10 Best Wood Chisels 2020 [Buying Guide]

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Heather
Patton

Jennifer
Trimbee

Samantha
Dewitt

How to Choose the Best Wood Chisels

If you’re curious about the types of chisels and their uses or aren’t sure what makes the best wood chisels the best, you’ve come to the right place. We did a lot of research to find the most popular, best-selling, and effective chisels on the market. Before we get started on our best of list, let’s take a closer look at some of the key features to keep in mind when shopping for the right wood chisel set for you.

Pieces: We found some single chisels that are great so you can add to your collection one by one and a set that comes with 12 chisels to get started with right away. Plus, a lot in between.

Grip Material: Grip material varies from rubber to wood to plastic! What you choose is up to you, but each has its own benefits. If you want to be able to use your chisels with a mallet, choose something strong.

Sizes: Each of the sets we found includes a range of chisel sizes. This is the width of the blade itself and is usually clearly marked on the metal. Different jobs require different sizes so choose according!

Chisel Length: Some sets have chisels that are all the same length regardless of width while others have a uniform throughout all the items in the set. Length is mostly personal preference and you might find it varies with the job.

Weight: Lighter chisels are somewhat easier to handle. This will give you a bit more control and make your work a little cleaner and easier. That said, some people prefer a little more weight. Pick what works best for you!

Case: When you get a set of tools, a case is a bonus. Especially if you get a large set. You can keep everything together in one place and makes it really easy to find just the tool you’re looking for.

Top 10 Products

Now that you know a little more about the key features of wood chisel sets, let us help you find the right set! Here’s how it works: the first two items in our list are our top pick and budget pick. That’s the best place to start if you don’t have a lot of time. Then, keep reading to see the rest of the great products that round out our wood chisels review. Think beyond Barr chisels! Let’s get started!

Stanley 750 Series Chisel Set

Our top pick for best wood chisel set is this gorgeous one from Stanley. It’s just so nice to look at. The handles are made of hornbeam wood, which has a nice light color and a fine grain. Each one has the Stanley logo burned into them and they contrast nicely against the steel blades. But enough about what they look like, how do they perform? Well, they’re also just really solid tools. The long, thin blade is made of high carbon steel that stays sharp for a long time. When it finally does dull, sharpening it is easy. The sides of the blades are even beveled to help you get into tight corners when you need to. Plus, they come with a real leather tool roll for storage.

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VonHaus Wood Chisel Set

Our budget pick has so many awesome features to it, you’re probably wondering how it’s possibly a budget item. That was our first thought when we saw it, too. We assure you, it is a budget price. As for performance, it’s well above comparable kits. With this set, you get 6 different chisels w. The blades are made of heat-treated chrome vanadium steel alloy for strength and durability. The stay sharp and sharpen easily when the time comes thanks to the narrow beveled sides. Ergonomically designed handles make them really nice and easy to use, even for long periods of time. This set also comes with a honing guide and a sharpening stone. That’s not all. To keep everything together, it comes in a molded plastic case.

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Tekton 67554 Wood Chisel

This is not a set but a single chisel. If you don’t need a whole set or if you want to collect your chisels as you need them, buying them individually is the way to go. Tekton has this ¾” chisel that’s made of high-carbon steel. It’s beveled so it stays sharp for a long time and it’s easier to get into small spaces with it without risking any gouges to your wood. The blade also has a lacquer coating that prevents rust and keeps the metal sliding smoothly through cuts. You also get a reusable cover for the blade to keep it protected. Guess what else? The handle is strong enough to handle blows from metal hammers. This is a great feature because it means you don’t need to buy a special mallet.

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Narex Woodworking Chisels

This Narex set contains some of the best chisels for woodworking. The chisels are actually made in the Czech Republic by a respected tool manufacturer and are of the highest quality. They use tempered chrome-manganese steel with a 25 degree bevel. They sharpen well and hold onto their edge for a long time. The handles are stained European beech to deep brown that looks great against the steel and the wooden display box the set comes in. You can also use a mallet with these because they were constructed to be really tough. Why do we say that? Well, because the blade extends well into the handle and the ferrules help withstand the mallet blows. These chisels are pretty long, too, about 10 ½ to 11 inches depending on the size of the blade.

