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The Best Things Ashley Iles Bench Chisels
Ashley Iles Bench Chisels

The term "Bench Chisels" is the traditional terminology for those chisels used by a joiner or cabinetmaker, either of whom would normally be working in front of a work bench. A good set of bevel edge chisels should be at the foundation of any cabinetmaker's tool kit. Ashley Iles is best known as making great carving chisels, but they also offer a line of first quality bevel edge chisels at very reasonable prices. In fact, the Ashley Iles bench chisels are probably the best value of any bench chisels made today. The Ashley Iles motto is "made in the old tradition." Each and every Ashley Iles chisel is hand ground by a skilled craftsman. This also means that, just like with old Sheffield chisels, the sizes will vary slightly. That is part of what it means to be hand made.

Ashley Iles originally only made one type of beveled bench chisels, the ones called the "American Pattern", which are based on American carpenter's chisels of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. These chisels were not ideal for cabinetmaking work, and we engaged Ashley Iles to make a custom set of chisels for us that are made to the dimensions of a good 19th Century set of English (or American) cabinetmaker's chisels. These are our Ashley Iles chisels with octagonal handles. Subsequently, Ashley Iles has decided to follow our lead and make all of their bench chisels shorter and more suitable for cabinetmaking. The Ashley Iles Mark 2 chisels incorporate the features that we had been requesting all along, i.e. shorter and thinner blades. With the introduction of the Ashley Iles Mark 2 chisels, we are no longer going to be carrying our custom chisels. Ashley Iles has also discontinued their original series of beveled chisels, the "American Pattern" chisels. We are currently selling off what we have left of these two lines.


Ashley Iles Mark 2 Bench Chisels
"English Pattern" (Cabinetmaker's Chisels)
Ashley Iles Bevel Edge Chisels - Mark 2
Bubinga Handles. Overall length 9 3/8" to 13 1/2"

Ashley Iles Bench Chisel
Click on Image to Expand

The first thing that strikes you about these chisels is that they are ground more like the old 19th Century Sheffield chisels, which were the best ever made, than any other factory made chisels, excepting the Robert Sorby Excelsior chisels. Most modern bench chisels are much thicker than the old chisels, presumably because today's manufacturers feel they need to compensate for potential misuse. When you are cutting dovetails, this difference will be quite apparent, as the sides of the Ashley Iles chisels will not get in the way of your work.
Stock # Size/Handle Price QtyBuy
BEC3-AI 1/8" $28.95
BEC6-AI 1/4" $24.95
BEC9-AI 3/8" $23.95
BEC12-AI 1/2" $24.95
BEC15-AI 5/8" $25.95
BEC19-AI 3/4" $26.95
BEC22-AI 7/8" $27.95
BEC25-AI 1" $28.95
BEC31-AI 1 1/4" $35.95
BEC37-AI 1 1/2" $39.95
BEC50-AI 2" $47.95
BEC-S5-AI Set of 5
Comes in a denim tool roll
Sizes 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4", 1"
$125.95
BEC-S6-AI Set of 6
Comes in a denim tool roll
Sizes 1/8" 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4", 1"
$149.95
BEC-S11-AI Set of All 11 Sizes
Comes in a denim tool roll
$294.95


Ashley Iles Bench Chisels
"American Pattern" (Carpenter's Chisels)
Ashley Iles Bevel Edge Chisels
European Beech or Bubinga Handles. Overall length 11 1/2" to 13 1/2"

Ashley Iles Bench Chisel
Click on Image to Expand
Stock # Size/Handle Price Qty Buy
B-1/8-BE 1/8" Beech handle $25.95
B-3/8-BE 3/8" Beech handle $21.95
B-5/8-BE 5/8" Beech handle $22.95
B-3/4-BE 3/4" Beech handle $23.95
B-7/8-BE 7/8" Beech handle $24.95
B-1.1/4-BE 1 1/4" Beech handle $31.95
B-1.1/2-BE 1 1/2" Beech handle $34.95
B-2-BE 2" Beech handle $42.95
B-S5-BE Set of 5 Beech handles
Sizes 1/8", 3/8", 5/8", 7/8", 1 1/4"
$89.95


Stock # Size/Handle Price Qty Buy
B-1/8-BU 1/8" Bubinga handle $28.95
B-3/8-BU 3/8" Bubinga handle $23.95
B-5/8-BU 5/8" Bubinga handle $25.95
B-3/4-BU 3/4" Bubinga handle $26.95
B-7/8-BU 7/8" Bubinga handle $27.95
B-1-BU 1" Bubinga handle $28.95
B-1.1/4-BU 1 1/4" Bubinga handle $35.95
B-1.1/2-BU 1 1/2" Bubinga handle $39.95
B-2-BU 2" Bubinga handle $47.95
B-S5-BU Set of 5 Bubinga handles
Sizes 1/8", 3/8", 5/8", 7/8", 1 1/4"
$109.95


Ashley Iles Bench Chisels - "English Pattern"
(shorter than standard)
Ashley Iles Bevel Edge Chisels
"London Pattern" handles in Rosewood or Boxwood.
Overall length 10" to 13"

Note: These handles are properly graduated to the size of the chisel. This combined with the octagonal shape provides maximum control.
Ashley Iles Bench Chisel
Click on Image to Expand
Stock # Size Price QtyBuy
AI-1/8-S-R 1/8" with Rosewood "London Pattern" Handle $32.50
AI-5/8-S-R 5/8" with Rosewood "London Pattern" Handle $33.50
AI-3/4-S-R 3/4" with Rosewood "London Pattern" Handle $34.50
AI-7/8-S-R 7/8" with Rosewood "London Pattern" Handle $35.50
AI-1-S-R 1" with Rosewood "London Pattern" Handle $36.50
AI-1.1/4-S-R 1 1/4" with Rosewood "London Pattern" Handle $38.50
AI-1.1/2-S-R 1 1/2" with Rosewood "London Pattern" Handle $42.50
AI-2-S-R 2" with Rosewood "London Pattern" Handle $48.50

Stock # Size Price QtyBuy
AI-1/8-S-B 1/8" with Boxwood "London Pattern" Handle $34.50
AI-1/4-S-B 1/4" with Boxwood "London Pattern" Handle $31.50
AI-5/8-S-B 5/8" with Boxwood "London Pattern" Handle $35.50
AI-7/8-S-B 7/8" with Boxwood "London Pattern" Handle $37.50
AI-1-S-B 1" with Boxwood "London Pattern" Handle $38.50
AI-1.1/4-S-B 1 1/4" with Boxwood "London Pattern" Handle $40.50
AI-1.1/2-S-B 1 1/2" with Boxwood "London Pattern" Handle $43.50
AI-2-S-B 2" with Boxwood "London Pattern" Handle $49.50
AI-S6-S-B Set of 5
Boxwood "London Pattern" Handles
Sizes 1/8" 1/4", 5/8", 7/8", 1 1/4"
$149.50

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