So, without dismissing his findings or opinions about chisels out of hand, I wouldn't assume that what he says is particularly objective or reliable. I now have 8 of their chisels and have had nothing but very well-made items - certainly in a much better condition that newly-bought Marples, Crown and Henry Taylor chisels I've acquired in the past. Following initial hardening, cryogenic treatment is performed which cools the steel down to 190 C (-310 F) using liquid nitrogen. I needed a 1.5" bench chisel and picked up a Richter from Highland. It has a walled bevel edge. Very prompt, very accurate, very competitive price! I don't have much to add other than another thumbs up for the Richters. The edges are as fine as hand ground chisels, barely there at all, making them suitable for the finest precision joinery. Part of the interest in steel quality is also related to sharpening, (need a better lapping plate, finishing stone (8000+), and strop). Copyright 1995-2022 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reading this thread I hurried off to the shed to make sure the handle flats and oval were properly aligned with the blades. Richter chisels are so-named after Narexs founder, Vaclav Richter, in celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the company. Don't get swept into believing there's anything more in the Richter chisels than relatively common steel and a slightly harder temper than some of the other chisels. Lee Valley sells a Narex chisel whose edges are milled much closer to a true bevel edge. That's arrogant, solipsistic and something of a jarring cognitive dissonance, given that he portrays himself as a "woodworking guru" outputting his stuff largely via Youtube and other on-line channels, a lot of it paid-for "lessons" for which the free stuff appears to be the PR. Save up to 64% and get a free gift. I read a story in a Pop Wood e-post where the author was paring 1 mm slices off a piece of 1/4 x 3/4 white oak comparing an old Stanley to a new Richter he had just bought. There's an idealized test where these came out on top, but the test provides a bias for a chisel in the medium hard temper range, so it's not a surprise to see they'd come out on top. Click for full details. The chisels are fitted with traditional pattern handles from Mr Richter's time, made from ash for lightness and strength, extremely smoothly finished and secured with a splitproof ground steel ferrule bearing the Richter logo and smartly trimmed with a thin leather bolster. These chisels have similar performance, quality and aesthetics as other premium chisels available on the market, but at a much more reasonable price point. I agree with John, putting a shock absorber between the mallet and the work makes no sense at all. A stainless steel ferrule prevents the handle from splitting and there is a leather disk to dampen hammer blows. I've also had some of the narex chisels in the past (the basic line).

The fine grinding is so good it's almost a polish - on all surfaces, but crucially it is still a ground surface so there is no undesirable rounding off of the underside of the edges, they are optically flat so I would recommend doing as little as possible to them in preparation and maintainance. It is more expensive than the standard Narex bench chisel or other mass-produced big-box store chisels, and yet it is $20 cheaper then the acclaimed American made Lie Nielsen chisel. Would like to develop a greater consensus one way or the other before deciding to purchase. This alters the mechanical properties of the steel at the molecular level greatly increasing its strength, toughness and wear resistance. They were intended to have a new and comfortable handle design that included a stainless steel ferrule and a leather shock-absorbing washer over the bolster. cushioned by a leather washer. The images I have seen showed very little grinding marks if any - how did they appear to you? These chisels are a real credit to this anniversary.

Unlike the Richter, the Stanley blade leaves the factory unpolished. It's often the case with those old WW curmudgeons who become set in their ways. The Narexes were flat on the backs out of the box and required only polishing. Im pretty sure it was Stanley 750s he was comparing to the Narex. Personally I find FWW still the benchmark for detailed, meaningful and usually well-supported WW information. The blade of chrome-vanadium steel is forged in traditional fashion, hardened, cyrogenically treated and tempered to obtain a minimum hardness of 62 HRC. Richter chisels are their high end offering. We may receive a commission when you use our affiliate links. They have a factory bevel grind angle of 25 degrees. Subscribe .

For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Narex standard chisels are less cosmetically pretty than Blue Spruce, Lie-Nielsen or Veritas, though.

