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The Cromwell range of chisels features products from well known brands like Kennedy®, Irwin® and Stanley®, so you can be assured of both quality and finding the right tool for the job.

One of the oldest types of tool, dating back to early man; the chisel is a staple of not just tooling but of human culture and our desire to build. A simple cutting edge mounted on a handle they are mostly used for carving out wood, stone and other hard surfaces such as metal.

They are one of the most common tools found in any toolkit and are used by amateurs and professionals. The modern-day chisel is usually constructed from steel alloy, chrome vanadium or similar, and usually feature a grip handle for user comfort.

How do chisels work?

As stated earlier, the function of the chisel hasn't really changed much in the time that it has been around. Typically, force is applied to the handle via hand, or via striking with a mallet to make an indentation and then moving the chisel where required to carve the material out.

Different techniques are used in different industries to achieve results, and this mostly boils down to the material being used.

Types of chisels

The type of chisel required is primarily based on the material you will be using it on. To help outline these different types we have compiled this handy list below.

• Brick chisels - Feature a wide blade that designed for cracking as opposed to cutting, items such as masonry blocks.

• Masonry chisels - Mason's chisels are designed for cutting bricks, cement blocks, and cinders, a heavy tool, they usually feature a hand guard to protect the user.

• Concrete chisels - These are used make precision cuts through concrete. Usually struck with a hammer or mallet to drive the bevelled edge through the material.

• Cold chisels - Made from tempered steel, cold chisels are specifically made for cutting cold metals. They have a stronger but not as sharp a blade as a woodworking chisel thanks to the less acute angle to the sharp section of the blade.

• Bench chisels - A good general-purpose chisel, these are designed to par and chop wood.

• Mortise chisels - Featuring a thick, rigid blade for making straight cuts, these chisels come in tapered sizes for use in making mortises and joints.

• Paring chisels - Featuring long blades, these chisels are primarily used for cleaning grooves and removing material from hard-to-reach areas.

Common blade shapes:

Flat - The most common type of chisel blade used for cutting bars and rods and also used to cut sheet metal.

Cross out - Primarily used for cutting grooves and slots, these chisels feature a narrow blade positioned directly behind the cutting edge for clearance.

Round nose - This type of blade cuts semi-circular grooves, ideal for oil ways in bearings

Diamond point - Used to remove material from corners.

FAQs

What type of chisel do I need?

One of the main things to consider when choosing the right chisel for the job is the materials you are going to be working with and how much material there is. For instance, using a woodworking chisel to try and split stone is likely going to result in a broken chisel, and potential injury.