Crook Neck Preference / Source?

[gee-dub]

I use a crook (or bent) neck chisel for cleaning up squeeze out along perpendicular joints.

I use it sort of like so in a slicing motion (sorry about the blurry photo).

That being said, the one I have is 3/8" and I am looking for a wider one. A 1" is probably about right. A shorter one would be nice too; sort of like a combination between a crook neck and a butt. What say the brain-trust? Sources, favorites, experiences? TIA.

 

P.s. My thumb is not missing . . . it's just the pic ;-)

[Mark J]

@gee-dub,  I have used an un-mounted plane blade in a similar fashion.  

[drzaius]

I got a set of Narex crook neck from Lee Valley that are a very good value. I use them a lot and it's nice to have different sizes.

[Chet]

Both Highland woodworking and Lee Valley sell 1 inch... The reason I know this is because I liked gee-dub's idea so much that I went out and bought one. 

Thank you gee-dub

highland woodworking narex cranked neck chisels

Lee Valley Narex Crank Neck Chisels

 

[wtnhighlander]

The name escapes me, but someone used to make a chisel plane that is perfect for that application. An all carbide blade, flat against the work as @Mark J suggests, but had a wood grip on top, shaped like a block plane. Was called a scraper, but worked like a chisel.

[Coop]

That’s funny cause if I had asked that question, I would have addressed it to gee-dub as he seems to have all the neat gadgets! 

[gee-dub]

I have a bull nose which works well as a chisel plane.  The task I am working with requires something longer and narrower but, not too narrow.  I'm going to give the 1" Narex a shot along with the 3/8" I already have . . . maybe it is a 1/2".  I'll check and report back after the Narex shows up.  Thanks to all !

[gee-dub]

I realized that I never came back and reported on the 1" Narex crook neck.  The chisel arrived in good condition.  I could probably have put it straight to work but honed it a bit out of habit.  The wider blade is easier to use for the task I got it for.  It feels more controllable.  Some of that may be the aging in my hands since I don't have the grip-of-death I have been chastised for most of my life.  I got to where I could tell by the tone of his voice when he called (yelled) my name that my dad had come across something I had put the lid on or tightened down .  Not so much now-a-days.  Father Time, you are a mean one.

[wtnhighlander]

@gee-dub, there are many tasks that a chisel with sn offset handle seem better suited for. How do you like the single bend of the Narex as compared to the more L- shaped shank of other brands, that puts the grip in a plane parallel to the blade? I have no experience with either.

[gee-dub]

On 6/11/2024 at 6:10 PM, wtnhighlander said:

@gee-dub, there are many tasks that a chisel with sn offset handle seem better suited for. How do you like the single bend of the Narex as compared to the more L- shaped shank of other brands, that puts the grip in a plane parallel to the blade? I have no experience with either.

I use the chisel a lot like one would use a chisel plane but for tasks where the longer reach is an advantage.  The angled handle seems to let me put forward and downward force on the tool pretty effectively.  I also have long paring chisels for paring tasks like leveling plugs or joinery that are proud of a large reference surface area like a drawer side or cabinet top.  I can't speak to the "L" shaped bends but I imagine there are places where that makes sense.