pick up a paring chisel or two. These will help you create smoother joints than bevel edge chisels.
Chisel features
- Strength and durability. Chisels made with a tempered steel blade that will last for its duty. They will also hold their cutting edge longer, so you won’t have to sharpen them too often.
- Lacquer coating. This helps to prevent rust from building up too quickly.
- Balance. A well-balanced chisel gives you better control.
- Hardened strike cap. For construction use this allows you to use your chisel with a hammer without damaging it.
- Handle and striking plate. Wooden Or Maple striking area allows for a softer smoother chisel into the wood. This also requires a specialized wood chisel mallet instead of a steel hammer. Wood-handled chisels are a lot more comfortable than plastic-handled chisels and look nicer besides. Having a steel striking plate is what you will see with construction chisels, this means you can use a steel hammer and hit the chisel a lot harder.
Wood chisel features
Brand
Certain brands of chisels have achieved excellent reputations among builders, DIY’ers, and hobbyists alike.
Known for their strength, durability, and ease of use, brands such as Two Cherries, Narex, and especially Irwin are popular choices among builders who need the best quality tools for the job.
Two Cherries chisels are still made pretty much as they were decades ago in the company’s factory in Remscheid Germany. They are made with high-quality steel and you can rely on them to provide years of service.
Narex chisels are a good choice as well. They offer premium high-end quality at affordable prices, and they hold their cutting edge.
Irwin chisels have long been a favorite and the best wood chisels for builders. The company actually bought out William Marples and Sons, Ltd, which for a long time was the industry standard for high-quality chisels.
Although Irwin chisels are now made in China, the good news for woodworkers is that the look and feel of the traditional Marples model have been retained.
Shaft material
Most longtime woodworkers prefer chisels with wooden handles. Well-made wooden-handled chisels tend to be well-balanced and easy-to-use.
The best of them simply feel good in the hands and are nice to look at too. A beautiful set of wooden-handled chisels is impressive to look at, and it has an air of authenticity that you simply don’t get with plastic-handled chisels.
And make sure you use a wooden mallet instead of a steel hammer, to not damage them.
That said, a good steel striking plate will hold up to repeated hammer blows. If you plan on doing a lot of work involving house building and demolition you must get a chisel with a built-in metal striking plate.
Case
Most of the best wood chisels come with some type of carrying case; usually a wooden or plastic box. This should tide you over for a while if you simply leave your chisels at home in your workshop. But if you plan on carrying your chisels around with you, investing in a good quality chisel roll is a must.
You’ve probably seen dedicated woodworkers pack their best wood chisels up in a leather chisel roll. These are surprisingly handy and convenient, and they help protect your chisels from damage. They also keep you from scratching or cutting yourself when transporting your tools, and they are a great way to show off your chisels besides.
Price
As with all tools, you pay for what you get. The best chisels are more than double the price as the cheap ones.
A set of good quality chisels can easily cost you a couple of hundred dollars or more. You don’t want to cheap out and get the least expensive models you can find either, as they will likely break or quickly become blunted, and be unable to maintain their cutting edge.
It’s best to buy chisels in a set, it is cheaper than buying chisels individually. Some of the bigger cases will come with chisels you might not ever use, get at least 6 however.
Who uses chisel’s
Builders
Builders use chisels to gouge out bits of wood from larger pieces. Most builders typically use saws to cut wood roughly to the necessary dimensions. Chisels are then used for shaping or for making more precise cuts.
They may also be used to etch out intricate designs into wood, and to make individual pieces that fit precisely with each other.
DIY
DIY woodworkers have many uses for chisels, from correcting warped or unevenly-cut pieces of wood to connecting two end pieces together.
They can also be used to trim some wood off a door jamb in order to fix sticky doors and to cut holes into larger sections.
Cabinet makers and wood workers
Chisels can be used to cut out rough holes in wood for shelves and doors. These holes can later be enlarged with a saw, and later refined and smoothed out with a plane.
Chisels can also be used to make intricate designs in decorative cabinetry and to fashion moldings and trimmings.
Joiners
Chisels can be used for shaping pieces of wood so that they fit precisely together. Joiners typically use paring chisels to make smooth joints. Chisels with lower angles are especially useful for easier trimming of end grains.
Tips for using chisels
Keep your best chisels sharp and always direct your chisel away from the body! Also, make sure you make use of a good pair of Bessey clamps to stabilize your work, or use a bench vice.
A chisel can a favorite tool for woodworking. Few things can compare to the rewarding and satisfying feeling of carving away at a block of wood to have it come to shape under your hands. Here are some tips on how you could use your chisels more effectively.
When making mortise cuts, start with the bevel down. Push the chisel gently into the wood, removing thin slices at a time. You can control how much wood you remove by raising or lowering the handle.
In order to prevent wood edges from chipping first, make an outline of the area to be cut. You could either use a knife or make shallow cuts with your chisel.
Avoid chiseling against the grain whenever possible. This can cause you to lose control over the chisel, especially if the grain runs deep. If necessary, re-position your tool so that you are chiseling along the grain.
In most cases, you will want to face the bevel edge down when shaving into the wood. If you are trying to flatten out a cut, however, you might get better results by facing the bevel up and keeping the chisel low.
Try not to take out too much wood at once. It is almost always best to take a bit off at a time and assessing the results before proceeding.
If you want to do big checkouts, you can make it easier by using a spade drill bit to take out the bulk of the timber. An even better idea is to the initial bore out using a cordless wood router.
Stay sharp
Most chisels come pre-sharpened right out of the box. But of course, you will have to apply some chisel sharpening techniques eventually.
