The best woodturning chisels, compared.
Top pick: SIIIXS 6-piece carbide set Best value: Faithfull 8 mm spindle gouge – Lowest shelf price in this snapshot, at about £18.87, one score point behind the top pick, if you check the flute. Updated 22.10.2026.
A woodturning chisel is a handled lathe tool you buy to shape wood spinning between centres or on a chuck. In UK shops that name covers a spindle roughing gouge, a spindle gouge, a bowl gouge, a skew, a parting tool, a scraper, or a carbide-insert bar. You need one when a new lathe has no cutters, a club set is missing a profile, or an edge will not stay sharp. Tell a suitable tool by a flute that matches the name, steel stated once, a ferrule that does not spin, and an edge you can sharpen without bluing the steel. A spindle roughing gouge has a wide flute and takes a square blank toward round. It is the wrong tool for hollowing a bowl, because the tang can snap. A bowl gouge has a deeper flute and a swept wing for cross-grain work. Carbide scrapes, and the cutter is replaced rather than ground. How to match the first profile to the job is in our [woodturning chisel buying guide](/hub/hand-tools/woodturning-chisel/sub/woodturning-chisel-buying-guide).
A woodturning chisel is a handled lathe tool you buy to shape wood spinning between centres or on a chuck.
38 products checked · 61 hrs invested · +18,600 readers
Swipe for more
1-2 of 11
Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you turning?
The SIIIXS W0606AS is a six-piece carbide set at £111.43 and 3.36 kg, with 18.1 inch bars, a wooden box, two wrenches and four spare screws. amazon.co.uk shows 4.8 from 28 reviews, the highest star line in this set. The three United Kingdom reviews in the saved texts all say the set has not been used yet. They call it strong, well built, or really good quality, including the box. No UK review describes a cut, a catch, or a dull insert. The bullets say you order replacement carbide inserts rather than grind them, and they claim a square stainless bar that sits flatter on the rest than a round bar. The high star line sits on that small count and an unused UK sample. The score is 69.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a six-tool carbide kit with wrenches in the box, and you accept that the UK reviews here have not tried a cut.
Less suitable: You are choosing on the 4.8 star line, or you need a UK account of how the inserts cut.
Specifications
Common questions
Have the UK reviews used the tools?
The three United Kingdom reviews in the saved texts say the set looks good and has not been tried yet.
How do you sharpen them?
The bullets say order carbide inserts from the same shop. Wrenches and spare screws are listed.
What is the bar length?
The include line says six tools of 18.1 inch.
The Faithfull FAIWCTROU20F is a 20 mm HSS roughing gouge, 322 g, listed at £32.81, with a 410 mm overall size line and a 160 mm blade. Across 641 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.6, and the 50 saved texts are marked United Kingdom. Reviewers use it to take a spindle blank down before detail work, and several say it holds an edge for a reasonable time once it has been ground on a wheel or a stone. The bullets say it needs a final sharpen before first use, and UK reviews repeat that the factory grind is rough. One longer UK review calls the tool limited once you are experienced, and another mentions older reviews of a snapped tool without reporting a snap of their own. The item-length line prints 45 mm beside the 410 mm size line, so those dimension fields are not a reliable check, and no case is listed. The score is 94, the highest in this set, which is why it is the top pick here for spindle roughing rather than for bowl hollowing.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a spindle roughing gouge with the largest UK review count in this set, and you will grind it before the first cut.
Less suitable: You are hollowing a bowl, or you want a case in the box.
Specifications
Common questions
What cut is this gouge for?
The bullets say removing a lot of timber, planing a spindle blank and shaping gentle curves. They do not describe bowl hollowing.
Does it arrive ready to cut?
The bullets say woodturning chisels need final sharpening before first use. UK reviews also mention a rough factory grind.
Is a case included?
The included-components line names the chisel only. No protective cover is listed.
The Faithfull FAIWCTROU8F is listed as an 8 mm HSS spindle gouge at £18.87 and 195 g, with a 410 mm size line and a 160 mm blade. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 479 reviews, and most of the 50 saved texts are marked United Kingdom. Reviewers use the small flute for tight curves and small spindle items, and several say they ordered it on purpose after reading that the packet wording can be wrong. The part code is FAIWCTROU8F, and UK reviews say the label or an older description said roughing gouge while the tool in the hand is an 8 mm spindle or fingernail gouge. One UK review says the short flute is awkward on a jig and the steel blunts quickly. Another reports a broken ferrule on arrival, and the blade-edge line says Straight on a tool the bullets describe as a gouge. The score is 93, and at the lowest price in this snapshot it is the best value when you want that small spindle flute and you will check the name on the packet.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want an 8 mm spindle or detail gouge and you will look at the flute if the packet says roughing gouge.
