Floor Chisels

About Floor Chisels

Floor chisels are heavy-duty hand tools engineered for lifting, removing, and stripping flooring materials including floorboards, skirting boards, architrave, and fixed timber components. Featuring a wide, flat blade and extended handle (typically 300-450mm), these robust chisels provide excellent leverage for efficient work during renovation and repair projects. MyToolShed.co.uk stocks professional-grade floor chisels from trusted manufacturers including Faithfull, Footprint, and Roughneck, all forged from hardened carbon steel to withstand repeated striking with a club hammer or mallet.

Available in various configurations with blade widths ranging from 32mm to 75mm, floor chisels suit everything from precision work around door frames to lifting entire floorboards in one pass. Models with integrated hand guards offer enhanced safety for tradespeople undertaking repetitive striking work, protecting hands from missed hammer strikes during prolonged use on busy sites.

Applications

Floor chisels are essential tools for numerous trades and applications:

• Electricians and Sparkies – lifting floorboards to run 240v cabling and install sockets throughout domestic and commercial properties
• Carpenters and Joiners – removing damaged timber flooring, architrave, and skirting boards during renovation projects
• Plumbers – accessing underfloor pipework and installing central heating systems beneath suspended timber floors
• Flooring Specialists – stripping old materials before installing new laminate, engineered wood, or solid timber floors
• General Builders – demolition work, property refurbishment, and preparing surfaces during renovation projects
• DIY Enthusiasts – home improvement projects including kitchen and bathroom renovations, loft conversions, and period property restoration
• Heritage Restoration Specialists – carefully removing original floorboards in listed buildings without causing unnecessary damage

Choosing The Right Floor Chisels

Blade Width: Wider blades (65-75mm) work best for lifting full-width floorboards quickly, whilst narrower profiles (32-50mm) offer greater precision when working around doorframes or in tight corners without disturbing adjacent timber.

Handle Design: Standard floor chisels feature traditional wooden handles, but models with integrated hand guards provide essential protection for professional tradespeople. The guard prevents hand injuries if your hammer strike misses the chisel head – a worthwhile safety feature on busy sites.

Material Quality: Professional-grade floor chisels from MyToolShed.co.uk are manufactured from drop-forged carbon steel for maximum durability and impact resistance. Check that the striking cap is properly hardened to prevent mushrooming after extended use.

Overall Length: Longer chisels provide superior leverage when lifting stubborn floorboards, reducing physical effort and improving efficiency. Shorter models offer better control in confined spaces beneath stairs or around floor perimeters.

Safety Information

Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment including safety goggles to protect against flying splinters and heavy-duty work gloves to prevent blisters. Maintain a firm grip and ensure your free hand is always positioned behind the blade, never in front of the cutting edge.

Inspect your floor chisel before each use, checking for mushroomed striking caps or damaged handles. When lifting floorboards, be aware of hidden services including 240v electrical cables, gas pipes, and water supply lines beneath the floor surface. Use a cable and pipe detector before beginning work, and exercise caution when making initial penetrations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a floor chisel and a bolster chisel?

Floor chisels feature much longer handles (typically 300-450mm) compared to standard bolster chisels, providing superior leverage specifically for lifting floorboards. Whilst bolster chisels are designed for cutting bricks and masonry, floor chisels have wider blades optimised for working with timber flooring materials without causing unnecessary damage to adjacent boards.

Do I need a floor chisel with a hand guard?

Hand guards are highly recommended for professional tradespeople who regularly lift floorboards, particularly electricians and plumbers. The guard protects your hand if the hammer strike misses the chisel head, preventing potentially serious injuries. For occasional DIY use, a standard floor chisel may suffice, though the additional safety feature is always beneficial.

How do I maintain my floor chisel?

Keep the blade sharp using a bench grinder or sharpening stone, maintaining the original bevel angle for optimal performance. After use, clean off debris and apply a light coating of oil to prevent rust. Check the handle regularly for cracks or looseness, and inspect the striking cap for mushrooming which should be ground flat if it occurs.