Building your own furniture, a boat, or completing a hobby-project is an exhilarating experience, but the final product will depend on the quality of your tools.
A super sharp chisel set will distinguish an average woodworking enthusiast from a Woodmaster. Such an excellent set will contain all the chisels you need, and then some, to complete your planned masterwork.
Be Prepared for any Woodworking Project with a Quality Chisel Set
While power woodworking tools, like a wood planer, are ideal for completing large scale projects super fast, a chisel set contains all the tools you need to work with softwood or hardwood without damaging the fine wood grain.
Highly functional, a chisel set also helps you to complete lots of different types of woodworking jobs, hobby-related projects, or wood-turning tasks such as:
- Chiseling holes
- Carving a block of wood into a bowl
- Shaving down rough edges
- Creating perfectly tapered bevels or intricate dovetails
- Cutting mortises
- Scraping glue from a workpiece
The 8 Best Chisel Sets
- Stanley 16-150 150 Series Short Blade 3-Piece Chisel Set
- WORKPRO 3-Piece Chisel Set
- Narex 853053 6-Piece Chisel Set (Our Top Pick)
- Irwin Tools Marples M444SB6N Woodworking 6-Piece Chisel Set
- VonHaus 8 pc Craftsman Woodworking Wood Chisel Set
- PSI Woodworking LCHSS8 HSS 8-piece Wood Lathe Chisel Set
- KSEIBI 312130 4-piece Premium Wood Chisel Set
- DEWALT DWHT16063 Short Blade Chisel 4-Piece Chisel Set
Our Top Pick for the Best Chisel Set
Our top pick for the best chisel set is the Narex 6-piece chisel set.
With unmatched craftsmanship, razor-sharp cutting action, and stunningly beautiful solid wood handles, you will love working with the Narex chisels.
Even though the chisels come in a stunning presentation box, these amazing professional-style chisels are destined to spend all their time helping you carve wood for your hobby project or create the furniture of your dreams.
How to Choose the Best Chisel Set
Chisel Set Size
Chisel sets are available with 3, 4, 6, 8, or more chisels of varying size. If you only need a few tools for light-duty general woodworking or hobby-related tasks, consider a small set like the Stanley 16-150 150 Series Short Blade 3-Piece Wood Chisel Set, which has three different size blades: ½, ¾, and 1 inch.
The Narex 853053 6-piece Chisel Set and the VonHaus 8-piece Chisel Set are perfectly suited for professional carpenters and woodworking enthusiasts and offer you a variety of size such as ¼, 3/8, ½, 5/8, ¾, 1, 13/16, or 1 1/32-inch
Blade Width
You also have to consider the width of the blade. Chisels that have a slimmer blade give you more flexibility to perform intricate cutting tasks. A wider blade gives you more cutting or shaving leverage with a larger work-piece.
Types of Chisels
There are lots of different types of chisels available, but the most common types of tools found in any workshop are a bevel-edge bench chisel, a paring chisel, a mortising chisel, and a wood lathe chisel.
Beveled Edge Bench Chisels
A beveled edge bench chisel is a highly versatile tool. It has a broader blade and beveled edges on three sides and can handle all types of woodworking tasks.
Paring Chisel
A paring chisel has a thinner blade that tapers towards the cutting edge which makes it the preferred tool of choice by cabinet-makers to shave off thin pieces of timber from a workpiece. It is especially useful for creating fine detail work on furniture.
Mortise Chisel
One of the more heavy-duty chisels, a traditional mortise chisel has a thicker and wider blade, and the back of the blade is ground flat which keeps it straight in the cut. A mortise chisel also has an extra solid oval handle that can withstand repeated blows from a mallet, so it is ideal for removing any leftover wood from a workpiece.
Wood Lathe Chisels
If you are a hobbyist or like to make your own furniture, a wood lathe chisel set, like the PSI Woodworking LCHSS8 Wood Lathe 8-piece Chisel Set, contains essential tools for intricate woodworking tasks.