Less suitable: You need a 16 mm or 20 mm roughing gouge and will trust the packet name without checking the flute.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a roughing gouge?
The title and bullets say an 8 mm spindle gouge. The part number is FAIWCTROU8F, and several UK reviews say the packet was labelled as a roughing gouge.
What do UK reviews use it for?
Small spindle work and tight curves. Some buyers say they wanted that spindle gouge after reading the reviews.
Does the price include a box?
No. The included line is the single chisel, at £18.87.
The Faithfull FAIWCTROU16F is a 16 mm HSS roughing gouge at £25.86 and 289 g, with the same spindle job as the 20 mm: taking off a lot of timber and planing a blank. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 236 reviews. UK reviewers describe it as a first tool beside a new lathe and as a replacement for an older gouge. Some say it arrived very sharp, while others say it scratches until a decent grind is put on and then needs fairly frequent sharpening. One UK review ordered 16 mm and says an 18 mm roughing gouge arrived. The dimension line prints 10 × 10 mm against a 410 mm size line, and a warranty field says 1 year while the bullets say 5 years. The bullets do not describe bowl hollowing. The score is 77.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a spindle roughing gouge a little narrower than 20 mm, and you will check the width when it arrives.
Less suitable: You are hollowing a bowl, or you need the listing dimensions to match the size line.
Specifications
Common questions
How wide is the blade?
The title and size line say 16 mm. One UK review says an 18 mm roughing gouge arrived instead.
Which warranty figure is on the listing?
The bullets say a 5-year manufacturers guarantee. A separate warranty field says 1 year.
Is it for bowls?
The bullets describe roughing, planing spindle blanks and gentle curves. They do not describe bowl hollowing.
The Faithfull FAIWCTPS15F is a 15 mm HSS plain skew at £21.55 and 231 g. The bullets say it planes the outside of spindles, cuts V-grooves and forms beads, and one UK review uses it for pens. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 98 reviews, with UK texts used and later European reviews left out. Several UK notes call it ready to use and solid for delicate work. One UK review says it is not up to a Robert Sorby they already know, and is still worth the price. Another describes a damaged tip that was ground out rather than returned. The dimension line says 6 × 7 cm beside a 410 mm size line, and no case is listed. The score is 69.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a smaller skew for spindle beads, V-grooves or pens, and you will inspect the tip before the first cut.
Less suitable: You want a roughing gouge, or a skew a reviewer has already called equal to a Robert Sorby they own.
Specifications
Common questions
What is the skew for?
The bullets say planing the outside of spindles, cutting V-grooves and forming beads.
Did UK reviews find damage?
One UK review describes a damaged tip that was ground out. Other UK notes say it was sharp or ready to use.
Does the size line match the dimension line?
The size line says 410 mm overall and a 160 mm blade. The dimension line says 6 x 7 cm.
The DEEFIINE W0404B is a four-piece carbide set at £49.49 and 2.29 kg, with 18.3 inch bars. The title names diamond, round and square inserts, and the box is listed with two wrenches and four spare screws. amazon.co.uk shows 4.5 from 58 reviews, and eight texts in the saved reviews are marked United Kingdom. One UK review describes a small bowl in about an hour, with hollowing called easy and more sanding afterwards. Another beginner review reports fewer severe catches and no sharpening, if you accept that extra sanding and a light touch. The bullets say you order replacement inserts rather than grind them, and one UK note says the edges were sharp enough to want gloves when handling. Several UK notes say the set has not been used yet, so edge life is thin in these reviews, and the shape line says Diamond while the title also names round and square. The score is 66.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want replaceable carbide inserts for a small bowl or a first cut, and you will sand more than you would with a shearing gouge.
Less suitable: You want a measured edge life, or an HSS flute you can grind to a bevel.
Specifications
Common questions
Do these need a grinder?
The bullets say order replacement carbide inserts. UK reviews say they did not sharpen them.
What did UK buyers make?
One UK review describes a small bowl in about an hour, with a light touch and more sanding. Another cites fewer severe catches.
What is in the box?
Four 18.3 inch tools, one wooden box, two wrenches and four spare screws.
The DEEFIINE HSS08 is an eight-piece set at £109.98 and 3.97 kg, with beech handles and a 51 cm size line. amazon.co.uk shows 4.4 from 192 reviews. The blade-material line says high speed steel, and another bullet says 4341 carbide inserts, so the edge type is not settled on the page. The eight flutes are not named, and the included-components line says no. Some UK reviews call it decent steel at a fair price for a beginner and sharp out of the box. Others report a morning of grinding, steel that blues on a sharpening system and does not hold an edge, and one compares the tools unfavourably with Record Power on weight. The number-of-items line says 1 beside a unit count of 8. The score is 73.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a heavy eight-piece beginner set and you will read the steel line twice before you assume the edge is HSS you can grind.
