How do you spot a good quality chisel?

28th February 2020


How to choose a good quality chisel


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		It is impossible to determine the quality of a chisel simply by looking at it. However, you should note that the quality of the tool will depend on the following:

		The quality of the metal (e.g. what is in the steel).

		The heat treating process.

		The quality of grinding the chisel was subjected to when it was sharpened.

		What is heat treating?
		The process of heat treating can determine the job a piece of steel can be used for.

		Only steel tempered to certain temperatures is appropriate for a chisel. Steel may still be useful when tempered to different temperatures, but as other tools and devices.

		In order to see whether a cold chisel has been heat treated and sharpened correctly, try using the tool to cut into a piece of softer metal. If the chisel is ineffective (or becomes damaged), this may indicate that the chisel needs re-treating or sharpening.

		What else can affect the quality of a chisel?
		In addition, some chisels may be drop forged or made with chrome vanadium steel.

		Both drop forging and using chrome vanadium steel will increase the robustness of the tool, improving its quality.

		What is “BS 3066: 1995 Specification for Engineers’ Cold Chisels and Allied Tools”?
		When purchasing some builders’ and cold chisels you may see that the product conforms to BS 3066: 1995 Specification for Engineers’ Cold Chisels and Allied Tools. This is a technical standard produced by the British Standards Institution. Sometimes other standards and organisations may be listed instead.