Chisels
Sharp steel that cuts where you point it. Chisels handle joinery, trim waste, pare to lines, and shape details other tools can’t reach.
Chisels
Sharp tools that cut clean. Built to hold an edge and take the work you give them.
6-Piece Bench Chisel Set
Six sizes from 1/4″ to 1-1/2″. Handles general shop work, mortises, and joinery. A complete set to start with or fill gaps.
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4-Piece Butt Chisel Set
Short blade reaches into tight spots. Good for hinge mortises and work where a full-length chisel won’t fit.
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4-Piece Socket Chisel Set
Takes heavy mallet work. Socket construction holds up to chopping mortises and removing waste. Four common sizes.
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4-Piece Chisel Set
Four basic sizes for everyday work. Paring, chopping, cleaning joints. A starter set or backup set.
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Bent Paring Chisel
Curved blade gets flat on surfaces other chisels can’t reach. Cleans up glue squeeze-out and levels inlay work.
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4-Piece Boxed Chisel & Bit Set
Chisels and bits together. Covers drilling and paring work in one set. Comes in a storage box.
Shop NowAbout Chisels
A sharp edge at the end of a handle. Point it where you need to cut, push or tap, and the steel removes wood. Simple tools that do work other tools can’t.
What Chisels Do
Chisels cut mortises, trim joints, pare wood to lines, and clean up where saws and planes stop. They fit into corners, work against layout lines, and remove material with control a router can’t match.
Different Types
Bench chisels handle general work. Butt chisels reach into tight spots with their short blades. Socket chisels take mallet pounding for heavy mortising. Paring chisels slice thin cuts by hand. Each type solves specific problems.
How to Use Them
Light work needs hand pressure. Heavy chopping takes a mallet. Keep the bevel down for control. Register the back flat on your work. Let the sharp edge do the cutting – forcing a dull chisel just tears wood and risks slipping.
Keeping Them Sharp
A sharp chisel cuts with light pressure. A dull one needs force and leaves rough surfaces. Hone the bevel on stones, keep the back flat, and touch up the edge as soon as it stops cutting clean.
Who Needs Chisels
Clean mortises, fit tenons, trim dovetails, and pare joints tight
Cut hinge mortises, trim pieces to fit, and clean up rough cuts
Any Woodworker
Anyone working wood needs chisels. They do jobs nothing else can do
Common Questions
What you need to know about chisels before you buy.
Bench chisels have longer blades – usually 4 to 6 inches. They handle general work, mortises, and paring. The length gives you control for most jobs.
Butt chisels have short blades, around 2 to 3 inches. They fit into tight spots like hinge mortises where a long blade won’t reach. Keep both types around.
Four sizes cover most work: 1/4″, 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″. These handle common mortise sizes and general trimming.
Add more sizes as you need them. A 1/8″ for small work, a 1-1/2″ for wider cuts. Buy what you’ll actually use.
WoodRiver chisels come with a factory edge that will cut wood. But you’ll get better results if you flatten the back and hone the bevel before first use.
This takes 15-20 minutes per chisel with some sharpening stones. Once you do it, regular touch-ups are quick.
Use a wooden or plastic mallet, not a metal hammer. Metal hammers will mushroom the chisel handle over time and can crack the handle.
For light paring work, hand pressure is enough. Save the mallet for chopping mortises or removing waste.
Depends on the wood and the work. Softwoods might give you an hour. Hard maple or oak needs more frequent honing.
When the chisel stops cutting cleanly or needs more pressure, it’s time to sharpen. A few strokes on a stone brings the edge back.
Paring chisels have long, thin blades. They slice thin cuts by hand without a mallet. Use them for fitting joints, trimming to lines, and cleaning up surfaces.
Don’t hit paring chisels with a mallet – the thin blade will bend or break. They’re hand-pressure tools only.
Sets cost less than buying each chisel separately and give you the common sizes. Good for starting out or replacing old tools.
Buy individual chisels when you need a specific size or type. If you already have some chisels, fill in the gaps one at a time.