20 Types of Chisels – Definition, Uses, Material & How to Sharpen Chisel [with Pictures]

What is a Chisels?

Types of Chisels and Their Uses [with Pictures] :- Chisels are referred to as those mechanical instruments which are responsible for processes like cutting, shaping, carving, and chipping away at a numerous type of materials. These are an incredibly useful tool which are found in a very wide range accompanied with the uses that makes them one of the most versatile instruments in any tool kit. It is important to note that only one chisel won’t be sufficient for every use. Therefore, depending on the specific needs, there are found to be specific chisel which will likely suit you best depending upon the type of requirement.

Now the question arises is how can you find one certain type of chisel which will suit your job requirement? Well, you already have. Here we are gathering various types of chisels which you need to know about if you’re serious about your craft. Chisels are the ones which will find use in just about every setting imaginable.

Since when Humans have been Using Chisels?

Chisels are known to be one of the earliest tool which has been developed by the ancient humans. The earliest ancestors of the modern-day chisel are found to be made of flint. These early chisels are found to take you back to 8,000 B.C.E., which clearly means that humans are found using these tools for around more than 10,000 years.

Uses of Chisels

Chisels are the mechanical instruments which might seem to be a very basic tool, but they can be used for a very wide range of uses. These are the chisels which can be used in order to chip away at various materials whereas they can also do much more as compared to that. These are referred to as the tools which can be used in order to shape as well as carve just about anything.

Material of Chisel

Chisels are known to a very different as well as important tool which can be used in a variety of mediums. These mechanical instruments can be used with almost all types of wood, including plywood and medium-density fiberboard which is commonly known as MDF, as both of those are likely to splinter as well as fall apart under the impacts. There are also different types of chisels which are found for working with masonry, and they get more specific accompanied with brick as well as cement chisels.

Classifications of Chisel

Commonly there are some of the common classifications of chisels which are commonly known to mankind, which are as follows:

1. Hot chisel
2. Cold Chisel

1. Hot Chisel

Hot chisel is referred to as that type of chisel which is mainly used for the purpose of cutting hot metals in the workshop of blacksmith. There is known a hole present inside a chisel wherein a wooden handle is found to be fixed. The edge cutting is found to be made at a particular angle of 30°.

During the usage of this part, you can frequently dip it into water in order to make it cold so that all its edges are found to remain intact.

2. . Cold Chisel

Cold chisels are referred to as the ones which are commonly used in the sheet metal and fitter trade workshops. Using a cold chisel cutting or a chipping of metal can be done by using these metals which are found in cold condition.

These types of chisels are found to be available in 4 sides, 6 sides or 8 sides. The chisels are found to be made of very high carbon steel that is found containing approximately a varying percentage of 0.75% to 1.00% of carbon. Generally the chisel is found of around 150 mm length which is commonly used. Usually chisels are found having a measurement that includes the width of chisels cutting edge.

Types of Chisels

1. Mortise Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

Mortising chisels are referred to as those chisels which are found to be made in order to create a special hole called a mortise. A mortise is referred to as a special hole which is made for a tenon joint. These holes are referred to as wither square or rectangular so that an interlocking piece gets fitted.

These chisels are found to be made thick as well as strong so that they can easily withstand the hard hits which can take to make a hole in the solid wood. These types of chisels are usually not needed in a wide range of sizes. Most commonly these chisels are available in ¼-inch and ⅜-inch that are termed as their common sizes.

2. Paring Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

Paring chisels are referred to as thin, long and flexible chisels which are mostly meant for the purpose of shaving off a very small amount of wood in order to create precise-fitting joints.

3. Sash Mortise Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

These are referred to as one of the very similar types of chisels in terms of a standard mortise chisel. A sash mortise chisel is found to be made for purposes like cutting the mortises. Instead of a regular mortise chisel, sash mortise are the types of chisels which are usually meant for the purpose of cutting the shallow mortises which limits its usefulness. If these are not your needs then you probably will not need a sash mortise chisel.

4. Framing Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

These are termed as quite large as well as heavy-duty chisels which are purposely intended for the purpose of making deep cuts in the wood. These chisels are commonly meant for the heaviest woodworking, so that they are found to build the extra-durable as well as reinforced handles which can easily take the repeated heavy blows without mushrooming or splitting.

5. Butt Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

These are referred to as very stubby, short little chisels which are made specifically in order to work with the butt hinges. There are various other uses of butt chisels but they’re mostly found to be perfect tool for the purpose of installing these hinges. These chisels are usually the ones which have their application for the purpose to carve away the edges of your door so that the hinges can lay flush inside any depression which needs to be carved by you.

6. Skew Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

These are referred to as long, beveled-edge chisels which are found having an angled tip. The longer point of such tip is referred to as the toe whereas the short point is referred to as the heel. This type of chisel is perfectly recommended for smooth and beading or to create the tapers on a spindle. These are the chisels which are also best choice for making V-cuts and beads.

Skew chisels are referred to as those which are responsible for being made for the purpose of higher techniques of woodworking that is mostly considered to be some of the most dangerous chisels in order to use due to its sharp tip.

7. Bench Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

Bench chisels are named in such manner as these are the ones which are found to typically sit on the bench rather than being movable or tool belt. These are known to be the multi-purpose chisels which are responsible for shaping wood in a particular pattern.

8. Slick Chisel: ( Types of Chisels )

Slick chisels are referred to as the paring chisels on steroids. These are termed to be great chisel for the purpose of paring thin bits of wood off of large pieces like logs. These are the chisels which are found to be quite large with a handle that is shaped similar to a baseball bat which makes them easy in order to hold as well as have comfort to work with.