Less suitable: You need named flutes, or steel a UK reviewer has already said holds an edge like Record Power.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the edge HSS or carbide?
The blade-material line says high speed steel. Another bullet says high-speed steel carbide inserts made of 4341 grade material.
What do UK reviews say about sharpening?
Some say sharp on arrival. Others report a morning of grinding, or steel that blues and does not hold an edge.
How heavy is the set?
The item-weight line says 3.97 kg. One UK review says the tools feel much lighter than Record Power.
The Toolzone WW058 is a six-piece HSS set at £40.46 and 2.66 kg, with a 26 mm skew, a 16 mm round nose, a 16 mm spear point, and gouges at 10, 13 and 25 mm, in a wooden case. amazon.co.uk shows 4.3 from 45 reviews, and the texts in the saved reviews are marked United Kingdom. Reviewers call it a starter set for a first lathe, including pens and hobby turning, and say the HSS keeps an edge once a sharpening system is in use. Several say the tools are not sharp out of the box. Handles are called unrefined, short or poorly varnished, and the case base can split or arrive damaged. One review says a roughing gouge had burrs and unfinished metal and was unsafe to hold until that was corrected. The profile list does not name a bowl gouge. The score is 63.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a named six-tool starter set and you will hone every edge before you use it.
Less suitable: You are hollowing a bowl, or you want handles and a case that UK reviews already call finished.
Specifications
Common questions
Which profiles are in the box?
The bullets list a 26 mm skew, a 16 mm round nose, a 16 mm spear point, and gouges at 10, 13 and 25 mm.
Are they sharp on arrival?
Several UK reviews say they need sharpening first and then keep an edge as HSS.
Does the case hold up?
A wooden case is included. UK reviews include a split base and a box damaged in transit.
The SIIIXS HSS08AS is an eight-piece set at £94.98 whose bullets name a roughing gouge, a spindle gouge, a bowl gouge, a scraper, a parting tool and a skew, plus an 11.6 inch hardwood handle. amazon.co.uk shows 4.3 from 20 reviews. The seven texts in the saved reviews are from France, the United States and Germany, so there is no United Kingdom sentence about a cut. The item-weight line says 18 g, which cannot describe an eight-tool set, and the included-components line says no while the title says a wooden box. The bullets claim M2 high speed steel and a pre-sharpened edge, with no HRC number. A United States review, which is not UK opinion, describes a 5/8 inch tool snapping mid-blade within 30 minutes. You are buying the bullet list and the star line, not a UK account of the set in use. The score is 61.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You are comparing the named profile list on the bullets and you will not treat the 4.3 from 20 as British experience of the cut.
Less suitable: You want a UK review of the edge, a plausible weight, or a confirmed box.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the 18 g weight plausible?
The item-weight line says 18 g for an eight-tool set with a box. That figure is what the listing prints.
Are there UK reviews in the saved texts?
The star line is 4.3 from 20. The saved review texts are from France, the United States and Germany.
What steel is claimed?
The bullets say M2 high speed steel. No HRC number is printed.
The DEEFIINE HSS03 is a three-piece set at £72.85 and 2.08 kg, titled as bowl gouges in 3/8, 1/2 and 5/8 inch, which the bullets also write as 10, 12 and 16 mm. amazon.co.uk shows 4.1 from 206 reviews. The bullets claim M2 HSS at 60 HRC, a side grind, a 230 mm cutting edge and beech handles about 340 mm long. UK reviews say the brass ferrules were slack or fell off, including when the box was opened, and that the factory grind was poor. One UK review calls the flute a V rather than a U and says a 55 degree swept-back grind still did not help. The included-components line says no while the bullets describe a wooden box, and the number-of-items line says 1. Some UK users still call the cut good at the price. The score is 70.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want three listed bowl-gouge sizes and you will check every ferrule and regrind the edge before the blank spins.
Less suitable: You need a flute a UK reviewer has already called a U, or a handle whose ferrule stayed on when the box was opened.
Specifications
Common questions
Are these bowl gouges?
The title and bullets say three bowl gouges with a side grind for hollowing. One UK review says the flute is a V, not a U.
What failed in UK reviews?
Several UK reviews say the brass ferrules were slack or fell off, and that the edges were poorly ground.
Is the box in the included line?
The bullets describe a wooden box. The included-components line says no.
The Jeanoko eight-piece set is £49.29 and 1.89 kg, with a size line of 130 mm and a wooden presentation box in the title. amazon.co.uk shows 4.0 from 23 reviews, and five United Kingdom texts are in the saved reviews. The title says HSS and walnut, while the blade-material line says manganese steel and the bullets say beech and print HRC58-6. Individual flutes are not named. UK reviews are mostly about the box: a split side, a box that broke apart between the fingers, and one note that the chisels were fine as a gift despite the split. One UK review calls the chisels thin and the box rubbish for the price. Other praise is an unused gift and a line that they are very good for first-time users, without a described cut. The score is 57.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already know which eight profiles you are receiving and you treat the box as packaging that may not survive delivery.
