In a hurry? The 6-piece chisel set from Narex offers the right balance of utility, quality, and price per chisel. Keep on reading to understand what makes it the best wood chisel set.
I use chisels day in and day out for all kinds of projects – from joinery to art. As a woodworker and a wood carving artist, I am perhaps the best person to tell you this – your friends may desert you, your family might refuse to come near you because you are covered in sawdust from head to toe, but a good set of chisels will never, ever leave your side.
With this guide, I will help you choose a chisel set that will serve you a lifetime. We will review the 5 best woodworking chisel sets based on the following qualities:
- General-purpose usability
- Out-of-the-box usability
- Materials used
- Price per unit
- Construction
Let’s get to it.
Quick Comparison:
The 5 Best Woodworking Chisel Sets:
1. Best For The Money: Narex 853053 Set of 6
- 6 piece set comes on a wooden presentation box
- Blades are made from fine-grained, nicely tempered chrome-manganese steel and hardened to Rc 59
- Contains the following sizes: 6, 10, 12, 16, 20 and 26 mm
OVERVIEW
Narex is a premium chisel maker that is well-loved by woodworkers around the world. They are manufactured at a company-owned unit in the Czech Republic, making their quality consistently reliable. They compare well to Stanley’s chisels, and many users would also recommend them over the Irwin Marples, which are another all-time favorite in the woodworking world. This set comes in a handy wooden box.
PROS
CONS
Overall, Narex has built a reputation for being moderately priced and yet making consistently good chisels year after year. They tend to last a lifetime and hold up well to all the required resharpening.
The steel is of good quality and provides all the performance that has become the hallmark of this brand. This set, being in the lower end of their products, just goes to show that they are serious when it comes to chisels.
2. Stanley 750 Sweetheart Chisels
- Classic 750 Series design
- Hornbeam wood handle for durability
- Long blade is ideal for woodworkers
OVERVIEW
Stanley is a well-known and respected name in the woodworkers’ world, known for its good quality chisels. Each set comes with common sizes that will suit almost every need. Each set also comes with a leather carry pouch, which makes it an attractive choice for those who are just starting out.
PROS
CONS
Overall, these are good mid-level chisels that will need some tuning and working before one can use them for fine work. They will cut softwood out of the box, but that’s all. However, they can be sharpened and flattened easily and retain their edge well enough.
3. IMOTECHOM WoodCarving Chisels
- SHARPENED CHISEL HEADS - Accurately pre-sharpened by machine for all chisels.
- BLADE - All blades are made from Chrome-Vanadium steel and hardened to Rockwell C60, so blades will hold an edge for years of use.
- HANDLE - Teak wood handle is harder and comfortable for using.
OVERVIEW
Apart from having a rather strange name, this entry is set apart from the rest by the fact it is more of a woodcarving set than a woodworking set. The price for this 12-piece set is lower than the 4-piece Stanleys up above. It is not the cheapest set of its kind on the market, though, and is liked by users who are willing to make an effort to tune them up.
PROS
CONS
For the price point and variety of this set, there’s not much that can be faulted except for the edges that need some work before you can start. That said, as far as chisels go, almost all need work before you can use them. This set makes for really great tools for getting started with and they can last long with proper usage.
4. VonHaus 10 pc Chisel Set
- SET INCLUDES: Set comprises 1 x ¼” chisel, 1 x 3/8” chisel, 1 x ½” chisel, 1 x ¾” chisel, 1 x 1” chisel, 1 x 1 ¼” chisel, 1 x 1 ½” chisel, 1 x 2” chisel (6mm, 10mm, 13mm, 19mm,...
- HEAT TREATED: Heat-treated, chrome vanadium steel alloy blades with narrow side bevels
- ERGONOMIC: Rubberised ergonomic grip handles with metal strike caps
OVERVIEW
This set gives you ten pieces (plus stone and honing guide) for half the price of the 6-piece Narex set on this list, which in turn is cheaper per unit basis than the Stanleys 4 or 8-piece set. It is the cheapest set on this list and a very popular option amongst new buyers.
PROS
CONS
As far as starter sets or second sets go, these are ideal for the price. But be prepared to spend a good amount of time flattening them and then sharpening them before you can do anything with them.
If you are willing to put in the work, they will give quality results, except for narrow areas where the thickness will get in the way. The sharpening stone is not the best, but the guide is fairly usable and always the recommended way to sharpen.
