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Chisels Etc.

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WoodRiver 6 Piece Chisel Set with Tool Roll
Chisels are traditional bench style with rosewood handles and a single brass ferrule where the tang enters the handle. The blades are made from 115CrV3 Chromium-vanadium alloyed cold work steel with high wear resistance and edge holding properties - tempered to between 60 to 62rc. The set includes 6 chisels (6mm, 10mm, 12mm, 16mm, 19mm and 25mm), 6 tip protectors and a tool roll.

PFEIL "Swiss Made" Chisel Set, 11 piece
PFEIL is undoubtedly the finest carving tool on the market and are second to none in terms of manufacturing quality and durability. Now, PFEIL is offering this set of bench chisels. Lacquer finished, contoured handles fit the hand nicely and feature a top ferrule to withstand heavy mallet blows. Blades are made of Swiss alloy tool steel and heat treated using the latest technology to produce excellent edge-holding characteristics. Cutting edges are finely ground and polished for easy resharpening. Very high quality set.

PFEIL "Swiss Made" Chisel Boxed Set, 6 piece
Blades are made of Swiss alloy tool steel and heat treated using the latest technology to produce excellent edge-holding characteristics. Cutting edges are finely ground and polished for easy resharpening. Overall lengths 10-1/4" to 11-1/4", blade lengths 4-3/4" to 5-3/4". 6-piece boxed set includes 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 5/8", 3/4" and 1" chisels.

Footprint Tools, 17 Piece Set
17 piece set includes: 9 wood chisels with polypropylene handles sizes; 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8, 1, 1-1/4, 1-1/2, Hand block plane, Hand bench plane, Hand jack plane, Rosewood and brass 10-1/2" carpenters bevel, Rosewood and Brass handle 10-1/2" square, Rosewood and brass mortice/marking gauge, Adjustable honing guide, 4-1/2" Beechwood mallet

Sorby Cabinetmaker's Chisel Set, 9 pc.
High quality Sheffield steel. The cabinetmaker's chisel set features classic octagonal boxwood handles. Fitted to finely machined bevel-edged blades, each tool has a leather "anti-shock" washer between bolster and handle, and brass ferrules to prevent handle splitting. Like all Sorby tools, each chisel is individually inspected and hardness tested to ensure you get a tool of the highest quality. Set of nine includes 1/8", 1/4",3/8", 1/2", 3/4", 1", 1-1/4", 1-1/2" and 2".

Heavy Duty Mortising Chisels
These heavy-duty socket firmer chisels have thicker and longer sockets for added durability. Forged from a solid piece of high-carbon alloy tool steel then carefully hardened and tempered for extended edge sharpness. The best chisels available for timber framing and other demanding cutting jobs. Blade lengths are 7" to 8". Overall lengths 15" to 17". Sturdy ash handles with steel ferrule. Honing required before use. Set of four includes 3/4", 1", 1-1/2", and 2".

Two Cherries Bevel Edge Chisels

These premiere German-made chisels are constructed from the finest materials and assembled with impeccable craftsmanship. Hardened to 62 on the Rockwell C scale, they maintain a razor-sharp cutting edge as long or longer than most any chisel on the market. Their hornbeam handles are double hooped for maximum strength, while the blades are polished to a mirror-like finish. Individual chisels from 1/8" to 1-1/2" wide.

Two Cherries Bevel Edge Chisels

Japanese Laminated Chisels
Made of durable white (high-carbon) steel laminated onto a softer steel back for added strength, these bench chisels sharpen easily and hold an edge longer than Western chisels. Made in the same manner they have been for centuries, Japanese chisels are individually tempered to Rc 62-64 by a master craftsman. Each chisel is sharpened to a razor edge, ready to use and fitted with a hand-forged, hooped Japanese red oak handle. Handle ends are pre-peened over the hoop and ready to use.

Irwin Marples Blue Chip 6-Pc. Chisel Set
Comes in a wood presentation box. High carbon solid-forged steel blade for maximum edge retention. Will need to be sharpened out of the box. Irwin Marples Blue Chip 6-Pc. Chisel Set

Irwin Blue Chip Chisels
Purchase individual chisels in sizes from 1/8" to 1-1/2". Irwin Blue Chip Chisels

Hinge Butt Corner Chisel
A razor-sharp, spring-loaded blade squares corners of routed mortises to accommodate various lock faces and door hinges. Made from heavy-duty steel to withstand years of use. Simple and effective. Hinge Butt Corner Chisel

Robert Sorby Corner Chisel
Used to make square mortices. One of the special chisels available as part of the comprehensive collection of Robert Sorby chisels designed for the demanding craftsman, cabinet maker, furniture restorer and house builder. Fitted with fine Boxwood handle. Robert Sorby Corner Chisel

See More Chisels at Woodcraft

You have a lot of choices to consider when buying chisels. In terms of shape, bench chisels are beveled along the top edges to make them easier to fit into a variety of spaces, whereas mortising chisels don't use this bevel to maximize strength. Longer chisel blades will reach into deep pockets and mortises, but some people prefer a short blade for bench work because a shorter tool is easier to use, except in mortising.

Steel quality affects how long the tool holds sharpness. The longest lasting edge will be found on Japanese laminated chisels, where very hard, brittle steel is laminated onto a softer steel to get the best of both worlds. The hard steel is at the edge where it needs to be sharp, and the softer steel forms the remainder of the body of the blade, essentially backing up the hard, brittle steel so it won't break. As well, the softer steel is easier to grind away to make a bevel.

But Japanese chisels are quite expensive, so most woodworkers are content with chisels made of a uniform high quality steel, such as the Pfeil, Sorby, or Two Cherries types shown above. In times past the Blue Chip Marples brand was a very popular make of chisel from Sheffield, England, long known as a city that produced fine steel. I've had a set of these for years. Times change, and it now appears that these chisels are made in China. I can't vouch for the quality of the steel on these chisels, but the reviews I see say that they seem to hold an edge reasonably well. The finish grinding from the factory is apparently not the best, so you'll have to lap, square, and sharpen them out of the box. Seems like they are still a reasonable economical alternative. .

Since shorter chisels will not serve you well for mortising, it's best to get longer ones if you plan to get only one set. A simple set of six will probably serve you well for nearly all of your needs, unless you plan to do a lot of hand work, in which case you'll value having all the different widths.

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