Less suitable: You need a named HSS flute, or a presentation box UK reviewers have called intact.
Specifications
Common questions
Are the blades HSS?
The title says HSS. The blade-material line says manganese steel, and a bullet says 65 manganese steel.
What did UK reviews say about the box?
Reviews describe a split side and a box that broke apart. The chisels inside were a separate comment.
Which profiles are included?
The listing does not name the eight flutes.
Eleven amazon.co.uk woodturning-chisel listings from the 22 October 2026 snapshot are scored in two parts. Star points are the star rating divided by 5, then multiplied by 70. Volume points are the review count divided by 500, capped at 500, then multiplied by 30. The stored score is the nearest whole number. There is no separate deduction and no lab edge test. Hardness figures are maker or listing claims.
Star points
70%The amazon.co.uk star rating divided by 5, then multiplied by 70. A 4.6 line is 64.4 points. Stars are the listing average, not a count of United Kingdom sentences.
Volume points
30%The amazon.co.uk review count divided by 500, capped at 500, then multiplied by 30. A listing with 500 or more reviews scores 30. Twenty reviews score 1.2.
Match the profile to the job before you compare piece counts. A spindle roughing gouge, a spindle gouge, a bowl gouge, a skew and a carbide bar are different tools. The notes below follow that buying order: the job, the edge you can verify, size and handle, then the star line and whether you will grind. They are not a hardness test.
A woodturning chisel, in UK shop language, is a handled lathe tool: a spindle roughing gouge, a spindle gouge, a bowl gouge, a skew, a parting tool, a scraper, or a carbide-insert bar. Buyers are mostly new lathe owners, club members filling one missing profile, or people replacing a set that would not hold an edge.
An eight-piece case is not automatically a roughing gouge, a spindle gouge, a bowl gouge and a skew. A new turner needs the profiles the job uses, or carbide if they will not sharpen.
A spindle roughing gouge takes a square blank toward round, with the grain along the bed. Thameside Woodturners says the tang can snap if you hollow a bowl with it.
Prefer a listing that says HSS in the title and the material line and does not also say manganese steel or another insert grade. Hardness figures are maker or listing claims, not a measured result.
The first check is the job: spindle roughing, with the grain along the bed, spindle detail between centres, or bowl hollowing across the grain. A spindle roughing gouge has a wide U flute and takes a square blank toward round. It is the wrong tool for hollowing a bowl. Thameside Woodturners says the tang can snap. A spindle gouge has a shallower flute for beads and coves. A bowl gouge has a deeper flute and a swept wing. A skew planes spindle outsides and cuts beads and V-grooves.
Prefer a listing that says HSS in the title and the material line and does not also say manganese steel or carbide inserts of another grade. Hardness figures such as 57–63 HRC or 60 HRC are maker or listing claims. They were not measured here. Carbide scrapes, and UK reviews in this snapshot mention fewer catches and more sanding. If you will not grind, buy carbide on purpose and replace or rotate the insert.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You need a roughing gouge and a spindle gouge, not an eight-tool case chosen for the count. The 20 mm roughing gouge is the top pick here for taking a spindle blank down, once you grind the factory edge. It is not a bowl tool.
A bowl turner needs a bowl gouge and leaves the spindle roughing gouge on spindles. The three-piece set is titled as bowl gouges. UK reviews say the brass ferrules were slack or fell off, so check every ferrule and regrind before the blank spins.
If you already own a gouge and only need a small spindle flute, the 8 mm is the best value in this snapshot: the lowest shelf price, one score point behind the top pick. UK reviews say the packet can say roughing gouge. Look at the flute.
The top pick is the Faithfull 20 mm roughing gouge. It has the highest score in this snapshot, 94, from 4.6 out of 5 across 641 amazon.co.uk ratings, at about £32.81. UK reviews use it to take a spindle blank down, and they say the factory grind is rough until you sharpen it. The bullets do not describe bowl hollowing. A 4.8 from 28 on a six-piece carbide set does not take this place: the United Kingdom texts say the set has not been used. The best value is the Faithfull 8 mm spindle gouge, score 93, the lowest shelf price here at about £18.87, with 4.6 from 479. UK reviews say the packet or an older description said roughing gouge while the tool is an 8 mm spindle or fingernail gouge. Check the flute.
Faithfull 8 mm spindle gouge
Lowest shelf price in this snapshot, at about £18.87, one score point behind the top pick, if you check the flute.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources listed below, plus the amazon.co.uk listings for the eleven ASINs. Checked on 22 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are from amazon.co.uk listings. We did not run a lab test.