I'd check there to see if he talks about these chisels. In the small village of Bystrice in the Czech Republic the Narex factory has been making world-class edge tools for 100 years. It would be great to find an affordable chisel that held an edge, required little lapping to achieve flatness, and whose side bevels were small enough to clean up dovetails. The bevel also had a hollow that was 1/8 inch long starting at the side of the chisel. In contrast to the crisp Land or bevel edges of the Richters blade (at right), Stanleys bevels are sloping towards the back and abruptly end with a right angle wall, such as the one we see in baseline quilty chisels. But even then, they were leather washers, with a central core of wood to transfer the blow directly from the mallet to the steel. The handle is made of European ash, an excellent choice for this purpose because of its hardness, toughness and beautiful grain. In laymans terms, it's proven technology mastered to the extent that it can compete with the latest powder metallurgy steels for performance, but at a much keener price point. I bought a set of 8 of the fat handled Narex chisels 3 years ago, to add a layer of better chisels above my 4 Marples and (very) old Craftsmans with the yellow plastic handles. I have three Narex mortising chisels. Ultimately at less than 40 a chisel, I dont see how it could be a bad deal. $43.99 1 inch (25.4 mm), The ideal plane for rabbeting, panel raising and trimming tenons. are milled to incorporate a bevel that culminates into a very narrow edge. Become an UNLIMITED member and get it all: searchable online archive of every issue, how-to videos, Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking digital series, print magazine, e-newsletter, and more. Something went wrong. the chisels back and bevel will take very little time to complete. I bought a set of the oval handel (beech I think) Narex after I read a review hear but was not impressed.

I had the standard Narex chisels and kept them even after buying all seven of the newer Richter chisels. This guarantee will be void and compensation will not be made if products are damaged due to carelessness, neglect or inappropriate use. Here are a couple of quotes from a very recent Sellers blog that seem to illuminate the general issue: "THE FUTURE OF APPRENTICING They're even cosmetically pretty, according to reviewers. Has anyone been able to work extensively with the Narexs Richter chisel? A year before the Narex box arrived I have learned that the company was intending to release a special line of high-quality bench chisels to celebrate their centennial anniversary.

It took about 40 minutes to get it flat (using diamond stones 220-8000). Decided to sharpen the 1 1/2 inch first. I have continued to sharpen my set of 7 Narex Richters. So when I learned that the new Richter line was finally out I emailed him and he in return sent me three chisels for review. But do you need "more performant" than their less expensive chisels? To commemorate its 100 anniversary, Narex developed a new line of premium bench chisels named after their founder.

Paul Sellers on his free Common Woodworking site (just need to register though free), has a list of inexpensive chisels he recommends. Narexs New State of The Art Chisel, Part 1, https://www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/popwood_logos-01.png, https://www.popularwoodworking.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/img_0710.jpeg, A year before the Narex box arrived I have learned that the company was intending to release a special line of high-quality bench chisels to celebrate their centennial anniversary. Narex Richter Cryo-Treated Bevel Edged Chisels - Set of 5, This set includes five of the most popular widths from the exceptional Richter line of bevel-edged bench chisels by Narex. I should have returned them, but the one Ive gotten flat is a fantastic chisel. The Richters chisel has a true bevel edge that slopes sideways and culminates into a crisp corner. Iles is their only competitor at lower price points. Sometimes a manufacturer will make substantial functional improvements to something and sell it as a premium item. And lastly, the factory promised to push the manufacturing envelope even further to ensure that the blades cross-section trapezoid geometry will be uniform and crisp, and thus allow it to sleekly slide into tight dovetails corners. I own four of the Narex Richter (1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2) and I have found the steel comparable to the Ashley Iles chisels. I use these mostly for dovetails, and relegate the rougher work to the older chisels; the old Craftsmans get the scraping and really rough stuff. Older chisel s had leather at the end of the handle, but the purpose there was to prevent splitting the handle end while pounding. To mark the hundredth anniversary of Narex, the company launched a new chisel series named after the companys founder, Vaclav Richter. The handles are finished with oil followed by shellac, which we much prefer to glossy lacquer finishes. The Sweetheart 750 socket bevel edge chisels. It was a later 20th century marketing gimmick, but leather does not belong in that spot at all. In full disclosure: I have a friendly relationship with Filip Stanek, who in the last fifteen years became the lead driving force behind Narexs success. The older content from Pop Woodworking also seems to have plenty of explanation and justification for what they say and recommend. To this day, Narex is best known for making an extensive range of high quality, reasonably priced bench chisels. I just purchased a set of 7 Narex Richters. The largest diameter of the handle for all chisel sizes is 31 to 32 mm.

