Chisels: how to hold it safely

Learn to hold and use a chisel safely, keeping your hands away from the cutting edge at all times.

CH-01Pick the right chisel and check the bladeA chisel is a flat blade with a sharp edge on one end and a handle on the other, used for cutting or shaping wood. Pick one slightly narrower than the cut you need to make. Run your thumb along the flat back of the blade, not the edge, to check it feels sharp rather than rounded or nicked - a blunt chisel is more dangerous than a sharp one because it needs more force and can slip.

CH-02Grip the handle properlyHold the handle in your dominant hand like you're gripping a hammer, with your palm wrapped fully round it. Your other hand grips the metal blade itself, close to the cutting edge but never in front of it. This second hand steadies and guides the cut - it does not push.

CH-03Set up your body and the workpieceClamp the wood down or brace it firmly on a bench so it cannot move. Stand so the direction you're cutting points away from your body, never towards your stomach or legs. This one habit prevents most serious chisel injuries.

CH-04Keep both hands behind the cutting edgeBefore every single cut, check where the sharp edge is pointing and make sure no part of your hand, wrist or fingers is in front of it. Beginners often forget this when they lean in to see the cut better. If you can't see the cut without moving a hand in front of the blade, reposition the wood instead.

CH-05Make the cut with controlFor fine work, push the chisel with steady hand pressure - this is called paring. For tougher cuts, tap the handle gently with a mallet (a wooden or rubber hammer) using short, light taps rather than one big hit. Take several small cuts instead of one deep one; it's slower but far safer and gives a cleaner result.

CH-06Avoid the classic beginner mistakeThe most common mistake is pulling the chisel back towards your body to finish a cut, or holding the wood in one hand while cutting towards it with the other. Both put your hand directly in the chisel's path if it slips. Always cut away from yourself and keep the workpiece clamped, not hand-held.

CH-07Check you're doing it safelyStop and look: both hands should be behind the edge, the wood should be clamped still, and the cutting direction should point away from your body. The cut surface should look clean and slightly shiny, not torn or crushed - torn wood means the chisel is blunt or you're forcing it. If anything feels unstable or rushed, stop and reset your grip before continuing.

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