If you are new to woodworking, this helpful video will show what the most commonly used chisels look like, and you can see some of them in action.
Blade Design
The blade quality is the most critical feature of a wood chisel. A blade should be sharp, durable, and resist chipping or scratching, and have excellent edge retention. A chisel’s blade may not always be razor sharp out of the box, but that can be easily remedied by using sandpaper or a quality whetstone to make the chisel’s edge razor sharp.
Blade Steel
The best types of steel for a chisel’s blade is molybdenum high-speed steel, chrome vanadium steel, manganese steel, or high carbon steel.
Molybdenum High-Speed Steel
Molybdenum high-speed steel is a universal cutting tool material and is known for its strength and superior cutting edge after grinding, but it is not ideal for high impact tasks.
Vanadium (or chrome vanadium) steel
Vanadium (or chrome vanadium) steel is a popular material for a chisel’s blade. As vanadium is very hard, it maintains a good sharp edge and the added benefit of chrome is that it prevents rust.
Manganese Steel
Manganese steel is a hard and sharp steel, and when the blade is sharpened, it has excellent edge retention. Some manufacturers add chrome to the steel to stop any rust developing on the blade.
High Carbon Steel
High carbon steel is a fantastic material for a chisel set, like the
IRWN 6-piece Chisel Set. It is ultra tough, and when a high carbon steel blade is sharpened, it maintains its razor-sharp edge for an incredibly long time, which is why it is used for making cutting tools like a tactical knife.
The manufacturer may also add a corrosion-resistant lacquer that stops the blade from rusting.
Handles
The handle is very important as it provides you with much-needed comfort and control while you move the chisel
Wooden handles are very comfortable to use and have extra strength to resist impact from a mallet, but the wood can get slippery when wet.
Plastic/polypropylene handles are very strong, but the plastic may not be as durable as wood, especially if you want to use the chisel with a mallet. Rubberized handles are robust, sturdy and comfortable, and are perfect for repeated use with a mallet.
If you need to use a mallet with the chisel a lot, look for a handle that has a steel butt or a bolster which adds extra strength to the chisel.
Storage Tool Box
A wooden box or plastic storage case is a great addition to a chisel set as you can keep all your chisels organized and safely stored for quick access. If there is no box or case, the manufacturer may include individual protective covers for the chisels.
Additional Extras
Some chisel sets come with additional extras like a sharpening stone which is a helpful tool especially if you do not have a stone readily available or you have run out of sandpaper. A honing guide will help you to correctly hone your chisels so that your tools are always ready for any woodworking action.
Best Chisel Set Reviews
1. Stanley 16-150 150 Series Short Blade 3-Piece Chisel Set
With a durable design and razor-sharp precision, the Stanley 16-150 150 Series Short Blade Chisel Set is an excellent addition to any woodworker’s toolbox.
Whether you have an existing chisel set or you are a beginner woodworker, this set contains three chisels that measure ½, ¾, and 1 inch in size.
All the beveled edge chisels have a short blade which is specifically designed to give you more control over small, detailed woodworking tasks.
The heat-tempered and hardened carbon steel blades have been fully precision ground on all faces which provides extra durability, strength and ensure a razor-sharp fine edge. Stanley has also coated the blade with a special rust-resistant lacquer to protect the blade in harsh workplace conditions. Even though the blades tend to lose their edge quickly with consistent use, just a few touch-ups with some sandpaper or a sharpening stone will bring the blade back to its original razor-sharpness.
The shock-absorbing black polypropylene handle is durable and resists deformation, and the bolster allows any impact from a mallet to be evenly distributed along the chisel.
Stanley offer a limited lifetime warranty on the 3-piece chisel set.
Pros
- High-quality
- Great value for money
- Extremely affordable price
- Well-made
- Contains 3 sizes
- Ideal as an addition to an existing chisel set or for beginner woodworkers
- Razor-sharp, durable and strong heat-tempered carbon-steel blade
- Fully precision ground beveled edge blade ensures razor-sharpness
- Lacquer coated for optimal rust-resistance
- Comfortable, strong black polypropylene handle resists deformation
- Bolsters evenly distribute weight along the chisel
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Polypropylene handle is not as comfortable or durable as wood
- Blade can lose its edge quickly
2. WORKPRO 3-piece Chisel Set
The Workpro Wood Chisel 3-piece Chisel Set is an indispensable set for any home workshop.