5. Kirschen 1101000 6-Piece Chisel Set
- Package Height: 1.75"
- With bevelled edges
- Package Length: 13.0"
OVERVIEW
This set is the most expensive on this list and charges a little more for 6 pieces than the Stanley 8-piece set. Made in Germany using German steel, the pedigree is an attractive one. Their construction quality makes them worth the price, and you also get a box to keep them in.
PROS
CONS
When it comes to hand tools, you get what you pay for. This is a very high-quality set of tools that is priced reasonably. It is nowhere near the top of the price wars but manages to sit at the higher end. The hardened steel makes it difficult to sharpen, but that’s the trade-off you get for chisels that retain their edge longer.
This is an excellent choice for those looking for a premium set that will last a lifetime of use and then be handed down.
Buying A Chisel Set: Key Considerations
Chisels Are Like Pencils
No, really! A good chisel can be sharpened just like a pencil, becoming shorter every time but always as sharp. An edge that is sharp enough to cut through the end grain of a hard beam of solid oak can be easily gained with a good honing guide and a sharpening stone or diamond plate. This process can be done over and over again for decades.
Most chisels are not worth much in the edge department right out of the box. Almost all brands have to be sharpened and even flattened before they can be used. Some of the high-end ones are the only exceptions to this rule. I guess that they are just too scared to sharpen them in the factories in case they get a lot of workers who have missing fingers and toes!
Things to Consider
Since the days of yore, chisels have come a long way. There are a few important points to be considered when investing in a modern chisel:
- Bevel – A good chisel has a clean bevel right down to the base. Not all chisels have bevels, necessarily. We will discuss that in a bit.
- Steel Quality – Too hard and it will be a nightmare to sharpen; too soft and it will blunt easily. So it depends on how hard you want to drive it.
- Handle – Tang chisels have a ferrule that goes into the handle, making it more likely to split. Socket chisels are where the handle goes into a socket, making it less likely to fracture, but it does lose some power in transmission.
- Size – If you are used to the imperial system and your chisels are in metric, there will be a problem. So, this is more of a personal preference thing.
Types of Chisels
Here’s a quick list of the most common types and their functions in short.
Firmer or ‘Farmer’ Chisels – These are what Grandpa used to use to knock out wood for hinges and doorknobs. They don’t have a bevel and are usually not preferred by modern woodworkers.
Bevel or Bench Chisels – Chisels that you use on the workbench, hence the name. They come with bevels, hence the other name. These are your workhorse chisels that will be used almost all the time.
Butt Chisels – These end up being the butt of all jokes, but since I am a decent sort of fellow, I am not going to make one. But… when it comes to fitting into your hands and working in tight spots, they got your back. These are meant to be used with hand pressure only and never hammered.
Paring Chisels – These tend to be long, flexible, and expensive because of it. As the name suggests, these are great for when you need to pare off some material. Their alter-ego is the crank neck chisel, which is the same thing but with a tilted handle for ease of use.
Mortise Chisel – Chunky and narrow, meant for creating mortises. There’s a variation called the sash mortise chisel, which is lighter and meant for shallower work.
There’s a whole world of chisels and I have left out quite a few because they are not relevant in an introduction such as this one.
Related: Best Japanese Chisels To Buy In 2024
The Best One To Buy
- 6 piece set comes on a wooden presentation box
- Blades are made from fine-grained, nicely tempered chrome-manganese steel and hardened to Rc 59
- Contains the following sizes: 6, 10, 12, 16, 20 and 26 mm
So, after careful consideration, I recommend buying the Narex 6 pc Woodworking Chisel Set. They have the perfect balance between price, performance, and quality. It is great for beginners while still getting compliments in the hands of experts. They are well-equipped for general purposes and excel in precision work. Since most modern users would go to a chisel for the final finesse and precision, this is an important point to consider.
The Narex set is a better option in my opinion than the Stanley and still holds its own when compared to the more expensive Kirschen set.
I would also make a special mention of the IMOTECHOM woodcarving chisels for keeping up with these workhorse-type sets and making a niche for itself in the woodcarving segment.
So that’s it from me. A hearty pat on your back for making it to the end. Well done! Do let us know about your selections for crowning the best of the best wood chisels. If you own any of the sets above, share your experience. Got questions? Or a dream item that you want us to review? Drop us a comment below and let us know.
For those who want a deep dive to find the best wood chisels, below is a video. Here, the presenter owns about 100 chisels! I am not kidding you; that’s not a typo. He gives a long perspective because of his depth of experience and tips for bargain-hunting expensive chisels on the used market.
