Surprisingly, my first assignment at Pro Tool Reviews was to review Irwin's Marples Brand Bevel Edge Woodworking Chisels. While my working chisel count is around 80 these days, the first addition to the collection was an eight-piece set of Marples beveled chisels – albeit with boxwood rather than plastic handles – about 39 years ago. They have served me faithfully over the years and will serve me for a generation or two of Conovers after me. While eighty sounds like I'm a hoarder, many in the array are used regularly, while the rest are used occasionally. That said, one can never own too many chisels, as I have plenty of over eighty ones that I just enjoy owning.
Owen Maples History
William Marples and Sons, Ltd was established in Sheffield, England in 1828. Sheffield is a city long associated with high-grade steel, so the area is home to a large number of well-known British knife makers. Marples has long been known for producing solid professional tools at affordable prices. Sadly, British knife makers struggled in the late 20th century due to Asian competition and British labor unrest. Marples was no exception, and in the mid-1990s Irwin acquired the company. Irwin is part of the global conglomerate Newell Rubbermaid.
The case of the beveled chisel
Historically, the beveled chisel was a fairly recent innovation, having evolved around 1820. They are a modified version of a stronger chisel, with a rectangular shape that tapers from the shank to the cutting edge. The beveled edge is an improvement over a stronger chisel, making it better for cutting dovetails. When cutting half-blind dovetails, the bevel allows better access. Beveled edge designs quickly became popular for bench work, and the shape of Maples became iconic. Sometime in the '80s, the company began offering beveled-edged chisels with plastic blue handles.
I once broke my 1/8" chisel and could only find a replacement with a plastic handle, which I removed and put on the original boxwood handle. Removing the old handle was a pain and required steel Saw, the plastic needs to be removed with acetone at the end. This brings up the build style of the chisel itself which is a shouldered shank embedded in the handle. I suspect modern handles are molded around the chisel and the tang is forced into a The hole is surrounded by a metal ferrule in the wooden handle.
Western-style chisels come in two lengths: bench and short-handled. Bench chisels are longer and are said to be better for bench jobs like cutting dovetails. Butt chisels are shorter and better suited for carpenters working in the field. The shorter length allows the tool to be carried in a fanny pack and makes it easier to cut hinges and lock mortises in tight spaces. Oddly enough, many woodworkers, myself included, use Japanese Oire-Nomi chisels because they hold the edge for a long time. Oire-Nomi can be translated as "butt chisels", and they are shorter than western benches. I find the shorter length more convenient for all jobs.
Irwin Marples Beveled Edge Woodworking Chisel Overview
Although Irwin has long made blue plastic handle beveled chisels, they have recently reverted to the Marples name. However, the chisels are made in China, much to the chagrin of the woodworking world. In defense of China, where making a high-carbon steel chisel is hardly rocket science, Irwin kept the look and feel of the original Sheffield model (see photo). While I haven't done a Rockwell hardness test on Irwin's chisels, the amount of effort required for the whetstone leads me to believe they're about the same as my original chisels. The company claims a Rockwell C scale of RC 58 to RC 61, the traditional hardness range used by British manufacturers for sharp knives.
Irwin offers three styles as part of the "New Marples" launch. The traditional bench model with the prestigious blue plastic handle is the one I actually tested for this article. Irwin calls it Woodworkers Chisel. The second style, called a construction chisel, is the same blade with a larger handle, covered with a steel plate to better resist very heavy impacts. After badly banging many blue handle chisels (even my boxwood handle model), I wouldn't waste my money on this sturdier handle. Also, Irwin does not offer a 1/8" construction chisel, which is an absolutely required size for semi-blind dovetails.
Irwin Marples woodworking chisel with some improvements
I found the Irwin Marples chisel to be an improvement over the original. My vintage 1973 chisel has the millimeter measurements closest to the inch measurements listed. This is common practice among large manufacturers producing for global markets. My original Sheffield Marples 1” chisel (see pic 1) was 25mm or .984”. The new Irwin Marples are 25.476 mm or 1.003 inches. For jobs like inserting locks or hinges in the imperial system (which is pretty much all I do), having my chisels match a given inch width is most useful!
final thoughts
Irwin offers traditional benches in ten sizes from 1/8” to 2”. Structural and high-impact butts are available in nine sizes ranging from ¼” to 2”. Yes, the chisels are made in China, but they exhibit the same level of quality and craftsmanship that I got from Marples' Sheffield model 39 years ago. Irwin offers a variety of packaging for the new collection, from bubble bags, nylon wallets to wooden boxes. Street pricing for the Traditional Woodworker seems to be around $85 for a set of 8 (largest product), but I'd buy the extra size in the first place. This will set you back about $25 more, but the 1-½” and 2” sizes work best! Irwin's new Marples chisels are a great choice for the working carpenter or woodworker who needs a quality, serviceable chisel at an affordable price.