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A chisel is a hand tool used for cutting wood, metal, or other hard materials. Because of their ease of use and dexterity chisels are one of the most versatile and frequently used tools in any workshop. The are also much cheaper and more beginner friendly than most power tools.
There is no one “best” set of chisels. The project you are trying to complete should have a significant impact on what kind of chisels you purchase. If you are a new DIYer working on a small project you will probably do just fine with a $20 pair of chisels. However, some experienced craftsman could require multiple chisels with varying blade sizes in order to complete more complex projects.
In this article, we have outlined some of the top wood chisel sets available on Amazon. Below you can see the criteria we used to evaluate each set in this article.
- Blade quality
- Price
- Versatility
- Bonuses
1.Von Haus 8 Piece Wood Chisel Set– Top Pick
Von Haus has made an extremely attractive offer that includes 6 high-quality chisels made of chrome vanadium steel, a honing guide, edge guards and a tool case for only $39.95. The chisels in this set contain the following sizes: 1/4″, 1/2″, 3/4″, 1″, 1-1/4″, 1-1/2″ (6mm, 13mm, 19mm, 25mm, 32mm, 38mm)
This set contains everything you need to start woodcarving, pairing, or chopping with chisels. While there are cheaper options available Von Haus represents very good quality along with the additional pieces needed to maintain a clean edge on your blades.
Fair warning these chisels will most likely require some work when you get them. This is part of the reason why Von Haus included a honing guide so you can make them as sharp as needed. Once you sharpen them they tend to hold an edge extremely well.
Overall these chisels are the best all-around buy on Amazon right now. Unless you are looking to spend over $100 on chisels this is your best bet for your everyday woodworking projects.
2. Narex 4 Piece Chisel Set
Narex is small tool company based in the Czech Republic that has grown in popularity over the last several years. Their chisels have become extremely popular the last few years because they are pretty reasonably priced and typically require very little very little sharpening out of the box. While they have multiple sets of chisels Narex sells multiple sets of chisel but the best buy is definitely their 4 piece set. The chisels in this set contain blades with the following sizes: 6 mm (1/4″), 12 mm (1/2″), 20 mm (13/16″) and 26 mm (1 1/32″)
All the chisel blades are made of chrome manganese steel and are bevel ground at 25 degrees. A beveled edge is ideal for woodworkers who do a lot of pairing by hand. If you do not know what a beveled edge is click here.
The handles are made of lacquered Beechwood which should be fine to grip, but is not quite as easy to hold as a rubber handle.
Overall these chisels are an extremely good value buy because the blades typically require very little if any work to get started. Obviously, if you want to to keep them in good condition you will need to sharpen and maintain them on a regular basis.
3.Stanley Bailey 5 Piece Chisel Set
Stanley’s 5 piece chisel set is one of the top options available on Amazon. This kit is perfect for an experienced woodworker who wants a high-quality blade. Stanley’s chisel set is made out of carbon chrome steel which ensures it comes razor sharp out of the box. There is an extremely good chance you will not need to sharpen it at all.
This chisel set contains the following sizes: 1/4-Inch, 1/2-Inch, 3/4-Inch, 1 -Inch 1, and 1-1/4-inch. While these chisels do come pretty much ready to go out of the box they are soft and will need frequent tune-ups once you start using them. Because of the price we highly recommend you purchase a sharpening guide to keep your chisels in tip-top shape.
Overall these are really good chisels even though they are a bit pricey. They also do not come with a sharpening stone and for $56 you should probably but one to keep these in good shape. Although it is not included in the main image they do come with a protective leather case.
4. Robert Sorby 5 Piece Chisel Set
Robert Sorby is a tool company based out of Sheffield, England that makes extremely high-quality woodworking tools. They also come with a pretty high price tag compared to other options. If you are just starting out we highly recommend going with a less expensive option. However, if you are an experienced woodworker feel free to read on.
Robert Sorby’s 5 piece chisel set comes in the following blade sizes: 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″, 3/4″, & 1″. The blades are made out of Sheffield Steel and are built for lasting sharpness and edge retention. The handles also feature a leather pouch between the handle and blade for shock absorption.
Overall you really cannot go wrong with buying these chisels. They are extremely well balanced and can hold an edge for big projects. If you are new to woodworking this should definitely not be your first set of chisels. Start with something cheaper and work your way up to these. Having a good sharpening stone is also essential when purchasing these. You need to make sure you are taking care of the blades if you are going to spend $140 on a set of chisels.
5. Marketty 12 Piece Chisel Set
The Marketty 12 piece chisel set is another bargain buy for beginners or those who do not want to want to use their expensive chisels for every project they are working on. This set includes 12 chisels so you are really only paying $2.41 per chisel. They definitely require some work when you get them. The set we tried had dull blades. However, this set comes with 12 chisels for less than $30! If you want to experiment with different types of blades or are not sure what kind of chisel is best for a particular project this is a great low-risk option to go with.
This set features round nose chisels, parting tools, gouges, straight chisels, and much more. All 12 chisels have blades made out of carbon steel. We have found that these chisels typically require some honing work before you can use them.
Overall these are not the greatest chisels of all time, but for someone just starting out they are a great “sampler” kit for you to figure out what kind of chisels work best for the projects you are working on. These are definitely usable for a few low scale projects, but you should probably look at investing in a better set if you are working on more labor-intensive projects.
6. Workpro Chisel Set
Are you just getting started in your woodworking journey? If so the Workpro 3 piece Chisel set may be a fantastic low price option for you. If you just need chisels for a one time project, or are just dabbling with woodworking to see if it might become a hobby down the line the Workpro 3 piece set represents a great affordable buy.
The chisel blades come in sizes of 1/2″, 3/4″, 1″ to give you a little versatility when carving. While this chisel is pretty utilitarian it also comes with edge guards to preserve the blade, and keep you from slicing yourself when picking them up out of your toolbox or bag. Because of the low price they do not come with any sort of case or tool roll.
While the blades are definitely sharp enough to cut you open they are not honed as well as other more expensive blades like Narex or Robert Sorby. Using them frequently has also been shown to dull and chip the blades. However, those chisel sets will easily be at least 3x as expensive as the Workpro set.
Summary: Perfect for beginners or experienced woodworkers looking for a set of extra chisels they do not have to constantly hone and sharpen. Great if you have projects you do not want to (waste) your good chisels on.
Conclusion
The Von Haus 8 Piece Wood Chisel Set is our top for any beginner or intermediate level woodworker. The chisels in this kit have high quality blades, and enough sizes to allow you to complete intermediate to advanced projects. If you are an experienced woodworker, and frequently work with difficult materials the Robert Sorby chisels would probably suit you better. However, we do not recommend these chisels unless you are really serious about woodworking.
They are much more expensive than any other competitor chisel sets on the market. If you are brand new to woodworking or just need a cheap set of chisels for a basic one time project the Workpro chisels are the way to go. While they are far from the highest quality chisel set on the market they are reliable blades that will help you get started.