This set comes with three chisel sizes, ½, ¾, and 1 inch, and the sizes are conveniently displayed on the blade.
The drop-forged chrome vanadium blade is durable and has been specially heat-treated to ensure razor-sharp edge retention. Perfect for multi-purpose general woodworking and carving tasks, the beveled edge can be used to cut mortises, shave rough surfaces, and scrape off glue from softwood, hardwood, and laminated wood.
The ergonomic red and blue bi-material rubberized handles provide great comfort and firm control. A hardened steel butt can withstand heavy pounding with a hammer or mallet. For additional safety, the chisels have a full-length blade guard to protect your hands while you work.
WorkPro offer a 1-year warranty on the chisel set.
Pros
- High-quality
- Great value for money
- Very affordable price
- Multipurpose chisels for general woodworking or carving projects
- Suitable for softwood, hardwood, and laminated wood products
- Beveled edge is designed to cut mortises, shave rough surfaces, and scrape off glue
- Durable and razor-sharp drop-forged heat treated Chrome vanadium blades
- Very good edge retention
- Easy to sharpen
- Ergonomic comfortable bi-material rubberized handles
- Hardened steel butt is designed for heavy hammer and mallet blows
- Three sizes
- Chisel sizes are conveniently etched onto the blades
- Full-length blade guard for added safety
- 1-year warranty
Cons
- Not ideal for large-scale professional projects
- Blade may need to be re-honed or sharpened out of the box
3. Narex 853053 6-piece Chisel Set
This beautifully presented Narex 853053 6-piece Chisel Set is a fantastic chisel collection for any woodworking enthusiast.
These superbly crafted chisels are made in the Czech Republic and can be used for any woodworking application. Highly functional, the set boasts a great collection of six different sized chisels: 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 13/16, and 1 1/32-inch. You do not have to guess which is the right chisel for a job as each chisel has its size etched into the blade.
Built strong, the fine-grained, tempered Rockwell RC59 hardened chrome-manganese steel blade provide exceptional durability and excellent razor-sharp edge retention. The blade features a slimmer cross-section and a 25° bevel, which is ideally suited for professional woodworkers and serious DIY’ers.
European stained beech 5½-inch handles are solid and comfortable to hold and feature well-seated heavy steel ferrules that can withstand vigorous mallet work.
Stylish and functional, the Narex chisel set comes in an elegant wooden presentation box with a metal clasp so you can keep all your chisels safely stored for quick and easy access.
The chisel set is covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- Exceptional quality
- Great value for money
- Good price
- Ideal for most woodworking applications
- Six sizes
- Sizes are etched on the blade
- Superb craftsmanship
- Durable fine-grained, nicely tempered RC59 hardened chrome-manganese steel blade
- Durable and razor-sharp
- Excellent razor-sharp edge retention
- Blade features a slimmer cross-section and a 25° bevel
- Solid ergonomic stained European beech handles
- Well-seated heavy steel ferrules that are designed to withstand vigorous mallet work.
- Beautiful, elegant wooden presentation box with a metal clasp
- 30-day return guarantee
Cons
- The hardened blade can take a while to sharpen
- The back of the chisel may need to be flattened before use
- Can lose an edge quickly with hardwood
4. Irwin Tools Marples M444SB6N Woodworking 6-piece Chisel Set
The IRWIN 6-piece Marples Chisel Set contains essential woodworking tools for any professional or DIY woodworking enthusiast.
This high-performing chisel set includes six chisels with 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, and 1-inch blades which are perfectly suited for traditional fine woodworking applications. The longest chisel is 11 inches in length, while the shortest is 9.5 inches, so you have plenty of versatile leverage to get your work done.
