tim0625 Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 Narex Chisels....am i missing something? $128 is a great price for a set of 10. I've heard good things about Narex. Does this set stack up? At an average of $12.80 per chisel, would I be buying junk? Have you used them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmaichel Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 I bought a small set of 4 and they are ok, not nearly as nice as my 1/2" LN. I would not consider buying a full set of 10. I would much rather have two really nice chisels than 10 mediocre chisels. Don't get me wrong the Narex Chisels are good for the price but there is no comparison between them and a quality chisel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arminius Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 I think they are really quite good chisels, especially for the price. The premium chisels are generally better, somewhat better balanced and better edge retention. But Narex are definitely in a middle ground, well above the plastic-handled big box models. I have quite a few vintage, a new Stanley, a LN, and a couple of the Veritas in my most commonly used sizes (1/4 and 1/2). I'd rate them on a par with the Stanley, with the main differentiator being the handles, which seem to me to fit larger hands better. I prefer them to the Stanley because that handle shape feels small and fiddly in my hands. The only model that I find myself able to justify replacing my Narex with are the Veritas, purely because of the PM-V11 - and I haven't because that would be an expensive upgrade for a relatively small benefit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 I got a chance to look at the Narex chisels at the wood show last week. I thought the handles were rather large and somewhat uncomfortable. I like smaller handles for better control in paring. If anything the Narex would be more comfortable to chop with. Personally I like socket chisels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 I have a set of 6 and I like that they are good chisels, somewhere between The LN and a bowl of Cambells soup.... If I were you Tim, I'd just go for the set of 4 and see what you think, since it's you they have to please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomwolf Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 I have the Narex set of 7. They work fine for me. I'm also a hobbyist and may not use them for a month at a time. Either it or the set of four should be more than adequate for your needs if you aren't doing this full time. Premium chisels doubtless hold a better edge, but one Veritas chisel is twice the cost of the Narex set of four. Unrelated, but I was just in contact with Lee Valley, and while the Narex cranked-neck chisels (http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=71987&cat=1,41504) are listed as only being sold in a set of four, if you contact customer service they can arrange for you to buy individual chisels. I plan on getting the 3/4", and maybe the 1/2". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
broof Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 I have the Narex chisels as well and have been very happy with them. You will definitely need to flatten the backs and sandpaper makes quick work of this job, however, one should probably throw that into the cost of the chisels if you do indeed use sandpaper. I have a diamond stone (8"x3" extra rough DMT) and that just doesn't things fast enough for my taste. They definitely are not "out of the box" ready for a simple hone, some are close, but others take more work. I got the set of 4 and added the 1 1/2" one as well. To be honest, I only use the 1/4", 1/2", and 1 1/2" one. I wish they made an 1/8" chisel but it doesn't exist. I also got the skew chisel set and like that one. I think if I had to do it again I would still buy them. Once you get them flat, that job is done forever I think the steel is very nice, it sharpens easily with oil stones, holds an edge reasonably well. I don't have an expensive chisel to compare too, but I simply keep a piece of MDF charged with green compound handy if I am doing a bunch of pairing to refresh the edge quickly. I like the handles and like the fact that they are not socket chisels. I like knowing that the handle is going to stay put. The edges or sides taper nicely so you don't bruise the tails when clearing waste in dovetails. They are light and have a decent feel in the hand. With a little investment in tuning them up, I think they are a great value. I have the lee valley ones as you linked too, but I know some of the other sites out there sell the metric versions that have different colored handles if that matters to you. If you are on the fence, get a few of them next time they have free shipping and try them out. I think you will be happy with them assuming you put in the necessary work to prep them properly (as is the case for any of the lower priced offerings or vintage stuff). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Bailey Posted January 10, 2015 Report Share Posted January 10, 2015 I like my narex chisels but I can understand if the handles are too big for some people, I have pretty big hands and they fit me fine. I also have one stanley socket chisel and I like that as well, they seem pretty much on par with each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 I bought a set of the mortise chisels when I had lots of large mortises to chop in hard maple for my workbench. They work really well, hold an edge & I didn't have any problems with edge chipping that I had on a set I got from Lee Valley (not Veritas). They didn't take too much prep work to get them set up for honing either. They are definitely a good value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim0625 Posted January 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 More Narex.....any real difference between this set and the first set? Looks like it's the same steel just different handles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arminius Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 More Narex.....any real difference between this set and the first set? Looks like it's the same steel just different handles. Also note the metric sizes on that set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 More Narex.....any real difference between this set and the first set? Looks like it's the same steel just different handles. I have a couple of their skew chisels with the same handle! I don't think I'd want to hit those with a mallet! Being round on top, a mallet strike might have a tendency to split them. And mine seem awful light weight for handles on a bench chisel. My skew chisels I only use the same way I use a butt chisel, push with hand only! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim0625 Posted January 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 Also note the metric sizes on that set. hmmmmm.....never had any metric ones....wondering about negatives? Thoughts? Let me ask y'all this.....if money isn't a MAJOR consideration between the Narex ($100) and the $200, 8 piece set of Stanley Sweetheart Socket Chisels on sale at Highland....what do you like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arminius Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 hmmmmm.....never had any metric ones....wondering about negatives? Thoughts? Let me ask y'all this.....if money isn't a MAJOR consideration between the Narex ($100) and the $200, 8 piece set of Stanley Sweetheart Socket Chisels on sale at Highland....what do you like? The metric sizing can be irksome - that is why Lee Valley got them to make true inch sizes. I am underwhelmed by the neo-Stanleys. They are nice enough, but unless you really prefer the handles (socket/shape/size) I don't there is much to separate them. I'd go with the Narex and then take the $100 toward a real premium chisel like the L-N or Veritas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomwolf Posted January 11, 2015 Report Share Posted January 11, 2015 I've used a wooden mallet on my Narex chisels without issue. Hold secure and strike firmly and you shouldn't have an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim DaddyO Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 I have a set of 7. No problem using a mallet on them. I have not owned a lot of chisels, but they are best I have seen for the money. I have never heard much negative about them in my discussions with others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mds2 Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 I've used a wooden mallet on my Narex chisels without issue. Hold secure and strike firmly and you shouldn't have an issue. My mallet is made of the hardest piece of maple I could find. I use it with my Narex chisels all the time and the chisels dont have a mark on them from the mallet. I have the blonde handled metric set and I am happy with them. For the money they simply cant be beat. This set: http://www.amazon.com/Narex-Made-Czech-Republic-Chisels/dp/B00GPCG5BA/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1421081179&sr=8-5&keywords=narex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomwolf Posted January 12, 2015 Report Share Posted January 12, 2015 Further to my last, the wood on one of mu chisels (the 1", which takes more force to drive) has mushroom slightly over the metal ferule. The others I can't even tell, and I know which ones have been struck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CStanford Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 Narex are fine. Expensive bench chisels may hold their edges a little longer (and I stress may; there are other factors involved). They may save you a few honings in a full day's worth of work. You need expensive chisels less than you think. What you mostly need is a low-overhead honing setup that gets you back to work quickly after a touch up, that is until somebody comes up with chisels that never need honing at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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