8 best chisels

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

In every woodworking workshop, a tool such as a chisel plays an important role. It is designed for cutting wood, both manually and using machine tools. The chisel consists of two parts, a cutting part and a handle. There is a rich assortment of this tool on sale, so a novice carpenter or carpenter cannot do without expert advice.

How to choose a chisel

1. Appointment. The starting point for the selection of a chisel is the purpose of the tool. A home owner should have a flat chisel in a suitcase with a blade width of 14-30 mm. The carpenter and joiner will need models with different cutting sizes (from 6 to 32 mm). And for curly cutting of wood, you will need a specialized tool with a rounded blade shape.
2. Cutting part. To keep the blade sharp for a long time, a special high-carbon or tool steel is used. In the heat treatment process, the hardness of the blade is brought to the level of 60-65 HRc. The manufacturer does not always bring the sharpness to the state of a razor. Therefore, the master needs to bring the cutting edge to perfect condition immediately after purchase.
3. Lever. The requirement for the handle is significantly different for different craftsmen. Some people value strength, because in the process of creating a masterpiece, they have to hit the back with a hammer. For such craftsmen, a solid metal construction or a handle with a steel impact heel will suit. Other woodworkers prefer soft, comfortable handles that don't slip out of the palm of your hand. In this case, two-component structures look optimal.
4. Additional accessories. A chisel is a rather vulnerable tool to mechanical stress. Therefore, it must be carefully stored and the blade must be trimmed in a timely manner. When several chisels are bought, sets with a case should be preferred. Many manufacturers carefully pack the blades with plastic protective caps. And some sets are prudently equipped with a sharpening stone. If the master prefers to store the tool on the stand, then there should be a special through hole in the end part of the handle.

We have selected 8 of the best chisels for our review. The final positions in the rating were influenced by the opinions of experts and reviews of Russian woodworkers.

Rating of the best chisels

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
Best flat chisels	1	Hart HCC32 32 mm	1 230 rub.
	2	DYNAGRIP Stanley 0-16-890 30 mm	717 RUB
	3	MATRIX Tiger's eye 24503, 8 mm	236 r
Best semicircular chisels	1	NAREX SUPER 2009 LINE PROFI 16 mm	RUB 1,100
	2	FIT 43141 8 mm	205 RUB
The best chisel sets	1	Stanley DYNAGRIP 2-16-885	2 359 RUB
	2	NAREX SUPER 2009 LINE PROFI 8, 10, 16, 32 mm	RUB 2 076
	3	COBALT 245-695	RUB 1 380

Best flat chisels

Flat chisels are used to make straight cuts in wood. With their help, planing of small areas, a depression of a rectangular or square shape, grooves and chamfers are selected. The tool differs in the width of the cutting part. Experts recommend the following products for use.

Hart HCC32 32 mm

Rating: 4.9

The experts named strength and durability as the main advantages of the Hart 32 mm HCC32 chisel. The US-China tool has an all-metal construction. The manufacturer chose forged steel as the material. Through selective heat treatment, a unique combination of a hard blade and a relatively soft handle was achieved. Therefore, the chisel does an excellent job both with cutting and planing, and with hollowing out niches. The presence of a shock plate allows using not only mallets, but also metal hammers during work. The tool becomes the winner of our rating.

Users praise the chisel for its versatility, reliability, cutting edge sharpness. Only the weight of the product is impressive (610 g).

Advantages

• wide cutting part;
• all-metal construction;
• universality of application;
• sharp sharpening.

disadvantages

• high price;
• great weight.

DYNAGRIP Stanley 0-16-890 30 mm

Rating: 4.8

To remove the thinnest layer from a wooden workpiece, a very sharp chisel is required. Experts advise taking a closer look at the DYNAGRIP Stanley 0-16-890 30 mm model. The working part of the tool is made of high-carbon steel with one-sided sharpening. It is distinguished by its reliability, withstands shock loads. The manufacturer (USA-China) has installed soft inserts in the handle that prevent the chisel from sliding. At the end of the handle there is a steel cap that can withstand hammer blows. The strong points of the model are the optimal combination of price, weight (300 g) and blade width (30 mm). The tool is suitable for cutting grooves and holes in wood.

User reviews did not allow the chisel to win first place in our rating. They are unhappy with the hardness of the blade, so the sharpening does not last long.

Advantages

• acceptable price;
• light weight;
• comfortable handle;
• steel cap.

disadvantages

• does not hold sharpening well.

MATRIX Tiger's eye 24503, 8 mm

Rating: 4.7

For curly carving, a sharp tool with a narrow cutting edge is required. The German chisel MATRIX Tiger's eye 8 mm fully meets these requirements. The consumer may be surprised by the low price of the tool, this phenomenon is explained by the Chinese assembly. The manufacturer managed to create a convenient cutting tool that experts recommend to novice cabinetmakers. The cutting part is made of alloy steel, the blade hardness is 65 HRc. The two-piece handle fits comfortably in the hand, especially since the chisel weighs 240 g.

