bob493 Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Hey guys, ready to "splurge" on some chisels, but I am, at heart, a cheapskate. I run stanley chisels, but they are getting tired, and I would like to step up my game a bit. I'm looking for 3-4 chisels, 1/8, 1/2, 5/8, and 3/4 inches wide. Hollow ground would be a plus, but isn't required. If you guys have a quick "industry standard" suggestion, Im all ears! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Followed a recommendation here for Irwin Marples and have been satisfied with them as a good budget chisel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 The Narex chisels are a good budget friendly set as well.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raefco Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Followed a recommendation here for Irwin Marples and have been satisfied with them as a good budget chisel. I bought a set of the Irwin's a while back, it was the first "new set" I ever bought, I have had them a couple years and I am pretty happy with them. I wish I could find a set of turning chisels in the same price range that would hold up as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 See sticky thread at top of page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomwolf Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 I recommend Narex, though the smallest bevel-edged chisel I've been able to get fm them is 1/4". They make all the other sizes you're looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC1501 Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 I have a set of Narex Chisels, I like them. Good set for the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob493 Posted November 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 @all I'll check these narex's out! edit: Im rather embarassed I missed that sticky guys... Im usually a stickler to "search" and "read stickies" too :-/ See sticky thread at top of page. oh my god... how the heck did I miss that... sorry! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 What TIODS said... I just added 2 skew chisels by Narex... Found a use right away! Good overall hand tools! And the price is liveable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob493 Posted November 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 yeah, I ordered an 8 piece set of narex chisels for 75$! I imagine they will work just fine. My stanley's are pretty tired, and they don't have much of a blade length, so Im hoping these extra length narex's prove their worth over time Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 I've heard lots of good reports about the Narex chisels so have fun using them. Also the Irwin Marples are good too - I have a set of those in my collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 yeah, I ordered an 8 piece set of narex chisels for 75$! I imagine they will work just fine. My stanley's are pretty tired, and they don't have much of a blade length, so Im hoping these extra length narex's prove their worth over time Thanks again When you get them, clean the coating off, and give them a good hone.... Any new blade needs a hone prior to use..... You'll enjoy the Narex! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC1501 Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 I found at first the edge chipped easily. Based upon feedback I got here, ground the bevel back about a 16th and edge retention is much better now. Not necessary but you won't have to resharpen nearly as often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 For tang chisels I'd recommend Narex, for socket chisels, I'd recommend the New Stanley sweetheart chisels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmaichel Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 I would check out the Narex chisels that Lee Valley sells. I have a couple of their mortise chisels and like them. Plus right now they have free shipping! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nateswoodworks Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 Dan S beat me to it. I have both and nothing bad to say about either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponderingturtle Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 I would check out the Narex chisels that Lee Valley sells. I have a couple of their mortise chisels and like them. Plus right now they have free shipping! They list them in fractional sizes, and the pictures indicate fractional labeling on them, are they truely fractional sizes or relabeled metric sizes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmaichel Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 They list them in fractional sizes, and the pictures indicate fractional labeling on them, are they truely fractional sizes or relabeled metric sizes? I cannot say for sure, I have never measure my mortise chisels to see if they are actually imperial sizes. I have a very hard time believing that LV would sell these chisels in imperial sizes if they were not actually the correct imperial size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 I got the bevel edge Narex chisels in Dec 2010 (dad has them now) and at the time they where Metric, and can still be seen here (no longer available). http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=49989 I believe the new ones listed here are indeed imperial, you might want to call customer service and check. http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=67707 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 I should mention both the metric Narex chisels and then Stanley sweethearts needed some work to get the backs flat. I should mention I'm super anal and when I say flat I mean optically flat over the last inch and a half or so of the tip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponderingturtle Posted November 11, 2014 Report Share Posted November 11, 2014 I got the bevel edge Narex chisels in Dec 2010 (dad has them now) and at the time they where Metric, and can still be seen here (no longer available). http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=49989 I believe the new ones listed here are indeed imperial, you might want to call customer service and check. http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=67707 They are listed in metric on amazon so I wouldn't be surprised if Lee Valley gets them in imperial special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
logroll Posted November 12, 2014 Report Share Posted November 12, 2014 One of my my Irwin Marples bent. I would look elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick A McQuay Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 Bench chisels aren't designed for prying. Mortise chisels are heavier to withstand pounding but still should only be used for levering out waste. Bending any chisel means you were misusing it. - sent via Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmaichel Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 I decided to order a set of 4 Narex Chisels from LV while they are offering free shipping. I currently just use one 1/2" LN chisel for almost all my work. I had a couple Irwins but I beat they are beat to hell. I want to keep the LN chisel on my joinery bench and the Narex chisels in the tool chest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doorslammer Posted November 13, 2014 Report Share Posted November 13, 2014 I recently got a 6 pc. set of the Ashley Iles chisels from the thebestthings.com. I really wanted a set of O1 Lie-Nielsens, but sadly they stopped offering O1 tool steel. I thought I'd give the AI's a shot for $150 bucks, these are a premium chisel for a very reasonable cost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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