Paring chisels are the Clark Gable of the chisel world. Tall and Slender, graceful yet masculine, not perfect for every part but when the right role comes along they will knock your socks off. Narex makes a great set of these not-so-common tools and when it comes to fine-tuning the fit of a tenon, reaching into tight stop dados, or cleaning up some end grain, these paring chisels are Oscar-worthy.
There are a few details that make a paring chisel great and Narex nailed them all. A paring chisel needs to be long in order to allow reach deep places, give you increased control, and supply leverage. The Narex Paring Chisels measure 9-1/2" from cutting edge to handle and are 14-1/2" to 15" long overall, depending on width. The 1/4" and 1/2" chisels have a smaller Hornbeam handle than the 3/4" and 1" versions, making them slightly shorter overall. This little detail helps maintain a lovely balance throughout the set, and that precise balance is a real confidence booster when it comes to making those fine cuts. Your standard bench chisel will have a much shorter overall length than a paring chisel. The paring chisel's greater overall length makes it much easier for the user to feel the chisel's angle of attack through the cut, and because the handle is farther from the cutting edge the handle must travel a farther distance to change the cutting angle to the same degree.
The Narex chrome-manganese steel has been hardened to Rc 59, and is easy to sharpen yet still holds an edge very well. A paring chisel should have a low bevel angle to help reduce the force needed to make a clean cut. Narex did not overlook this detail and these lovely tools come with a 20° bevel right out of the box. I was able to flatten the back of the 1" chisel and have it sharp and ready to go in no time at all. Many types of steel can struggle to hold an edge with such a low bevel angle because the cutting edge has less material behind it and will tend to chip away or dull quickly. I found The Narex Paring Chisels took to maple and poplar end grain very well and had no issues with edge retention. I also find the low bevel angle helps reduce chip out when working across the grain, which is where some of your most important paring work will be done.
There are no better tools to have for fine tuning the fit and finish of many different joints than a good set of paring Chisels. If you struggle with fine-tuning your joinery, it may actually be your tools that are holding you back and not your skill level. A quality set of paring chisel will make a night and day difference in how quickly and precisely the task is accomplished. I highly recommend giving a set of these Narex Paring Chisels a try because they are sure to impress.
