Paring Chisels Are Great for Joinery

Because of their long blades and shallow cutting angle, the new paring chisels from Narex are well-suited for a variety of joinery tasks, from roughing out tenons to refining a joint’s fit. The blades, made from silicon-chrome steel, held their edge very well, so I was able to use them longer between sharpenings. I was also impressed with the quality of the machining. The chisel backs were flat, and the bevels had no rough grinding marks. The sides of the blade angle to a narrow edge, which allows them to get into tight corners. The blades are stout, which I prefer over the thinner, flexible blades found on some paring chisels. The handles are a bit large for me, but are smooth and made from European hornbeam. I did not like the thick, protective finish on the blades when they arrived in my shop. It was difficult to remove—and you must remove it to sharpen the chisel. But all in all, the Narex chisels are excellent tools, and as they range in price from $32 to $37 (leevalley.com), they’re a great value.

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