9. Dovetail Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

Dovetail joints are referred to as that type of strong interlocking joint which is commonly used for the purpose of woodworking. Dovetail chisels are particularly shaped in order to create these joints by hand. These are the chisels which can also be used for the purpose of cleaning up the joints which you usually cut using a machine.

10. Bevelled Edge Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

Bevelled edge chisels are referred to as one of the most common type of edge chisels which are found to be quite versatile type of chisel for the purpose of woodworking. These are referred to as those chisels which are found to be comfortable for the purpose of holding the hardened butts which are particularly meant for the purpose of hitting a mallet so that the wood can be shaped, though they can also be used by hand for fine paring. These chisels are well suited for everything from rough work to finely finished work which makes them a must-have for any woodworker’s tool collection.

11. Lathe Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

A lathe chisel is a specialty woodworking machine which is found spinning the piece of wood on which you are working on. Lathe chisels are referred to as the ones which allow you to shape the wood wherein it spins by holding the chisel against the wood in order to remove material with each pass.

12. Curved Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

Curved chisels are referred to as those chisels which will appear to be in a U-shape and which runs down the length of the blade. This chisels is mostly popular which allows a curved chisel in order to remove more material in a single pass for making faster and efficient shaping.

13. Brick Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

Brick chisel is also referred to as a bolster chisel which are usually meant for cutting straight sides on the bricks as they are found having a variation of the standard masonry chisel.

14. Masonry Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

Masonry chisels are those chisels which are found to be specifically made to let the harder materials work better like stone, bricks, concrete, and even harder materials. The user can also gently score the surface of such materials accompanied with a masonry chisel which allows you to snap off the line along with a harder tap which is once scored all the way across.

15. Concrete Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

The concrete chisels are found coming up to a point at the tip instead of a flat blade. These are the chisels which are found to be made up of very hard accompanied with a wide butt which is usually meant to protect your hand when the swinging seems to be hard accompanied with a mallet or mini-sledgehammer. The concrete chisels are required to score concrete or to even cut through it. They’re perfect for demo tasks that require the use of a finer tool instead of a jackhammer, hammer drill, or demolition hammer.

16. Cape Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

Cape chisels are referred to as those chisels which are known to be of a special type of cold chisel accompanied with a long, tapered blade. These are thus found to be perfect in order to create details and art in metals by carving tiny grooves into the surface.

17. Stone Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

Stone chisels are usually the type of chisel which is meant for its use in stone only. Stones are known to be quite hard in nature like granite. These stone chisels are found to be made of hardened steel which is able to withstand the abuse. These are not just known as a tool for blunt force. This is referred to as a type of chisel which is used for the purpose of creating sculptures of fine art. This all is found being dependent on the skill of the user.

18. Gouge Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

Gauge chisels are referred to as a type of chisel which is found having a curved blade similar to a half-moon. These chisels are specifically meant for the purpose of cutting either round or semi-circular grooves in metal.

19. Cold Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

Cold chisels are referred to as the one with few hand tools that are specifically made for working with metals. These are the ones which are made of extremely hard steel which is hardened and is meanwhile durable too. Due to this, these are the chisels which can be used in order to cut any material which is known to be softer as compared to the chisel which makes them great for cutting off rivets or rusted bolts.

20. Power Chisels: ( Types of Chisels )

By now, all the above mentioned chisels were found to be listed which resembled the basic chisel that mostly every user would know. Whereas the power chisels are found to be a purely modern invention. These chisels are referred to as those which are powered by a motor that gives them far more power and accuracy as compared to that which you can get while hitting a hand tool along with a hammer. Whenever you need some serious power behind your chisel, then you must use the power chisel.

What is Dressing a Chisel?

Chisels are the ones which take a lot of abuse once they are hit repeatedly on the butt end of the chisel. One can observe to see it spread out or even getting flattered. This chisel is referred to as mushrooming as the butt of the chisel is responsible for taking on a mushroom shape which is once spread out enough.

Considering any mushroomed chisel is known to be quite dangerous. The mushroomed end is found to be weakened as well as liable to break off and go flying. Whereas on the other hand it must be known that flying metal projectiles can also be dangerous.

Dressing a chisel is referred to as a process which is used for removing the mushroomed head by grinding down the edges until they are found to be flat again.

Can You Sharpen a Chisel?

If you are using a chisel accompanied with a blunt tip, then it must be termed as dangerous. This states that it will take greater and greater force in order to get the same effect, which can lead you to hit it harder and even harder. As the hammer is hit harder, your risk of injury gets increased as you’re much more likely to slip or miss when banging the chisel so hard.

How to Sharpen a Chisel?

There are numerous ways by which the tip of a chisel can be sharpened. Some of these require special tools whereas the others can perform with stuff which is probably already in your own workshop.

1. Whetstone

Whetstones are referred to as a common tool which is mostly used in order to sharpen any type of metal blade that includes the tip of a chisel. It is quite simple process which can involve dragging the edge of the tip of the chisel against the whetstone in order to shape it.

2. Sandpaper

This is one of the most likely thing which is found in any workshop. Sandpaper lying around somewhere can be used to sharpen your chisel

3. Grinder

If you are comfortable with a bench grinder then you can very easily sharpen a chisel in a very less time by simply shaping the edge on the grinder. You can also opt for some of the tutorials which will help you in learning how to operate a grinder.