A cold chisel is made for cutting metal, not concrete; Mayhew says its cold chisels are not intended for masonry. To chip or cut concrete around a drain or floor penetration, use a masonry chisel such as the Mayhew 35105 (3-1/2-inch blade with a hand guard), struck with a short drilling hammer like the 3-pound Estwing B3-3LB. Keep a 1-inch Mayhew 10220 cold chisel for cutting rusted bolts and soft metal.
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The Mayhew 10220, Mayhew 35105 and Estwing B3-3LB illustrate those different roles. They are examples for comparison, not a tested matched kit.
Cold chisel or masonry chisel?
| Tool | Example | Consider for | Do not assume |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold chisel | Mayhew 10220 | Suitable metal-cutting applications | Concrete compatibility |
| Masonry chisel | Mayhew 35105 | Masonry applications within its instructions | Every concrete demolition task |
| Small drilling hammer | Estwing B3-3LB | Striking suitable chisels or punches | Automatic compatibility with either chisel |
These examples explain three roles. They are not a tested matched kit. Check the current instructions and striking-face compatibility for the exact tools together.
Mayhew 10220: a cold chisel for metal
Choose the Mayhew 10220 when the application calls for an appropriate cold chisel. Mayhew’s current indexed model list identifies it as a 1-inch by 8-inch cold chisel. The checked standard new Amazon.com offer showed stock with exact model and part number 10220.
Wright’s current Mayhew cold-chisel description (wrighttool.com) explicitly limits the family to cutting and shaping metals softer than the cutting edge and excludes masonry. CCOHS likewise says not to use cold chisels to cut or split stone or concrete.
Skip it for concrete. Also check the specific metal and application instead of assuming “metal” means every hardened component, casting or pipe can be worked safely with this tool.
A nearby Amazon listing had a 10220 title but 10212 model and part fields. That separate listing was excluded; the model number in the title alone is not enough.
Check Mayhew 10220 cold chisel on Amazon →
Mayhew 35105: a distinct masonry example
Choose the Mayhew 35105 when a handguarded masonry chisel is appropriate for the material and task. The current maker family list (maker page: mayhew.com/products/punches-chisels/punches_and_chisels_handguarded__handguarded_mason_chisels) identifies the 35105 as a 3-1/2-inch by 7-1/2-inch handguarded mason chisel. The checked standard new Amazon.com offer showed stock and exact model/part number 35105.
Skip it if the work requires a different edge shape, a narrower access path or equipment outside this tool’s intended use. A broad masonry blade and a cold chisel have different roles even when both are struck by a hammer.
The handguard is a product feature, not a promise that misplaced blows cannot injure you. Verify the exact tool’s instructions, condition and hammer match.
Mayhew’s family page defaults some details to the 35005. Use the selected 35105 description rather than copying the default model’s weight, UPC or width into a comparison.
Check Mayhew 35105 masonry chisel on Amazon →
Estwing B3-3LB: a small drilling hammer
Choose the Estwing B3-3LB when a compact drilling hammer of its weight and dimensions suits the striking task. The maker’s current table (estwing.com) identifies a 3-pound head and 11-inch overall length. It describes one-piece head-and-handle construction and a molded grip.
The checked standard new offer showed stock from MaxWarehouse, with exact model and part number B3-3LB. This is an ordinary unpowered hand tool; its identity is distinct from the 4-pound long-handle B3-4LBL.
Skip it when the work needs a different hammer type or a tool you can control more appropriately in the available space. A heavier head is not automatically a better match.
Estwing describes drilling hammers for striking chisels, punches, star drills and hardened nails. That family use does not establish that this exact hammer face is compatible with every chisel.
Check Estwing B3-3LB drilling hammer on Amazon →
Choose width and reach around the actual access
Start by identifying the material, the intended cut or separation and the working space. Then compare the exact edge shape, blade width and tool length with that requirement.
A wider blade is not automatically more precise. A longer shank is not automatically easier to control. Consider where you can place the tool, where your hand will be and whether there is room for the intended hammer without contacting surrounding work.
For work near a fixture, separate material removal from protecting the fixture and its connections. A tool purchase does not resolve whether the surrounding assembly can tolerate the planned operation.
If access prevents correct positioning, change the work plan. Do not compensate by turning an ordinary screwdriver into a chisel or by choosing a heavier hammer merely to overcome poor access.