High-carbon steel blades have been specially hardened to 58-HRC which makes the 25° beveled blade resistant to chipping and ensures long-lasting edge retention.
Even though the strong plastic handles are not rubberized, they have a slim, contoured design and are comfortable to hold. If you are a beginner woodworker, you will need to maintain a firm grip when you use the palm of your hand or a mallet. Although you may feel the impact of the blows through the plastic, the handles can withstand mallet work remarkably well.
In addition to the tools and the case, Irwin also includes six nozzle caps to protect the chisels from any wear and tear.
The chisel set is also available with four chisels. You can also choose a set that comes with or without a durable plastic case.
IRWIN Tools offer a full lifetime guarantee on the 6-piece chisel set.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Good price
- Six sizes
- Razor-sharp high-carbon steel blade hardened to 58-HRC for extra resistance to chipping and improved edge retention
- 25° beveled edge
- Super strong, slim, contoured blue plastic handle
- Design for use with a wooden mallet or the palm of the hand
- Ideal for traditional fine woodworking applications
- Six nozzle caps for the blades
- 4-piece set also available
- Comes with or without a durable plastic case
- Full lifetime guarantee
Cons
- Blades may need sharpening and honing out of the box
- Requires constant sharpening with frequent use
- Mallet impact may be felt through the non-rubberized plastic handle
5. VonHaus 8 pc Craftsman Woodworking Wood Chisel Set
The VonHaus 8-piece Chisel Set is perfect for home woodworkers and professional craftsmen.
This well-crafted set includes six sizes: 1/4-inch, 1/2-inch, 13/16-inch, 1-inch, 1-1/4-inch, and 1-1/2-inch blades, as well as a (120/200 grit) aluminum oxide sharpening stone and a honing guide.
Precision ground, razor-sharp chrome vanadium steel alloy blades are treated for strength and durability. Narrow side bevels allow for precise and quick flattening and sharpening.
Solid ergonomic red and orange rubberized polypropylene handles give you improved comfort and control and a bolster can withstand blows from a mallet.
Once you have laid down your tools, you can keep them safely stored in the durable blow molded plastic storage case.
Pros
- High-quality
- Excellent value for money
- Very affordable price
- Ideal for home DIY woodworking and professional craftsman
- Six different sized chisels
- Comes with a aluminum oxide sharpening stone and honing guide
- Durable and razor-sharp heat-treated, chrome vanadium steel alloy blades
- Narrow side bevels for precise and quick flattening and sharpening
- Solid ergonomic orange and black rubberized polypropylene handles for improved comfort and control
- A bolster adds extra strength for mallet use
- Durable blow molded plastic storage case
Cons
- Blades may need to be honed and sharpened out of the box
- Blades can lose their edge quickly
- Not ideal for use with a metal hammer
- Sharpening stone feels cheap
6. PSI Woodworking LCHSS8 HSS 8-piece Wood Lathe Chisel Set
This high-performing PSI Woodworking LCHSS8 Wood Lathe 8-piece Chisel Set is a great kit for any woodworking hobby enthusiast.
The wood lathe set contains all the essential chisels you need for turning small pens, spindles, bowls, and larger woodworking projects. A 3/16-inch parting tool; a 5/8-inch spear scraper; a 1-inch skew chisel; a 5/8-inch skew chisel; a 5/8-inch round nose scraper; a 1/2-inch bowl gouge; a 3/4-inch spindle gouge; and a 7/8-inch roughing gouge.
Whether you need to cut or shave pine, walnut, maple, oak, or poplar wood, the M2 Molybdenum high-speed steel has been hardened and heat-treated which ensures long-term sharpness and increased durability.
Stylish and functional, the beautifully crafted hardwood handles are sturdy and very comfortable to hold. When your projects are finished, all of your tools can be stored in the attractive softwood plywood display box.
The chisel set is available in a 1, 2, or 3-pack.
PSI Woodworking offer a 2-year limited warranty on the 8-piece chisel set.
