Tool of the Week: PSI Woodworking Mini 5-Piece HSS Chisel Set

Not every woodworking tool needs to be a power tool. Sometimes you just have to bring it back to the basics.

This week’s Tool of the Week is the PSI Woodworking Products Mini 5-Piece HSS Wood Lathe Chisel Turning Set.

If you enjoy turning pens, ornaments, handles or other small projects, this is the type of set that deserves a place next to your lathe. These are compact turning tools made for detailed work, not oversized chisels that feel awkward when you are trying to shape something small.

The set includes five different chisels, each with its own job:

1. 1/4-inch roughing gouge: Helps round and begin shaping small spindle blanks.
2. 1/8-inch spindle gouge: Useful for cutting curves, beads, coves and finer details.
3. 1/4-inch round-nose scraper: Helps shape and refine curved surfaces.
4. 3/32-inch parting tool: Cuts grooves, establishes diameters and separates finished work.
5. 1/4-inch skew chisel: Produces smooth cuts and helps create crisp details when used correctly.

Together, they cover the basic jobs you are likely to encounter during smaller turning projects. That makes this set approachable for someone building a first collection, but it can also give an experienced woodturner a smaller option for more controlled detail work.

Each chisel measures 10 inches long with a 4-inch HSS blade. High-speed steel is made to maintain its cutting edge through repeated use, although the tools will still need to be sharpened as they become dull.

The turned and stained hardwood handles give the set a traditional appearance, while brass ferrules help reinforce the connection between each handle and blade. Everything stores inside an included wooden display box, keeping the chisels together and protected between projects.

These tools will not replace a full-size turning set for large bowls or heavy material removal. That is not what they are designed to do. Their advantage is control when working on smaller pieces where a full-size chisel may feel like too much tool.

If you own a mini lathe, want to start turning smaller projects or need more control over the details, this five-piece PSI Woodworking set provides the essentials without overcomplicating things.

Sometimes the best tools don’t require batteries, a motor or a touchscreen. It just needs a sharp edge and someone who knows how to use it.