the problem is that wood chisels need survival 4 which tends to be achieved noticeably latter in the game then when you want normally want a shovel (fortifying by digging pits for example). This leads to an awkward period where progress is hindered by the lack of a shovel. One solution I implemented in a mod (simple additions) gives a recipe that has you carving a wooden shovel out of a log (similar to carving wooden clogs).
edit: forgot an “a”
edit: specifically my recipe requires a fabrication of 3, wood sawing of 1, and a cutting tool