The chisel back is ground very even and very little effort is required for a perfectly flat chisel back. 59 hardness in the more mediocre line will lead to a more persistent wire edge. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Editor's Letter: Technology and the future of woodworking. Here's the good part. The back of one of the wide chisels was so out of flat on the end I thought about sending it back or cutting the last 1/2" off. I think these chisels are an excellent value! We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality. The subsequent finishing grind and polishing show in the high-quality glossy surface finish. The Richter chisel has a flat and smooth back. With all due respect to the superb geometry, material choice, and the attractive aesthetic and comfort of both handle and blade, the proof of this Czech pudding will be in the slicing performances and the edge retention qualities of the blade. The blade is mounted in the handle using a solid stainless steel ferrule and there is a leather washer added to help absorb shocks from mallet blows. I recently bought a set of Narex RICHTER chisels. It does have a touch of the PR-advert blurbs here and there but generally this can be easily spotted and winnowed from the extensive good crop of high quality guidance and advice. 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) At about 280 the Richter was still going strong and he was getting tired of the test so he quit. The steel has been top flight. (Chisels sizes are actual inch measurements, not metric equivalents.). A great buying experience!! Sometimes the improvements are largely to the image rather than the substance of that sold. After 200 slices of oak the Stanley had developed a burr and would not cut the paper. It might be but it might not and how would we know? Commenting has been disabled. They were intended to have a new and comfortable handle design that included a stainless steel ferrule and a leather shock-absorbing washer over the bolster. Katalox cuts more like stone than wood! At least you get those arguments for or against rather than a, "My 50 years of WW experience means I am infallible". The front bevel is ground at 24 degrees. The ones I got were the , and , of which I decided to review the as it is I believe one of the most versatile chisels size we reach out for on a daily bases. Myself, I think their standard stuff is more than good enough. By Paul Sellers - 2 October 2020. Wow, that guy really went down the rabbit hole. I've had chisel edges fracture while chopping katalox and expected it to happen to the Richters. This is important, as you dont want to risk cutting your hand while grabbing the blade or guiding it while paring wood. Happily they're all perfectly aligned. The four piece and seven piece sets are supplied as individual chisels, so do not come with tool roll or wooden box. They are my second set because I sent the first set back. It holds an edge and sharpens well. very responsive and professional!!! The Richter Extra chisels are the finest chisels Narex has produced in its 100 year history. When I first saw that particular line, I laughed. Ashley Iles Mk.2 Bevel Edged Cabinetmakers Chisels, BAM - Bosnia-Herzegovina Convertible Mark, STD - So Tom & Prncipe Dobra (19772017), Narex Richter Bevel Edge Chisel Set of 7 with FREE Tool Roll, Narex Richter Bevel Edge Chisel " (3mm), Narex Richter Bevel Edge Chisel " (6mm), Narex Richter Bevel Edge Chisel " (10mm), Narex Richter Bevel Edge Chisel " (13mm), Narex Richter Bevel Edge Chisel " (19mm), Narex Richter Bevel Edge Chisel 1" (25mm), Narex Richter Bevel Edge Chisel 1" (39mm). I was impressed with the fit and finish. Instead of 72,41 only 65.00 Only while stocks last, Compatible with Juuma T-tracks Instead of 10,67 only 8.50 Only while stocks last, Turn your work table, your workbench and your cabinets into mobile units! Frankly, I find much of his stuff far too hard&fast for my taste. EVERY SINGLE ONE had a ridiculously convex belly for a back. Together with the Two Cherries bench chisel, the Stanley Sweetheart 750 socket bevel edge chisels were perhaps the only chisels in the mid-range price. I dont want to spend the money for Lie Nielsen or LV chisels if I can get something comparable for half the cost. :-). I guess you can't always go by the review. This product may expose you to chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. turned and polished handles are 1-1/4" at the largest diameter and 4-11/16" from the end to the stainless steel ferrule. Instead of 73,40 only 69.00 Only while stocks last, MHG chisels with side bevels ground down to the chisel face, Size Comparison of different Chisel Types, Free E-book by Friedrich Kollenrott: Sharpening chisel and plane blades. He's very dismissive of so much merely because he doesn't have it or do it himself. Now to see how well they hold an edge. I cant. When polishing the backs, where did you start in terms of grit - either waterstone, paper, or other. NO FRACTURED EDGES! Fine ground and polished with thin sides for reaching into tight spaces. Please enter your email address below to receive a password reset link. The Stanley bevel edges end abruptly into a substantial Land (an upright wall). I am as vulnerable to eye glitter as most people are and I do like the feel and look of the Richters better. We also recommend that you flatten the back once before the first honing, but this takes very little time as the backs of these chisels are already quite flat. Should a greater angle be required, as is usual when working with hardwood or when the chisel is struck vigorously with a hammer, it is easy to grind a second bevel onto the first one. Myself, I like the fatter handles because they fill my chiselling grip. Richter chisel blades are forged from this new Chrome Vanadium (Cr-V) steel, and hardened, cryogenically heat treated and tempered to a minimum hardness of 62 HRC. The dismissive tone is unbelievable, especially from someone who touts how good those Alde chisels are or if you don't sharpen the same way and so on. Richter chisels come with a lifetime guarantee. By incorporating the.