In the reviews, woodworking masters praise the tool for its lightness, affordability, and a convenient handle shape. The model takes an honorable third place for a narrow scope. With its help, it is difficult to plan wooden blanks.

Advantages

• two-piece handle;
• hard blade;
• low price;
• light weight.

disadvantages

• limited scope.

Best semicircular chisels

When planning a curly wood carving, you need to acquire semicircular chisels. They will help the master create oval and round holes, cut grooves and grooves with rounded edges, and chamfer longitudinally. The experts liked the following models.

NAREX SUPER 2009 LINE PROFI 16 mm

Rating: 4.9

The chisel NAREX SUPER 2009 LINE PROFI 16 mm was created for professional activities. It keeps sharpening for a long time thanks to the use of chrome vanadium steel. The blade hardness reaches 60 HRc. The blade is 16 mm wide for high quality cutting of grooves and holes. The high quality of the Czech instrument was noted by experts, giving the chisel first place in the rating. The two-component design of the handle adds comfort to work, and the presence of an impact tip allows working not only with a mallet, but also with a steel hammer. The chisel is lightweight (151 g) and has suitable dimensions.

Users are satisfied with the chisel's cutting ability, sharpness and quality workmanship. The only disadvantages are the high price.

Advantages

• sharp sharpening;
• two-piece handle;
• hard cutting part;
• impact tip.

disadvantages

• high price.

FIT 43141 8 mm

Rating: 4.8

The semicircular chisel FIT 43141 8 mm is capable of cutting complex patterns in wood. Young wood carvers will love this budget tool. The weight of the model is only 100 g, ease of use is provided by a plastic handle with a raised surface. The cutting part is made of tool steel, the sharpness of the blade is maintained for a long time. At the end of the handle there is a hole for hanging the tool during storage. The chisel ranks second in the ranking due to the lack of an impact tip. Therefore, striking can only be done with your hand.

Users refer to the positive properties of the product as light weight, high-quality tool steel. Of the shortcomings, a plastic handle is noted, in addition, a tool with a blunt blade is supplied to the retail network.

Advantages

• low price;
• tool steel;
• light weight.

disadvantages

• plastic handle;
• the manufacturer did not sharpen the blade.

The best chisel sets

Many novice woodworkers, as well as professionals, prefer to buy several chisels at once with different cutting widths. In this case, you should take a closer look at the ready-made sets of tools. Several kits received high marks from experts and users.

Stanley DYNAGRIP 2-16-885

Rating: 4.9

A good set of chisels is available in the American Stanley DYNAGRIP 2-16-885 tool kit. It consists of 5 pieces and is intended for professional use. Wood and other soft materials can be processed with chisels. A convenient and reliable case neatly accommodates five chisels with a cutting width of 6 to 32 mm. High-quality high-carbon steel allows you to work with a tool for a long time without sharpening. The two-component handles are ergonomically shaped, they do not slip out of the hand of the master. Experts note the presence of protective caps for the blade and steel plugs on the ends of the handles.

Users are flattering about the workmanship, comfortable grip and sharpness of the blades. The set becomes the winner of our rating.

Advantages

• case;
• two-component handles;
• high quality steel;
• protective caps on the blades.

disadvantages

• high price.

NAREX SUPER 2009 LINE PROFI 8, 10, 16, 32 mm

Rating: 4.8

Good reviews come from woodworkers to the Czech NAREX SUPER 2009 LINE PROFI set. The cutting part of the chisel is made of chrome-manganese steel, all blades are straight. The two-piece handles with metal impact tip are also commendable. Experts highly appreciated the high-quality assembly of the tool, the presence in the kit of the most popular models (8, 10, 16, 32 mm). The set loses to the winner of the rating not only in the number of chisels in the kit, but also in the absence of a case.

Users praise the Czech set for high-quality workmanship, sharpness and durability. They are satisfied with the value for money. Of the minuses, the lack of a case is noted, there are complaints about the geometry of the cutting part.

Advantages

• chrome vanadium steel;
• durable sharpening;
• value for money;
• ergonomic handles.

disadvantages

• no case;
• the geometry of the cutting part is lame.

COBALT 245-695

Rating: 4.7

A domestic manufacturer offers its vision of the best set of chisels. The COBALT 245-695 set contains 4 tools with blade widths of 6, 12, 18 and 24 mm. It is convenient to store chisels in a plastic case with a transparent lid. To protect sharp blades from damage, as well as for the safety of the master, there are plastic caps. The two-piece grip rests securely in the hand and does not slip in a damp palm. Experts pay tribute to the workmanship and the presence of a whetstone included.

But the flimsy case did not allow the set to join the fight for the first line of the rating. Users report frequent breakage of latches when closing or opening a suitcase. But the craftsmen have no complaints about the quality of the cutting part and handles.

Advantages

• low price;
• comfortable handles;
• double-sided whetstone;
• metal heel at the end of the handles.

disadvantages

• flimsy latches on the case;
• poor factory sharpening.

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Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.