Best Wood Chisel Reviews (2020): Our Favorite Hand Tools

The versatility of the best wood chisels for woodworking should not be underestimated. You know how frustrating it is to work with tools that aren’t quite right.

Good chisels can help you get in the zone where your mind and hands can work in synchronicity to realize your artistic vision.

The best tools will produce consistent results over a long period of time, allowing you to embrace your creative side instead of needing to shop for new chisels every year.

Our top recommendation is the VonHaus 8 Pc Wood Chisel Set. This wood chisel set comes with eight different pieces, providing you with a variety of chisels to work with. The handles are also ergonomically designed to increase comfort while using them. It comes with a honing guide and sharpening stone. The blades are of high quality and they have great edge retention capabilities.

The Best Wood Chisels Are:

ProductDetails
1. VonHaus 8 Pc Craftsman Woodworking Wood Chisel

  • Material: Steel
  • No. of Pieces: 8
  • Weight: 5.95 pounds
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2. Narex 863010 4 Pc Set 6mm Woodworking Chisels

  • Material: Steel and wood
  • No. of Pieces: 4
  • Weight: 1.55 pounds
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3. Dewalt DWHT16063 Short Blade Wood Chisel 4 Pc Set

  • Material: Steel
  • No. of Pieces: 4
  • Weight: 1.3 pounds
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4. IRWIN Tools Marples M444S4N 4-Piece Woodworking Chisel Set

  • Material: Carbon Steel
  • No. of Pieces: 4-Piece
  • Weight: 1.5 pounds
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5. Stanley 16-401 Bailey Chisel Set, 5-Piece

  • Material: Steel
  • No. of Pieces: 5
  • Weight: 3 pounds
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1. VonHaus 8 Pc Craftsman Woodworking Wood Chisel — Best Chisel Set

This 8-piece chisel set is perfect for the beginning woodworker or for those who need to replace or upgrade their current equipment. The steel alloy blades keep their edge quite well and the ergonomic handles allow you to maintain your grip with ease.

You will also receive a sharpening stone and honing guide. The chisels can handle a blow from your hammer, yet have the versatility for hand-chiseling when needed. You will not be disappointed by this affordable set.

This is an 8-piece chisel set that includes 6x chisels 38mm, 32mm, 25mm, 19mm, 13mm, 6mm, 1x sharpening stone, and 1x honing guide. The chisels come with an ergonomically designed handle to provide you with more comfort and control when using them. The blades are also heat-treated and they offer narrow side bevels.

These tools have smaller and thinner bevels, which allow for greater maneuverability and controllability. With this, you can complete those subtle decorative carvings that need exercising great motor skills.

If you are looking for the best woodworking chisels that you can use to handle a wide range of woodworking jobs, this is the right chisel set for you. This unit also comes in a blow-molded plastic storage case, making it very easy to store and transport.

Specs

  • Material: Steel
  • of Pieces: 8
  • Weight: 5.95 pounds

Pros

  • It comes with all the pieces you use frequently
  • Ergonomically designed handles for increased comfort and control
  • It comes with a highly durable storage case
  • The blades are made from rugged and highly durable vanadium steel alloy
  • It includes a sharpening stone and honing guide

Cons

  • Susceptible to corrosion and rust if you not stored very well

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2. Narex 863010 4 Pc Set 6mm Woodworking Chisels

These chisels are surprisingly versatile and strong. Made from a fine-grained chrome and manganese steel alloy, they have been hardened to RC59 so you receive a strong tool.

Sizes range from 6-26 millimeters and each features a bevel that has been ground at 25 degrees. The handles are what really stand out with this set, as each has been handcrafted from European Beechwood.

The natural grip and the overall size of each chisel give you the leverage you need to create consistently and successfully.

Narex is a tool manufacturing company based in the Czech Republic. This brand makes exceptional tools, with the focus of making your work easier. This 4-piece set consists of chisels with 1-1/32 inches, 13/16 inches, ½ inches, and 1/4 inches blade sizes.

The different blades sizes of this unit allow for versatility when working on any type of product. Narex designed the blades to handle working with any type of wood.

It is also highly durable and it was constructed to withstand corrosion. The handles of this chisel are 5.5 inches long, making them super comfortable and easy to hold. Narex also integrated two ferrules into the handle to prevent it from splitting when tapping the cap.

The only downside with these chisels is that you need to sharpen them regularly, as they get blunt pretty fast. Besides that, they are good to go!

