Woodworking Chisels

No tool in the home woodwork shop is more important, and (for me anyway) the most used tool, than  woodworking chisels. If you have been to the markets and second hand shops looking for woodworking chisels you will know that in any good old tool chest you will find an array of a few saws, some squares, bevels and lots and lots of planes and chisels.  

Woodworking chisels range from small woodworking hand tools used for small detailed work, to large chisels that are to remove bigger sections of wood to form a rudimentary shape or design. Woodwork chisels are used in all aspects of woodwork, woodcarving and wood turning and are named such as; 

Bevel-edge Chisels 

The most common chisel with beveled sides and a straight edge. Used for a variety of woodworking joints and tasks. Best sizes are 1/4", 1/2", 3/4" and 1" that will do for most all of what you need to do in your workshop. 

Carving Chisels 

Used for wood carving, sculpting and intricate designs. They come with many different cutting edges used for different woodcarving techniques such as gouge, parting, paring, V-groove and skew. 

Paring Chisel 

Have a long blade suitable for accessing tight spaces and cleaning out grooves. 

Crank Neck Chisel 

Crank-neck, or dogleg, woodworking chisels have an L-shaped bend between the handle and the blade. Essentially used for leveling and cleaning out the bottom of dadoes and grooves.

Skew chisel 

 Have a 60 degree cutting angle and is used for trimming and finishing work. 

Corner chisels 

This woodworking chisel utilizes an L shaped cutting edge specifically for cleaning out square holes, mortises and corners with 90 degree angles. 

Mortise Chisel 

Heavy, rigid blade with straight cutting edge and square sides to make mortises and similar joints. 

Mortise woodworking chisels are designed to take a beating, its straight strong sides allowing powerful leverage for digging and prying.

When you are using chisels always keep safety in mind, you wont believe the damage a wayward chisel can cause to yourself or others. Make sure you use a vice or woodworking clamps to hold your work securely. 

Buying woodworking chisels. 

Try to buy chisels that are of a familiar brand, you don’t need to buy the most expensive but avoid the cheaper varieties of woodworking chisels such as those made of "chrome vanadium" steel as they are difficult to sharpen, so go for the mid to upper price ranges. "Chrome vanadium" steel. Quality chisel handles are almost as important as the blades themselves. A handle that fits properly and feels right is essential to using a chisel effectively. Composite plastic handles are strong and virtually indestructible, however nothing compares to the look, feel and quality of rosewood or boxwood chisel handles. 

Start out with the basic bevel edge chisels in sizes 1/4", 1/2", 3/4" and 1", one heavy duty mortise chisel 

And two or three crank neck chisels. This will get you up to speed with most of your woodworking chisels and get you to a position of knowing what you further need in the way of woodworking