Pretty much anything on 60-63 hardness would cause indifference from most experienced woodworkers who use a lot of hand tools, and the feel of the chisel and other aspects would be more important than anything else. I learned about the Richter from James Wrights thoroughgoing testing/review of a host of chisels (https://youtu.be/hYDLQ_gydhc), but I wanted to check out other impressions from the online woodworking community. Narex Richtor chisels were a bargain when they first came out. The sturdy but old fashioned stapled together gray cardboard box held three sleek jet black capsules that contained the new Richter line of bench chisels. The Chisels blade is made from Chrome Vanadium steel, a steel that Narex is using extensively on most, if not on all, of their edge tools. It does feel a little bulky, but that's probably more about the mass of a 1.5" size. This completes transformation of austenite, which increases both the hardness and toughness of the steel. Of course, this is sales blurb so https://www.workshopheaven.com/narex-richter-bevel-edge-chisel-1-8-3mm.html. There's something of "The Paul Sellers Show!" All rights reserved, Free Woodworking Downloads From Lee Valley, I Can Do That! The Stanleys failed to cut paper after 200. Lastly, they look and feel Great! In truth it was partly to drum up some tool-buying cash by selling some rather expensive items (such as Blue Spruce) the cash from which bought about 10X Narex items compared to what the equivalent Sprucers would cost. But all my Narex chisels are of the standard steel, main-range kind, not the Richters. I bought online and the retailer went to the trouble of digging through their stock on hand to assemble a matched set for me. These chisels are available individually in the following sizes: We also sell a six piece set in a tool roll (1/8", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4" and 1"), and a 5 piece set in a wooden box (1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 3/4" and 1"). Instead of using their existing Chrome Manganese steel (which is a very good steel!) But the biggest change is absolutely astonishing edge retention, this stuff takes absolutely ages to show even the slightest hint of dulling and can be brought back to mouthwatering sharpness in moments. In-depth articles, up-close photography, and detailed illustrations. View cart for details. Whenever I see some foolish addition to a basic tool, such as a laser on a handsaw, I roll my eyes and move on.

