Types of Chisels

Learn which types of chisels work best for woodworking, carving, timber framing, and masonry.

By Steve Maxwell
Updated on September 25, 2023
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by AdobeStock/pzAxe

Learn which types of chisels work best for woodworking, carving, timber framing, and masonry.

If you work with wood, stone, or metal, sooner or later you’ll need a chisel. Whether you’re making furniture, installing doors and trim, shaping stone for a foundation or fireplace, or working with logs to build a timber-frame structure, chisels are essential tools for the job. Few tools offer so much utility in such a simple package. But there’s a catch: Even the best chisel isn’t worth much unless you use it appropriately and sharpen it well (see Tool Sharpening Made Simple).

Woodworking Chisels

If you’re just starting out with woodworking and cabinetry, a general-purpose set of “bevel-edge” chisels in quarter-, half-, three-quarter- and one-inch widths makes the most sense. This design has a relatively long blade with a flat bottom surface and angled corners along the top edges, making it perfect for creating hinge pockets, cutting woodworking joints and installing door handles and latches.

Are your hands small? The blades of “butt chisels” are shaped like bevel-edge chisels in cross section, but they’re roughly half as long. This makes them easier to hold and control, especially when you’re chiseling along a critical line. Butt chisels get their name because they’re well suited to cutting pockets for butt hinges, which are used on everything from fine cabinets to barn doors.

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