Specs

  • Material: Steel and wood
  • of Pieces: 4
  • Weight: 1.55 pounds

Pros

  • Highly durable and sharp blades
  • Ergonomic handle for increase comfort
  • They come in a shrink-wrapped retail box
  • They are designed to prevent splitting

Cons

  • They do not hold an edge for long, so you have to sharpen them frequently.

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3. Dewalt DWHT16063 Short Blade Wood Chisel 4 Pc Set

It is difficult to discuss the best chisels on the market today without bringing up at least one set by this manufacturer. This 4-piece set gives you the hardened and tempered chrome carbon-steel blades that give you a superior edge.

The strike cap has been hardened so that you have extra durability and protection of the tool there as well. Each blade has been lacquered for extra protection against chrome, while the grip gives you a superior level of comfort. Pick up this affordable set and you will not be disappointed.

Dewalt is famous for its commitment to making high-performing and high-quality tools. This unit comes with a carrying case that makes it very easy for you to store and transport all the four pieces.

If you are looking for the best chisels to increase your collection of hand tools or replace your old chisels, then the Dewalt DWHT16063 is one of the best options to consider.

Unlike the product we reviewed above, these chisels from Dewalt have an impressive edge retention ability, thanks to the construction material. The handles of these chisels are made from a blend of two long-lasting and ultra-strong materials.

This helps to provide you with all the comfort and durability you need. The handles can also withstand impacts from different kinds of mallets, thanks to their sturdy construction.

The sizes of chisels in this set are 1-inch, 3/4 inches, 1/2 inches, and 1/4 inches. This set contains all the basic and essential chisels you need to handle a wide range of wood carving projects.

The downside to this unit is that it does not come with a honing guide, which means you have to purchase it separately in order to maintain the sharpness of your chisels.

Specs

  • Material: Steel
  • of Pieces: 4
  • Weight: 1.3 pounds

Pros

  • It has great edge retention ability
  • It comes with the basic chisels
  • The blades are resistant to rust and corrosion
  • Compact and lightweight

Cons

  • It does not come with a honing guide
  • It is on the higher end of the price spectrum.

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4. IRWIN Tools Marples M444S4N 4-Piece Woodworking Chisel Set

These long blade chisels make quick work of your woodworking chores. Although the polypropylene handle can get a little slick with continued use, the forged steel blades do provide consistent results.

The edge is retained quite well with these chisels and they withstand mallet work remarkably well. Each tool is backed by a full lifetime guarantee in defects from materials or craftsmanship.

The longest chisel is 11 inches in length, while the shortest is 9.5 inches, so you will have plenty of leverage to get your work done with this set.

If you are looking for a hassle-free chiseling experience, then you should consider this option. These chisels are a bit larger, which means you can finish your project in less time with less energy.

With the ergonomic design of the handles, you can hold and work with these chisels for hours without growing blisters or experiencing any fatigue.

Due to the construction of these blades, they remain sharp and deliver great performance even after being subjected to abusive and intense use. The handle of these chisels can withstand forceful and constant hitting by wooden hammers.

However, they might likely break with constant hitting with metal and steel hammers within a short time. This unit also offers flexibility, control, and maneuverability that you cannot find in other chisels on the market today.

This is one of the best chisel sets on the market; it is designed for everyone, and you can use it on a wide range of projects. This set is highly reliable and you can use it for years without any issues.

Specs

  • Material: Carbon Steel
  • of Pieces: 4-Piece
  • Weight: 1.5 pounds

Pros

  • It features a great build quality
  • It does a great job of retaining edge
  • It is an all-purpose woodworking chisel set
  • Highly durable

Cons

  • It does not come with a storage case

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5. Stanley 16-401 Bailey Chisel Set, 5-Piece

This micro-precision ground set of chisels gives you one of the best edges out of the box in the industry today. They are lacquered to prevent corrosion, with the hardwood handle providing the user with a solid grip that remains comfortable without fatigue.

The impact resistance thanks to the end cap is solid as well, so the carbon-chrome steel blades can continue to work consistently whenever there is a project to complete. A leather storage pouch comes with this set to further protect the product.

If you are looking for a practical, functional, and high-performing chisel set that you can use to handle a variety of projects, then these are the best wood chisels for you.

You can use this set to handle light to heavy-duty projects efficiently and smoothly. This is an all-purpose chisel set, as it comes with all the essential chisels you need for any kind of project.

The blades of these chisels are super sharp and ready for use, as they come with a micro-precision grind. You might not need to be re-sharpening the blades frequently, thanks to their professional and sturdy construction. The blades also have great edge retention abilities, and this reduces the rate at which you sharpen them.

