The case is not intended for long-term use, but if the chisel slips the steel may chip or bend. A curved chisel requires a lot of extra cleaning and may not be accurate. It wasn't a problem for me, but if you're a beginner, don't snap off the tip. My chisels were a bit rusty but it was 105 degrees and my sweat was on them (my fault). This accelerated the corrosion of the steel, but I'm not sure there are many stainless steels out there that can withstand the evaporating sweat.