Woodworking Chisels – Bench, Mortise, Paring & Dovetail

Woodworking Chisels for Joinery, Fitting, and Fine Work

A sharp chisel is the most versatile cutting tool in the woodworking shop. From chopping mortises and fitting dovetails to paring joints flush and trimming hinge recesses, the right chisel style makes each task cleaner and faster. Infinity Tools carries a carefully selected range of Narex chisels—a Czech manufacturer with decades of experience producing professional-quality tools at practical prices.

Bench chisels are the everyday workhorse, suitable for most joinery and general shop tasks. Mortise chisels feature thicker blades with stout handles for the leverage and impact required to chop mortises in hardwood. Paring chisels have long, thin blades ground to a low angle for slicing cuts that clean up joints by hand without a mallet. Dovetail chisels have a beveled side profile that lets them reach into the narrow corners of dovetail sockets.

Chisel Sets and Individual Sizes

Sets like the Narex 8-piece Richter bevel edge chisel set provide a comprehensive range of widths for a fully equipped bench. Individual sizes like the Narex imperial mortise chisels or Narex dovetail chisels allow you to fill specific gaps in your collection. For mallet-driven work, pair with a bench mallet from the mallets & deadblows collection. For carving and detail work, also see the carving tools collection.

Bench chisels: everyday joinery, general shop tasks
Mortise chisels: heavy chopping in hardwood mortises
Paring chisels: light hand-driven fitting and trimming
Dovetail chisels: narrow corners in dovetail sockets
Skew chisels: angled cuts and inside corner cleanup

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of chisels are used in woodworking?

Common woodworking chisel types include bench chisels (general purpose), mortise chisels (heavy joinery), paring chisels (fine fitting), dovetail chisels (tail sockets), and skew chisels (angled cuts and inside corners). Each type is optimized for specific tasks in terms of blade thickness, bevel angle, and handle design.

What is the best chisel for cutting mortise and tenon joints?

A mortise chisel is purpose-built for chopping mortises because its thick blade resists twisting and lateral flex under mallet blows. The Narex imperial mortise chisels are a strong choice, with robust geometry suited to hardwood joinery.

What is the difference between a bench chisel and a paring chisel?

A bench chisel has a relatively short, stout blade ground at a standard bevel angle (typically 2530 degrees) and is designed for mallet-driven chopping as well as hand-driven paring. A paring chisel has a longer, thinner blade ground at a shallower angle (around 1520 degrees) intended only for hand pressurenever struck with a malletfor precise trimming and fitting.

What chisel set should a beginner woodworker buy?

A set of four to six bench chisels in widths from 1/4” to 1” covers the widest range of tasks for a beginner. The Narex Wood Line imperial bench chisels offer excellent value and are sold in individual sizes so you can build the set that fits your work.

Are Narex chisels good for professional woodworkers?

Yes. Narex chisels are made in the Czech Republic from chromium-manganese steel heat-treated for a balance of hardness and toughness. The premium Richter line, including the Narex Richter chisels, uses a more refined steel and is used daily by professional furniture makers and joiners.

How do I sharpen woodworking chisels?

Flatten the back on a waterstone or diamond plate first, then hone the bevel through progressive grits (typically 400, 1000, and 4000 or finer) until a burr forms and peels away cleanly. Finish on a leather strop. A hollow grind on a bench grinder can speed up re-beveling when significant metal removal is needed. See sharpening guides on the Infinity Tools learning blog.

What mallet should I use with woodworking chisels?

Wooden bench mallets and brass carving mallets are both suitable for driving chisels. A deadblow mallet reduces bounce-back for cleaner, more controlled chopping. Browse the mallets & deadblows collection to match a mallet weight and material to your work style.

What is a squared-corner chisel used for?

A squared-corner chisel has a specialized geometry with a right-angle inside corner at the cutting edge, designed specifically for cleaning the corners of square mortises and hinge recesses to a crisp 90-degree angle without undercutting.

How do I store chisels so the edges stay sharp?

Store chisels in a leather or canvas tool roll, a dedicated chisel rack, or in blade protectors. Avoid storing loose chisels in a drawer where edges contact other metal tools. A Narex 14-pocket premium leather tool roll keeps an entire set organized and protected.

Does Infinity Tools guarantee the quality of their chisels?

Yes. Infinity Tools stands behind the products it sells. Visit the quality guarantee page for complete details on the warranty and satisfaction policies.

Chisels