Recommendations for Chisel Set?

Hi,

I've built several lower-end kits and have managed to do them without needing a proper set of woodworker tools. I build wood RC planes, so I've got plenty of X-acto tools and such, but not much in the way of chisels. Is there a good set that people recommend for rifle-building?

A set means to me that you get a couple that you use a lot and the rest doesn’t get used much if at all. Then you buy the other useful ones as you figure out what they are.

Bench/Mortise chisels in 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2. Buck Brothers, Jorgensen, Stanley, Irwin are all fine for what you're doing.

A 6mm radius gouge is invaluable. Pfeil brand can't be beat.

Two smallish skew chisels. One right and one left. Narex brand at Amazon. Mine are 1/4 inch.

A flat leather strop to keep everything nice a sharp. At Amazon.

Old hacksaw blades for external scraping.

Bits of various diameter steel tubing for round channel work.

Unless you plan to dive into building from planks, you don't need any large chisels. I use typically no more than a 3/8" wide blade, some small skews, small gouges, a set of riffler files, sandpaper and cabinet scrapers. As Phil says, the sets often include much larger chisels than you need.

What everyone says above - I especially like the Pfeil chisels - you can buy them individually and they won't break the bank. Scary sharp out of the box too.

Schaaf bench chisels are pretty OK. They need sharpening, but they do take and hold an edge. At the price they offer for the bench set they are great after you sharpen them. Their carving stuff out of the package is awful, they need reshaped before they could be sharpened if you don't get the 'professionally sharpened' or whatever they call it. I just sent them back and didn't try the sharpened set they offer. It might be good? Pfeil is the way to go for the carving stuff I think, not cheap at 30-55 dollars each but they come well shaped and sharp. You will need a sharpening system of some kind regardless of what you buy.

IMO, learning HOW and WHEN to sharpen your chisels is more important than any brand. HOW takes practice. WHEN is any time you can detect it is not as sharp when it last came off the stone. learn to sharpen. Sharpen often.

I buy and restore my bench chisels from ones made before plastic handles were invented, especially socket chisels. Some of those 100+yo, 25c flea market and yard sale finds are better than almost everything being offered today. Handles are easy to replace and worth the effort as long as the steel is not pitted. Agree with previous posters: Pfeil is the go-to brand for gouges and carving.