Chisel choice

[Mike Cozad]

If you only had the choices of the Woodcraft Wood River chisels and Narex chisels to choose from, which would you choose and why? This will be my first chisel purchase and on my budget I have narrowed my choices down to these so far.

Thanks,
Mike

[Jim R Edwards]

Narex. I own three Narex mortise chisels and have been very happy with them.

[Chris Griggs]

Narex. I've never heard a bad thing said about them.

[Tony Zaffuto]

Narex, but I would opt for the better grade of Narex from Highland Hardware or Lee Valley. These have much thinner side bevels, which will help with some chisel work, such a dovetailing. Cost is only a buck or two more.

[Art Kieres]

Not that I'm adding anything new, but go with the Narex. Like Jim I have the Narex mortise chisels and love them. I have a few "proper" old English mortise chisels and when I need an off size I happily go to the Narex.

[David Weaver]

I would follow tony's advice and get the narex chisels with a better grind on them.

[Tyler A Anderson]

The Narex are made in the Czech Republic, the wood river are made in China. If there is a reasonable alternative to China, I will take it. I would get the Narex

[Jessica Pierce-LaRose]

I wanted a largish chisel, didn't have a lot of money at the time, wasn't finding anything vintage for a decent price, and bought a 40mm narex, planning on replacing it someday. It's been a few years now, and it's probably my used chisel, and I haven't felt the need to replace it. I wouldn't mind the finer edge grind that the new narex have, but other than that my only complaint is that the handle is a little "clunky" - it's great on the mortise chisels, (which I also have) and I don't mind it on a large chisel, but I can see it feeling a little unwieldy on a smaller chisel. But we're woodworkers, we can fix that.

[Will Boulware]

I've got a set of the Narex bench chisels from Lee Valley, two of their mortise chisels, and the set of skew chisels. I don't have an unkind word for them. They're great! Some people don't like the handles as they're not small like a few other makers, but they fit my big mitts just fine. Ugly? Maybe, but they sharpen up nicely and cut very well. From an amatuer's standpoint, I have no complaints and would happily buy them again.

[paul cottingham]

I have the Narex from Lee Valley, and would happily buy them again. I have 2 of the new Lee Valley chisels in the 2 sizes I use most, 1/4 and 1 inch. I use them for work that requires finer control, cause they have smaller handles. To be sure, tho, they are luxury items (birthday presents!) The Narex are just fine.

[Jim Koepke]

From all the admiration expressed over Narex chisels over the past few years it has even tempted me to buy a set.

However there are enough chisels in my shop already to keep me from doing this.

jtk

[Matthew N. Masail]

I have a 1\2 mortice chisel from Lee Valley. the only thing I don't like about it is the handle, my hand are on the small side.

[Sam Takeuchi]

I was not too impressed with my set of Narex bench chisels. They are good value and for the price and performance, but as a whole, not great in my opinion. I mentioned this not too long ago in another thread that blue handled Sheffield made Irwin chisels actually hold edge better even at lower bevel angle. My set of Narex is ok at best even at 30 degree bevel. 25 degree bevel Irwin hold edge much better. That is not to say Irwin is great, but better performer than Narex by far. My personal favorite is Ashley Iles Mk2 chisels. Good performer with wonderful handles, but that's not an option here, is it? Not sure of Woodcraft brand chisels, though.

[Tony Zaffuto]

I was not too impressed with my set of Narex bench chisels. They are good value and for the price and performance, but as a whole, not great in my opinion. I mentioned this not too long ago in another thread that blue handled Sheffield made Irwin chisels actually hold edge better even at lower bevel angle. My set of Narex is ok at best even at 30 degree bevel. 25 degree bevel Irwin hold edge much better. That is not to say Irwin is great, but better performer than Narex by far. My personal favorite is Ashley Iles Mk2 chisels. Good performer with wonderful handles, but that's not an option here, is it? Not sure of Woodcraft brand chisels, though.

I would agree with what Sam has said, but let me explain my earlier post about Narex. My wife, in her unending quest to buy me either a birthday or Christmas present, ordered the original Narex set for me. I ordered a couple of the Narex with the thin side bevels, just to play around with. I have Ashley Iles original & butt style chisels, plus a couple of their round back. The Ashley Iles are excellent, albeit a bit more pricey than the Narex. As far as other modern chisels, the wood handled Bucks sold by Craftsman Studio are a good, economical choice and price wise competitive with Narex. I also have a few LN. The rest of my accumulation are vintage.

[Jeff Morton]

I also agree with the better grade of Narex chisels. I have several and really like them.

[Mike Cozad]

Thanks for all the feedback. I purchased a set of Wood river chisels over the weekend and just wasn't too impressed once I got them home and really looked at them. The fit and finish is rough and one of bevel edges is not even straight. Quite wavy in fact. They are also scratched and dinged along the side edges and that just isn't what I am looking for. I would like to be the one to put the first ding in them.

So I am going to return them and get some while LV has free shipping.

Thanks again,
Mike

[Andrew Pitonyak]

If you only had the choices of the Woodcraft Wood River chisels and Narex chisels to choose from, which would you choose and why? This will be my first chisel purchase and on my budget I have narrowed my choices down to these so far.

Off hand, I would take the Narax. I had a set of Narax Mortising chisels that was fine. Sold them because I had an even better set and I don't use the mortise chisels often.

If you ever make it down to Columbus, give me a holler, I have a variety of styles from which to try if you are interested.

What do you anticipate doing most with your chisels?

If you can figure out how to make the sharp and keep them sharp, even a cheap junk chisel will work. I can't even begin to guess how much time I have spent using a totally junk chisel. For example, I picked up a set of these from my Father, they were my first set. ($12 here)

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-16-150-Series-3-Piece-Chisel/dp/B00002X1YO

They don't hold an edge well, probably have a horrid shape, but I used them for so long, that I am used to them. Note that I also own several other chisels (both old and new), just saying sometimes you make do. I actually bought a set of those just to practice sharpening on a new sharper before I hit it with my better chisels.

[Graham Hughes (CA)]

As with the others I'll go with the Narexes just because of prior experience. They've always been startlingly high quality for the price; the only reason I replaced mine is that I like London pattern handles. The mortisers are actually pretty sturdy for modern chisels; the only ones I've seen that I like better are the Ray Iles chisels.

[Andrew Pitonyak]

As with the others I'll go with the Narexes just because of prior experience. They've always been startlingly high quality for the price; the only reason I replaced mine is that I like London pattern handles. The mortisers are actually pretty sturdy for modern chisels; the only ones I've seen that I like better are the Ray Iles chisels.

I had both sets, which is why I sold my Narex set :-)