Pros
- High quality
- Very good value for money
- Good price
- Eight essential chisels for hobby-related projects
- Perfect for turning small pens, spindles, bowls, and larger projects
- Sharp and durable Molybdenum high-speed steel blades
- Beautifully crafted hardwood handles are sturdy and comfortable to use
- Attractive wood display box
- Available in a 1, 2, or 3-pack
- 2-year limited warranty
Cons
- Chisels may need to be re-sharpened or flattened before use
- Not ideal for high-impact woodworking projects
- The case may not have enough glue applied to the lid and bottom
7. KSEIBI 312130 4-piece Premium Wood Chisel Set
Whether you have detailed renovation projects or carving tasks planned, the KSEIBI 312130 4-piece Wood Chisel Set is a great choice for a beginner or professional woodworking enthusiast.
Forged from double-tempered chrome manganese steel, the 59+-2° HRC fine-grained blades have a maximum sharpness, strength, and durability that ensures long-lasting edge retention.
The four 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 1-inch chisels can be used to cut softwood, hardwood, lumber, trim, and engineered wood products so you will have lots of versatility for most woodworking tasks. As the blades are bevel-edged, the chisels provide excellent clearance and reduce sidewall friction when you have to trim an angle or work in a tight corner.
The tough ergonomic contoured oval-shaped polypropylene handles have soft TPR inserts for improved comfort and maximum control. A heavy-duty steel striking cap eliminates the need for a specialized mallet, which also prolongs the life of the handle and prevents any mushrooming.
Although the 4-piece kit does not come with a case, the chisels have individual protective covers to keep the blades razor sharp and ready for your next project.
KSEIBI offers a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee on the chisel set.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Very affordable price
- Ideal for beginner or professional woodworkers
- Four chisels can be used to cut softwood, hardwood, lumber, trim, and engineered wood products
- Forged extra hard double-tempered chrome manganese steel
- Fine-grained blades have maximum sharpness, strength, and durability
- Beveled edges are designed for trimming an angle or working in a tight corner
- Tough ergonomically designed contoured oval-shaped polypropylene handles have soft TPR inserts
- Heavy-duty steel striking cap eliminates the need for a specialized mallet
- Chisels have individual protective covers
- 100% customer guarantee
Cons
- Not suitable for extra tough hardwood or heavy-duty projects
- Need to be sharpened before use
8. DEWALT DWHT16063 Short Blade Chisel 4-Piece Chisel Set
The Dewalt DWHT16063 Short Blade Wood Chisel 4-piece set is a very good investment for light-duty home woodworking projects.
This 4-piece set includes 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 inch beveled edge chisels that can be used for general woodworking tasks and fine detailed work.
The hardened, heat-tempered chrome carbon-steel blades are very sharp and have good edge retention. Dewalt has lacquered the blades to protect the steel from corrosion so you can use the chisels for indoor and outdoor projects.
The solid ergonomically designed orange and black bi-material handle provides optimal comfort and control. If you need to use the chisels for tougher tasks with a mallet, the heavy-duty strike steel cap provides extra impact resistance.
The 4-piece set also comes with plastic protective covers to keep the blades razor sharp in your tool box.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Good price
- Four small to large chisels
- Designed for general home woodworking use and fine detailed work
- Hardened, tempered chrome carbon-steel blades
- Good edge retention
- Ergonomically designed bi-material handle for comfort and control
- Heavy-duty strike steel cap for extra durability
- Can be used with a mallet
- Blades are lacquered for corrosion protection
- Protective plastic caps
Cons
- Some flattening will be necessary for detailed/fine woodworking
- Large chisel may require extra blade finishing before use
Our Top Pick for the Best Chisel Set
Our top pick for the best chisel set is the Narex 6-piece chisel set.
With unmatched craftsmanship, razor-sharp cutting action, and stunningly beautiful solid wood handles, you will love working with the Narex chisels.
Even though the chisels come in a stunning presentation box, these amazing professional-style chisels are destined to spend all their time helping you carve wood for your hobby project or create the furniture of your dreams.