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DeWalt Strike Chisel Set

For a durable set of chisels that are perfect for scraping and demolition purposes, this set from DeWalt hits the mark. The hardened, tempered high-carbon steel blade is really tough. What makes them good for heavier jobs like demolition? The special serrated cutting edge that adds a lot of versatility. The handles are made of with rubber grips and a metal butt end. Why is this important? The rubber keeps the grip comfortable so you can get a nice grip on your tool while the metal butt end means it can take whacks from a standard hammer. They’re also curved to help with grip and control. Use these best bench chisels for finer work, too, but they’re very well suited to jobs that would be too tough on a thinner blade.

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Stanley Wood Chisel Set

This set from Stanley is a tough set that can handle just about anything, even the delicate work of a dovetail chisel. It comes with 3 different size chisels. The handles are made from strong black polypropylene. It’s comfortable to use and control plus it can take a whack from a mallet without breaking or losing its shape. Why? It’s fully shock absorbent. Seriously, these handles can handle a lot of abuse. Now, moving onto the blades. They are made of tempered steel. They’re uniformly hardened so every edge and area is the same strength. Why does that matter? You can use any part of the blade and know that it will be durable and strong. Plus, the blades are lacquer coated to resist rust and help them move slowly through the wood.

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Irwin Marples Chisel Set

For the best timber framing chisels we found, check out this set from Irwin Maples. The handles are thin and contoured so you get a good hold on them. This gives you a lot of control plus it’s really comfortable in your hand. You can use a wooden mallet with them, too. As for the blades, they’re made of high-carbon steel. Even after heavy use, they retain their edge for a long time. When they do finally need to be sharpened, it’s easy to do and they take the edge very well. Irwin has been making tools for a long time. In fact, they first started in 1885. They’ve made some improvements over the years but the iconic blue handles still stand for the same quality. This is a great set for all skill levels.

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Narex Woodworking Chisels

The 4 chisels in this set from Narex are made by a small tool manufacturer in the Czech Republic and are of exceptional quality. The blades are composed of hardened, tempered chrome-manganese steel for strength and durability. They also have a 25 degree bevel. They sharpen well and hold onto it for a long time. A lot of woodworkers prefer a slimmer cross section and these chisels deliver in that respect. There’s more. The wooden chisel handles on this set are made from lacquered European Beechwood. The blades extend far into the handle which allows you to do some pretty vigorous mallet work without having to worry about damaging the tool. Overall, this is a good looking set that also performs really well. One more thing: they come with a lifetime warranty.

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WorkPro Wood Chisel Set

This 3 piece wood chisel set from WorkPro is the perfect size for a beginner. The blades are made of drop forged chrome-vanadium steel that’s been heat treated. Why is being heat treated such a big deal? It helps the blade maintain a sharp edge for a longer period of time. The handles are made of bright blue rubber with red accents. The colors not only give the chisels a fun, modern look but they also make it really easy to find them in your toolbox. You won’t have a problem working with these for long periods of time because of the ergonomic design. There’s more. The handle has a steel butt that’s designed to handle heavy pounding. You don’t have to get a special mallet, either, because these are so tough.

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Tuma Crafts Wood Chisel Set

Looking for a large chisel set that’s great for a beginner? This one from Tuma Crafts has 12 types of chisels which will allow you to tackle just about any job that comes your way. The blades are all made from high quality carbon steel. Not only will they hold their edge but they’ll also last a really long time. The come sharpened and ready to go right out of the box so you don’t have to do anything when you get them. This is a great place to start if you’ve never worked with a wood chisel before. You’ll get a good idea of what you can do and learn which chisels you should invest in for the future. They even come in a nice carrying case to keep everything organized.

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About the Author

Jennifer Trimbee

Expert Researcher and Writer

Jennifer Trimbee, a lead researcher and writer at GeekWrapped, is an expert writer with many years of experience. Jennifer writes about technology, sports, outdoor, and gear products.

Best Wood Chisels

Top 10 Buying Guide

Our Recommendations

Stanley 750 Series Chisel Set

VonHaus Wood Chisel Set

How to Choose the Best Wood Chisels

Top 10 Products

Stanley 750 Series Chisel Set

VonHaus Wood Chisel Set

Tekton 67554 Wood Chisel

Narex Woodworking Chisels

DeWalt Strike Chisel Set

Stanley Wood Chisel Set

Irwin Marples Chisel Set

Narex Woodworking Chisels

WorkPro Wood Chisel Set

Tuma Crafts Wood Chisel Set

About the Author

TOP PICK

Stanley 750 Series Chisel Set