Hand Tools: Wood chisel

Wood chisels may be asked to do anything from chopping out a shallow mortise for a cabinet-door hinge to cutting back framing. These have tough plastic handles capped with a steel plate so they can be beaten with a steel hammer without splitting.

The steel wont take quite the edge possible with the more exotic metallurgy of Japanese chisels, but these chisels represent a good compromise between durability and performance.

If not used to pry open cans of paint, they will last a long time. In September 2004, a 1-in. chisel, Model 16-908, was $9 on line.

Supplier: Stanley Toolworks