For woodworking and carving a blunt blade means you will be hitting the chisel harder, and this puts more pressure on a high-quality wooden handle. And hitting a chisel harder than you need to because your chisel is blunt makes the job more dangerous, and it also leaves a poor finish. Get a good sharpening stone to keep it sharp, for major wear and tear on your wool chisels use a craftsman bench grinder.
Comparing the best chisel sets
| Kirschen 1101000
| Narex 810103-50
| Narex 853053
| M373 Chisel Set
| Kirschen 3441000
| Narex 894813
| Two Cherries 515-3437
| Flexcut MC150
| Schaaf Wood Carving Tools
| IMOTECHOM Carving Set
| ProTouch Chisel Set
| IRWIN Tools 1819363
| IMOTECHOM Lathe Set
| PSI LCHSS8 Lathe Set
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | Two Cherries | Narex | Narex | Irwin/Marples | Two Cherries | Narex | Two Cherries | Flexcut | Schaaf | IMOTECHOM | Irwin/Marples | Irwin/Marples | IMOTECHOM | PSI |
| User: | Woodworker | Woodworker | Woodworker | Woodworker | Woodworker | Carver | Carver | Carver | Carver | Carver | Builder | Builder | Wood Turner | Wood Turner |
| Number of chisels: | 6 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Handle: | Wood | Wood | Wood | Plastic | Wood | Wood | Wood | Wood | Wood | Walnut | Plastic/Steel | Acetate/Steel | Walnut | Wood |
| Case: | Wood | None | Wood | Wood | Wood | Wood | Wood | Wood | None | Walnut | Wood | Nylon | Walnut | Wood |
Conclusion
Two Cherries woodworking chisels are a top of the range choice, for hobbyists and home DIY’ers they are also reasonably affordable, easy to use, and have a low maintenance design. They are made to handle complex woodworking jobs, so you can keep using them as your skills grow. The 6-piece set reviewed here offers more than enough tools to get started with. If you plan on getting serious with your woodworking, you can spring for the 11-piece set, which offers even more tool options with the bonus of a comfortable octagonal handle.
For house building work rather than carving or woodworking the Irwin ProTouch 8-piece is the best and strongest chisels around nothing else is better. The chisels come with ProTouch handles that can be used for long periods without discomfort. They are fitted with metal striking caps that can handle a good beating.
Now, if you looking for some wood-turning chisels, you need the strength and durability that the Imotechom 8-Pieces HSS lathe set provides. These chisels are made of carbon steel, with these chisels you spend a lot less time sharpening and more time woodturning.
Two Cherries wood chisels review
The Two Cherries woodworking chisel set is known for its quality build and superb construction, the chisels in this set are no exception. Made from high-quality carbon steel, these retain their edge exceptionally well and will last for years. Each chisel is also fitted with a hornbeam handle that is cut specifically to fit the size of the blade. This results in a balanced and easy to handle chisel that feels great and produces consistent results.
Pros:
- High-quality woodworking chisel construction
- Holds a sharp cutting edge for days, months and years depending on usage and care
- Appropriately-sized hornbeam handle makes them easy to handle
Best woodworking chisel set
Two Cherries carving wood chisels review
The Two Cherries 11-piece set offers even more quality tools, along with a handy sharpening stone. Like the chisels in the 6-piece set, these are made from high-quality carbon steel, ensuring long life and excellent edge retention. The set comes with everything you would need for a wide variety of woodworking tasks, including gouges, askew, a V-tool, and a selection of chip carvers. Each chisel has a wooden octagon handle that ensures comfortable use and prevents them from rolling off the work area.
Pros:
- Good balance and handling
- Comfortable wooden octagon handles
- A wide range of chisels covers you for most jobs
- Comes with a nice wooden case
Best wood carving chisels
Marples Irwin wood chisels review
This set offers the same traditional quality that has made Marples the favorite of woodworkers and DIY’ers alike. The blade is made of a single piece of high-quality steel, which is subjected to a special hardening process. This ensures a long-lasting blade that retains its steel blade edge. The chisels feature the company’s exclusive ProTouch handles that are comfortable to use even for long periods. They are also fitted with metal striking caps so you can use them safely with a mallet or a hammer without worrying about them splitting or warping.
Pros:
- One-piece steel blade and striking plate lasts a long time without breaking
- Built-in metal striking caps so they can be bashed safely with steel hammers
- ProTouch handle reduces vibration and impact for comfortable use
- A wide variety of chisels provided
Cons:
- Needs to be sharpened before use
Best wood chisels for builders
Sharpening stone for chisels
You will need a sharpening kit to keep your best wood chisels in top condition, and this is the best you can get for the money. The kit comes with a double-sided whetstone and a handy bamboo base to keep the stone steady while you are sharpening your steel alloy or chrome vanadium steel woodworking chisels. You also get a helpful angle guide and an instruction manual. There is also an e-book that provides a wealth of sharpening tips and tricks that you will find useful regardless of your level of experience.
Pros:
- High-quality sharpening stone that will last a long time
- Can be used for sharpening a variety of blades not just chisels
- Non-slip bamboo base keep stone nice and steady
- No need for specialized honing/sharpening oils–only water is required
Cons:
- Fine grit side of the stone wears out over time
Sharpening stone 1000/6000 grit
References:
- Two Cherries product info, retrieved from, https://twocherriesusa.com/about/
- Wood chisel, history retrieved from, https://www.britannica.com/technology/chisel
Hi, my name is Aaron, and welcome to Banging-Toolbox.
As a builder and site supervisor, I started banging-toolbox with the goal to make the #1 building, DIY, and tool review resource on the internet.
Feel free to have a look around, and don’t hesitate to ask me any questions about DIY or building, you can find out more about me here.
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