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so i want to buy some decent bench chisels.....

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chisel
11K views 26 replies 14 participants last post by  pierce85 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
went to buy some Narex chisels and found 2 types of steel used, witch steel is better, fine-grained chrome-moly steel or Rc59 chrome-manganese steel?
 
#2 ·
Bud,
The type of steel is not as important as the heat treatment…...No point in taking a fancy steel and failing to heat treat correctly….
I don't know which steel type mentioned is "better" so if faced with this question when contemplating buying Narex chisels I would consider quality of fit and finish first then compare prices. If totally confused I would buy one of each type and try them out….. Narex used to make good stuff (Yugoslav originally as far as I know) but who knows what they do these days.
Why Narex anyway?
 
#3 ·
#4 ·
Thanks Al -mighty fine looking chisels ….
"The steel is wonderful oil hardening carbon steel hardened to about Rc61"
For the avoidance of even the slightest atom of doubt: oil hardening carbon steel is the familiar O1 steel aka gauge plate, good for wood working tools….
 
#5 ·
Phillip from the reviews that i have read the Narex are the best in my price range, I have found 2 sets a 4 and 6 piece set but each is made of different steel and are aprox the same price per chisel. I believe the chrome manganeses "were nicely tempered" what ever that means.
Bertha gotta own my ignorance here in not knowing who Phillip was, but in short order i learned. I so love this site! Those are some nice chisels from Ashley Isles i gotta see how much $ i can scratch up! Thanks every one for your comments all are welcome!
 
#9 ·
Bud,
If I were you I would rather have three Ashley Iles than a full set of Narex, especially if money is short. Remember: buy cheap and you pay twice. (I am assuming you want chisels to do fine woodwork and not builders work or carpentry).
The three sizes I would have are 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 inch.
I have read those reviews and looked at sites and prices. I note that Narex are hardened&tempered to around 58 Rockwell-that is on the soft side but they will be easy to make sharp -possibly where the expression "nicely tempered" is aimed at. The Ashleys are harder but still easy to sharpen at RC60-61 and will keep that edge longer no doubt than Narex, and the quality is obvious, not to mention the appearance. I am afraid to say that those Narex's just look like six dollar beaters…..
Ofcourse it is your prerogative: depends on your appreciation of good tools .
 
#10 ·
I forgot to mention that the hoop on this type of chisel is not a necessity at all : in fact the shape of the Narex will not be comfortable in the palm….
Even though they are cabinetry chisels it doesn't mean you can't use a mallet on them. If you use chisels a lot , such as in dove tailing , you have to use a mallet (otherwise you will have to visit a doctor sooner than later).
So a nice chisel handle should be a nice handful plus have some beef at the top to fit the palm and also not suffer from the mallet-a wooden mallet not something much harder than wood.
I didn't have access to nice sets of superb chisels but could get some nice timbers and make my own handles for the usual Marples, Footprint, Anton Berg Eskiltuna etc which I rescued from various places.
If you consider that the carcase alone of one military chest has 32 half blind d/t's , not to mention the drawers, then those chisels have done some work as I have made close to 40 military chests alone over the years.
Check out my motley collection here.
Hand tool Metalworking hand tool Tool Wood Household hardware


Wood Tableware Wood stain Hardwood Kitchen utensil
 

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#11 ·
Phillip thanks again, i think ill take your advice on the 3 good quality tools, its around the same price as what i was going to pay for the narex set of 6 but I agree to only buy the tool once. From your collection it seems that only the mortice chisels have ferrules? oh not to change the subject but whats the medal/award from?
 
#12 ·
Bud,
yes, those three sizes would seem to me to be the best to start with anyway.
Yes, only the mortice and firmer chisels really need the top ferrule or hoop. (But if folk beat chisels with hammers and hard "mallets" they all do (;).
The medal is a general service medal from the Rhodesian bush war of the seventies, but the ribbon is from another medal. Strangely that medal is now "important" but we all scoffed when we got them…
(Pure coincidence that it got placed there).
 
#16 ·
If you're comfortable with ebay, these sales might be of interest. I bought an 8 piece set of these pre-irwin marples chisels. I got them a few weeks ago, but I'm very happy with the quality, and the price is right. In fact, it looks as if Phillip has a few of these in his collection.
http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Set-4-Marples-Wood-Chisels-IRWIN-/130528747792?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e641ea110

OR (these are a SMOKING HOT deal IMO. These are labeled "marples" and are supposedly better than the newer "irwin" chisels, which are also highly regarded)

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Set-5-Marples-Bulk-Wood-Chisels-IRWIN-/130534640664?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e64788c18
 
#17 · (Edited by Moderator)
It's not always the tool but the craftsman behind the tool that makes great furniture. Not all of us can afford a set Lie Nielsons for our hobby, nor do we need them. I am not a pro, so I do not need a Unisaw, or a 12 inch jointer, a $400 handplane, a $300 palm sander. Would I like them…heck yea! Narex have been proven to be one of the best in their price range. I have a set of them, I also have a set of dirt cheap Stanley's. I keep both sets sharp and don't let them get too dull. I can easily do end grain shavings with both.
 
#18 ·
Tedstor, most of mine are in fact Marples-some re-handled plus those with the acetyl butyrate (or whatever) handles. The ones on Ebay certainly appear to be a gift. I don't know if there were any changes to the steel quality when the Marples name disappeared and would not think it likely.
 
#20 ·
I hate to confuse you further, but I wouldn't consider any chisel other than hand-forged Japanese chisels. If you get good ones, they're harder, tougher and hold a super sharp edge much longer. I have no feel for your price range; Japanese chisels can be very pricey - but you can buy a nice set of 5 for as little as $200 or so… http://www.traditionalwoodworker.com/5pc-Oire-Nomi-Marukatsu/productinfo/406-60500/
 
#21 ·
Donny: you should have a feel for his price range because he said the word "Narex"....
You also imply that some Japanese chisels may not be good: are you trying to incite mass harakiri (spelling?) amongst those brothers owning these chisels? Sorry, couldn't resist…..
 
#23 ·
Chris Gochnour over at Fine Wood Working put 23 bench chisels to the test and picked four of the best out of those 23. Narex chisels were one of the four.

Lie-Nielsen: Best Overall Western-Style.
Narex: Best Value Western-Style.
Matsumura Blue Steel: Best Overall Japanese-Style.
Grizzly: Best Value Japanese-Style.

Here's the link: http://www.finewoodworking.com/ToolGuide/ToolGuidePDF.aspx?id=31061
 
#24 ·
When FWW does a review/comparison of power tools or saw blades or something like that, I trust them implicitly and immediately add the Editor's Choice or Best Value product to my wish list. I remember the last time they compared a bunch of chisels, though, and I found their methods to be oddly inappropriate. More of an abuse test than a real-world use test. I havent read this latest FWW review, but in general, I don't think you can subject hand tools to a series of scientifically repeatable tests and come to a meaningful conclusion. Rather, you have to let a number of skilled craftsmen use them over a period of time then ask them for their observations and conclusions. I think that if chisel shootouts were done this way, good, hand-forged Japanese tools would win every time.
 
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