Match the hammer face and struck tool
Estwing’s safety guidance (estwing.com) calls for a hammer of suitable size and weight and a proper striking face relative to the tool being struck. Read the full maker guidance and the chisel’s instructions together.
The selected tools were checked for identity and availability, not physically matched or tested together. We have not measured their striking faces or established a recommended combination.
Do not substitute a nail hammer for a drilling hammer when striking another tool. Our claw-hammer guide covers the separate nail-driving choice.
Before ordering a kit, identify the exact striking and struck faces and obtain the maker’s compatibility requirements. Two tools appearing in the same shopping category does not establish a safe pairing.
Inspect condition before putting the tool to work
CCOHS struck-tool guidance (ccohs.ca) calls out mushroomed or chipped struck heads, damaged edges, bends and cracks. Keep damaged tools out of the working kit.
Estwing also identifies damage to the face and handle as reasons to discard a hammer. Inspect the actual tool rather than judging condition from a clean grip or a familiar brand.
This guide does not provide a home heat-treatment or grinding procedure. Obtain the maker’s maintenance requirements before attempting any repair, and replace a tool when required.
Keep the model identifiable when replacing a worn tool. Reordering from a photograph alone can substitute another length, edge or hammer weight.
Protect the operator and people nearby
Estwing calls for safety goggles for both the user and bystanders. CCOHS also discusses shields or screens for flying chips and appropriate hand protection.
A face shield does not replace the eye protection specified for the task. Our eye-protection guide explains the separate equipment choice; read the exact protection requirements before starting.
A handguard does not turn the work into an impact-free task. Plan the position of other workers and the direction of possible debris rather than relying solely on the guard.
Where concrete work raises dust or other exposure concerns, use the applicable work plan and controls. This page does not establish a dust-control method or select a respirator for an unknown exposure.
Do not turn a shopping guide into a demolition plan
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A chisel and small hammer can be useful tools, but this comparison does not authorize breaking concrete around a drain, removing structural material or splitting an installed cast-iron pipe.
Identify concealed services, structural concerns and the condition of the plumbing before choosing a method. Existing drawings and visible surface details may not answer every question.
For a repair, define what must remain intact as carefully as what will be removed. A flange, pipe or fitting beside the work can change the acceptable method.
If the task exceeds controlled hand-tool work, choose the method and qualified help appropriate to that job. The correct outcome is an intact, serviceable installation, not simply a larger pile of removed material.
Frequently asked questions
Can an ordinary cold chisel cut or split concrete?
Do not choose an ordinary cold chisel for that purpose. CCOHS explicitly advises against using cold chisels to cut or split stone or concrete.
Is the Mayhew 35105 the same as the 35005?
No. The maker family list gives the 35105 a 3-1/2-inch blade and the 35005 a 3-inch blade; do not copy default-model details.
Is a 3-pound drilling hammer compatible with every chisel?
No. Confirm the exact striking-face match and both tools’ instructions. Head weight alone does not establish compatibility.
Does a handguard remove the need for eye protection?
No. A handguard is not a substitute for the eye and other protection specified for the work.
Can I use a nail hammer to strike these tools?
Estwing says not to use a nail hammer to strike another tool. Select the proper hammer for the exact struck tool and task.
How we chose
We checked the current Mayhew model lists, Wright’s current Mayhew-family description, Estwing product and safety pages, and CCOHS struck-tool guidance confirmed current December 2023. Three standard new Amazon offers showed stock with matching model and part fields on October 14, 2026. Mayhew’s full catalog and linked safety page could not be retrieved; no full-manual or visual-table verification is claimed. This is a source comparison, not a hands-on cutting or impact test. Read our selection method and about Plumbing Picks.
Primary sources
- Mayhew current indexed cold-chisel list (maker page: mayhew.com/products/punches-chisels/punches_and_chisels_cold_chisels): 10220 model and dimensions; full page retrieval limited.
- Wright current Mayhew cold-chisel description (wrighttool.com): metal use and explicit masonry exclusion.
- Mayhew current handguarded masonry family (maker page: mayhew.com/products/punches-chisels/punches_and_chisels_handguarded__handguarded_mason_chisels): 35105 differs from the default 35005.
- Estwing current drilling hammer page (estwing.com): B3-3LB table and intended tool family.
- Estwing current safety and care guidance (estwing.com): correct hammer, eye protection and damage checks.
- CCOHS struck tools, confirmed December 2023 (ccohs.ca): ordinary cold chisels excluded for cutting or splitting concrete.