DeWalt 5/8 in. Wood Chisel

First impressions

I reached for this 5/8-inch chisel to cut a couple of hinge mortises and clean up a housing dado, and it slotted into the workflow without fuss. It’s a compact, lightweight tool (about 6.4 ounces, roughly 9.8 inches long) with a tempered carbon-steel blade and a bi-material handle capped by a striking plate. The format suggests a general-purpose chisel designed for site work and finishing, rather than a boutique bench chisel for fine joinery. That framing proved accurate in use: it’s sturdy, straightforward, and ready to work after a few minutes of tuning.

Build and ergonomics

The handle is the first thing you notice. The rubberized overmold gives a secure grip without feeling gummy, and the contouring fills the palm well. I found it comfortable for both power grips (chopping with a mallet) and fingertip control (paring with two hands). The metal strike cap is thick and slightly crowned to a flat, which spreads the force from a mallet or hammer efficiently. I primarily used a wooden mallet for control, but I did test it with a light steel hammer; the cap shrugged it off with no scarring and didn’t transmit any worrying shock into the handle.

Balance is slightly handle-biased, which is typical for site-ready chisels with robust caps. That bias helps when chopping—your hand naturally finds a secure hold behind the blade—but it’s not so heavy that it feels clumsy during delicate paring. The blade-to-tang transition is clean and inspires confidence that the steel runs full-length to the cap, a good sign for durability under repeated strikes.

Mine arrived with a simple plastic blade guard. It’s nothing fancy, but it snaps on securely and makes tossing the chisel into a tool bag or drawer a safer proposition.

Steel, edge, and sharpening

Out of the package, the factory edge was serviceable—sharp enough to pare softwood end grain and score hinge outlines without tearing fibers. Tempered carbon steel in this class aims for a practical balance: easy to hone, durable enough for site work, and not so hard that a stray nail chips the edge irreparably.

I always tune a new chisel. In this case, the back was reasonably flat near the cutting edge, which is the critical area. Ten minutes on a coarse-to-fine progression brought it to a bright, flat polish. The primary bevel was consistent; I added a small micro-bevel for quick touch-ups. The steel responded well on stones and stropped to a keen, shaving edge without drama.

Edge retention was solid. After cutting two hinge mortises in maple, paring a few tenon cheeks, and cleaning up a plywood dado, the edge still sliced cleanly. It did lose that razor feel, but a few passes on a fine stone restored it. That’s what I want in a jobsite chisel: quick to bring back without needing a full regrind.

A note on the lacquered blade: the protective coating is helpful for rust resistance, especially in humid shops or site conditions. It can add a hint of drag in cuts if left on the bevel. I removed it from the bevel and back during flattening and left it on the sides; that split approach kept the tool cutting smoothly while preserving some corrosion protection.

Performance in wood

• Paring: The 5/8-inch width is versatile for trimming shoulders, fitting shelves, and cleaning up routed mortises. With a honed edge and two-handed grip, I could take translucent shavings off end grain without crush marks. The slightly thicker blade profile compared to fine bench chisels brings stability at the cost of a bit more wedge effect; for wide, delicate paring, lighter pressure and a shallow skew cut produced the best results.

• Chopping and mortising: For hinge mortises in poplar and maple, the chisel handled vertical chopping and levering cleanly. The strike cap transmitted force efficiently, the edge resisted rolling, and the heel didn’t bruise the work. Using a mallet kept the chisel tracking square, and the 5/8 width aligned well with standard hinge leaf sizes, reducing clean-up passes.

• End grain: In fir and pine, end grain paring was smooth. In maple, I had to keep the micro-bevel fresh to avoid burnishing. That’s normal behavior for mid-hard carbon steel and a reminder that a quick strop between tasks saves effort.

• Plywood and composites: The edge held up against glue lines better than I expected, but I still wouldn’t make a habit of heavy plywood chiseling. If you do, plan on more frequent honing.

Control and visibility

The blade flats are straight and true, and the sides are square enough to register off a layout line. I’d prefer slightly more relieved side bevels for tight corners, especially when sneaking into narrow housings, but for a straight edge chisel this geometry strikes a reasonable middle ground between strength and access. Sight lines are good; I could see the edge contact on scribe lines without having to tilt the tool awkwardly.

Durability and maintenance

Between the hardened steel, lacquer on the non-cutting surfaces, and the thick strike cap, the chisel is built for day-in, day-out work. After a week of typical use and one intentional abuse test (light tapping against a hidden finish nail in a door jamb—oops), the edge got a small roll rather than a chip, which honed out quickly. The handle showed no splits or looseness, and the cap stayed tight.

As with any carbon-steel chisel, a wipe with a rust inhibitor at the end of the day is good practice, especially if you’ve removed lacquer from the bevel and back. The included guard helps keep the edge and your hands safe between tasks.

Size and where it fits in a kit

A 5/8-inch chisel is a sweet spot for many carpentry and cabinetry tasks: it’s wide enough to evacuate waste efficiently but narrow enough to sneak into tight mortises. I wouldn’t pick it as my only chisel, but in a small site kit, pairing this with a 1/4- or 3/8-inch chisel covers most hinge, latch, and trim work. In a shop set, it fills the gap between 1/2 and 3/4 inches nicely.

What could be better

• Side relief: More relieved sides would improve access for dovetail sockets and tight corners. As is, it favors strength over ultimate finesse.

• Factory edge: Usable out of the box, but a quick tune-up makes a noticeable difference. I’d love to see a slightly crisper factory polish on the back and bevel.

• Lacquer placement: The protective coating is helpful, but it’s worth noting for new users that removing it from the cutting surfaces will improve feel in the cut.

None of these are dealbreakers; they’re tradeoffs consistent with a general-purpose chisel that expects to see mallet work and jobsite conditions.

Tips for best results

• Hone a small micro-bevel so you can refresh the edge quickly with a few passes on a fine stone.

• Use a wooden or urethane mallet for better control and to protect your work, even though the strike cap tolerates a steel hammer.

• Remove lacquer from the bevel and back; leave it on the sides to retain some rust resistance.

• Keep the plastic guard on between tasks to protect both the edge and other tools in your bag.

Warranty and support

A limited lifetime warranty backs the tool, which is reassuring for a hand tool that’s likely to live in a site box and see real use. The 90-day return window is standard fare. I didn’t need support during testing, but the build quality inspires confidence that you won’t be exercising the warranty often.

Bottom line and recommendation

This 5/8-inch chisel strikes a practical balance: tough enough for jobsite chopping, refined enough for clean paring after a quick tune, and comfortable to use over a long session. The tempered carbon steel hones easily and holds a working edge; the strike cap and handle inspire confidence under the mallet; and the overall size is spot-on for common hinge and trim tasks.

I recommend it as a reliable, everyday chisel for carpenters, installers, and woodworkers who want a durable tool that sharpens quickly and performs predictably. If your work leans heavily toward fine joinery with intricate access requirements, you might supplement it with a slimmer, highly relieved bench chisel. For general wood trimming and finishing, though, this chisel earns a spot in the roll.