This is a five-piece set, and all the pieces come with handles made with lightweight and very strong hardwood. This feature helps to reduce resistance, providing you with a firm grip.

Specs

  • Material: Steel
  • of Pieces: 5
  • Weight: 3 pounds

Pros

  • It offers an exceptionally strong grip
  • Long-lasting and highly durable chisels
  • It comes with all the basic and essential chisels you need for any kind of project
  • It is ideal for light-duty to heavy-duty woodworking jobs
  • Great edge retention capabilities

Cons

  • It is a bit difficult to flatten back

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What Are The Different Types Of Wood Chisels?

If you are new to Woodwork Nation, then you will notice that chisels can come in different shapes. There are three different types of wood chisels that you will want to consider owning.

Bench Chisels

This is a general-purpose chisel. It has a medium-length blade and beveled edges, creating a cutting edge of 30 degrees or less.

Mortise Chisels

These chisels have thick blades and they are designed for prying work. You will use them to cut mortise joints, but they have additional uses as well. They have a cutting edge of up to 40 degrees.

Paring Chisels

This chisel features a blade that is long and thin. These chisels are more for finishing work. You do not want to strike this chisel. It typically has a cutting edge of 20 to 25 degrees.

Each chisel is designed with either a socket-style or a tang-style grip. Socket chisels tend to provide more stability because the handle goes into the base of the chisel.

Tang-style chisels can also be useful, but they have more weakness at the grip point because the chisel is fitting into the handle.

Chisels also come with a variety of handle materials that you will need to consider. The cheapest chisels tend to come with a high-quality plastic handle, which can sometimes make them a little top-heavy.

Wood chisels tend to have a better balance to them, but they also succumb to wear-and-tear more quickly than synthetic alternatives.

This is where wood chisels reviews give you the shopping advantage. By seeing which options provide consistent balance and strength, you can know that you are purchasing a tool that will help your projects for years to come.

Things To Consider When Looking For The Best Chisels

Settling for the best wood chisels is very important, as it would help to make your work smooth and more efficient. However, picking the right option from the dozens available on the market can sometimes be a daunting task, as there are many factors you need to consider.

To help make the right choice, here are some of the vital things you need to put into consideration when looking for the best wood chisel set:

Size

This is one of the very first things you need to consider when buying this tool. The size of the chisels is very important, as the size of these tools can make your life a lot harder or a lot easier.

Smaller sized chisels provide you with flexibility and freedom to make smaller details when working on smaller woods. On the other hand, if you are working on larger projects or larger spaces, then longer chisels are ideal as they offer more leverage in such situations.

What this means is that the size of the chisel you need mostly depends on the kind of project you want to use the tool for.

Hence, you should know what you want before setting out to pick a chisel set. Knowing what you need would help streamline your decision-making process.

Purpose

You should also consider your purpose for the tool before venturing into the market. There are different types of chisels designed for purposes and use cases.

However, many DIYers and woodworkers get started by using a standard chisel for virtually everything. Some of the different types of chisels we have on the market are Mortising chisel, Skew chisel, Crank-Neck Chisel, Bench Chisel, and Japanese Chisel.

All these chisels are designed to make certain types of tasks very easy. Some of them allow you to make square corners better, while others have their areas of specialties.

To finish your project quickly and with less effort, you need to pick the right kind of chisel. As such, you need to consider what you want to use the chisel for in order to pick the perfect kind of chisel.

The Quality Of The Blade

One of the most important things, if not the most important, to consider is the quality of the blade. While you can forgive many faults if the chisel has a great blade, the reverse is not the case.

As such, you should make sure that the blade is highly durable and strong. It should also have a great edge retention capability so maintenance can be kept at a minimum.

What Will It Cost Me To Buy The Best Woodworking Chisels?

High-quality individual chisels can be priced at $20-$50 per tool. Since that may be out of the price range of some woodworkers, there are sets that can be purchased in the same price range.

In general terms, the more you pay for a chisel, then the longer it will last for you. Complete professional sets: Maybe $100 or more.

Conclusion

The best chisels will help you to finish your work without delay and to the highest quality possible. Find your preferred chisel or pick up a set today and then the only limit you will face in is that of your imagination.

Our top pick for the best wood chisel set is the VonHaus 8 Pc Craftsman Woodworking Wood Chisel because it comes with 8 different pieces, providing you with all the essential chisels you need. It also comes with ergonomic handles, making it comfortable and easy to use. The blades are also of high quality.