and a Secondary or Micro-Bevel is advisable, depending on how the chisel is going to be used. that is used on the rest of their chisels, Narex developed a new type of steel, alloyed with Chromium for hardenability and Vanadium for grain reduction and enhanced toughness. Not to say that his websites don't contain anything of value - they have a lot of interesting and sometimes informative stuff. I haven't used the chisels, but I have forged chisels from water hardening files and made a lot of tools. In the Richter line of chisels, Narex went even further and narrower the corners of the bevel edge to a minimum but strayed short of making edges that are too sharp to hold and handle. Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Paul Sellers has been on my favourites list for a good while now . although I have to say his stuff is not really a favourite, more of an interesting perspective. Only the Richter chisels can be considered as true bevel edge chisels. The chisels are supplied coated with a light corrosion inhibiting oil with VCI protection for each individual chisel to ensure that they reach you in perfect condition. Every so many slices of oak he would try to slice a sheet of paper. One day I might sell my old Blue-handled Marples, although they've served me well for 25 years and still do. Made from a new type of steel alloyed with chromium for hardenability and vanadium for grain reduction and enhanced toughness, the steel is heat treated using a cryogenic process to maximise the formation of the desirable martensite crystalline microstructure in the finished steel. To follow up here: Im curious about this particular chisel because Im looking for a middle point between cost and steel quality. The Named after the founder of Narex Bystrice, Vaclav Richter, and launched to celebrate the centenery of his company, these superb bevel edged chisels bring Narex's signature blend of high quality and low price through clever engineering to the super premium end of the chisel market. Ive heard good things in a couple of places, but Ive yet to find a major review thereof. ******* Lataxe, you're welcome! Subsequent fine-grinding and polishing ensure a mirror-like surface with ultra-thin sides allowing reach into very tight spaces, making them the perfect chisel for cleaning out dovetails. The Narex factory was founded in 1919 byVclav Richter, and while the factory has modernized over the past century, many of the manufacturing methods such as drop-forging are still in use. To commemorate its 100 anniversary, Narex developed a new line of Richter Extra premium bench chisels named after their founder. The blade is heat-treated via a Cryogenic hardening process which is considered by many as the most advanced hardening process out there. However, this does not impact our recommendations. Richter chisel handles are made of domestically and responsibly harvested European Ash known for its strength, toughness and attractive grain. This was another 35 minutes or so to work it out. This Narex bench chisel is not sold in North America. Richter chisel blades are made from the highest quality Chrome Manganese (Cr-V) steel using traditional drop-forging methods. WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm -www.P65Warnings.ca.gov, 7 pc (1/8"; 1/4"; 3/8"; 1/2"; 3/4"; 1"; 1-1/2"). I just polished the edge with 4000,8000,16000. Looking forward to using them. The steel is better, but aside from Mr. Wright's excellent YouTube review, I don't do enough chiseling to notice a large difference. My current chisel arsenal is a set of super cheap chisels that need frequent sharpening. to temperatures as low as 190 C (-310 F). Enter now for your chance to win more than $2,000 worth of woodworking equipment from Woodpeckers. After initial hardening, cryogenic treatment cools the steel down using liquid nitrogen Narex makes round handles and sands light "flats" on opposite sides before a stain dip, leaving them with a nice grippy feel. I can only say this much as a maker of tools (not for sale, an amateur maker) - you can fairly easily make tools and see all of these differences in play as a spec. You could pay far more for much less. The steel seemed very hard and took a lot of work to flatten them but they don't seem to hold an edge as long as my old chisels. If you work with a set of chisels long enough, you should be able to learn to accommodate them so that they don't take damage while you're working. The elegantly shaped European ash handles are finished with a mixture of boiled linseed oil and shellec so the beauty of the wood grain is fully visible. I do not have experience with the Richter line, but I have a word about Narex fit & finish: I now have my second set of Narex mortising chisels. This chisel is wicked sharp. The washer is intended to dampen the thrust shock between the blade and the wooden handle when the chisel is struck by a mallet. One or two posters in this thread say they've had Narex chisels that have needed too much fettling - flattening of the back or re-configuration of the handles. David Weaver and Derek Cohen are examples I would trust, for example, even if I don't always agree with this or that they might argue for or against. The ergonomic handles are sanded and then receive a friction shellac finish for maximum protection, comfort and control. Today I used them to chop dovetails in katalox. Right here is the problem with tool reviews where the manufacturer provides the tools. This feature which I mentioned before is critical for enabling the chisel to excel in tight corners. They have become well known for making high quality, reasonably priced tools, including chisels. Great seller! The issue was that the flats were not indexed to the blades. The chisel's side bevels along the blade slope down to an ultra-thin edge profile, allowing the In the case of a manufacturer defect in material, design or construction, a free replacement or repair will be provided. Look like quality tools and the packaging is excellent. That first set was off by as much as 30 degrees. It's specified as chrome vanadium steel (there are tons of specs for chrome vanadium steel, at least as wide as 0.5% carbon to 1.5% carbon, so that doesn't tell us that much other than that it's probably fairly plain steel, which is good for chisels). With a shaped handle you expect to be able to swap tools and know where the edge is without looking. Narex Chisels are made in the small village ofBystice in the Czech Republic where they have been making tools for over 100 years. All are well made and perform very well indeed, with their standard steel of 59 Rockwell Hardness. Next time I will show how I sharpened both the Richter chisel and its Stanley competitor and prepared them for their edge to edge tournament. UNLIMITED Membership is like taking a master class in woodworking for less than $10 a month. chisel to reach into tight areas like the corners of dovetail sockets. The box measures 11-7/8" x 7-1/2" x 1-3/4". Sale. The process used to make the original narex chisels is different from typical, and they have a hardness ceiling and are usable chisels but are mediocre. Richter chisel handles are made from domestic sustainably harvested European Ash known for its strength, toughness and attractive grain. steel quality, durability, keenness of edge, general feel/ergonomics, etc.)? Rabbeting a shelf; Strength vs. appearance, Editor's Letter: A new tool with every project. In the Richter line of chisels, Narex went even further and narrower the corners of the bevel edge to a minimum but strayed short of making edges that are too sharp to hold and handle. The new line of Richter Extra chisels will rival any premium chisel on the market today. I was very excited about the new Narex Richter chisels and purchased a full set. I'm not saying this is necessarily true of the Narex Richter range . but it could be. Nice chisels in the end, especially for the price paid. W/O that effort I would not own them. Please read our Proposition 65 warning.For more information, see www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. I recently purchased a set of Narex Richters for my son and I must say I am impressed, they compare very favorably with my Veritas vm-11s at a fraction of the cost. No chisel is perfect out of the box, if it is, you paid someone else to tune it up for you as part of the price. about his output - celebrity building rather than pure woodworking. I make a point not to copy anyone anywhere and when you write and ask me whether I watch this or that youtuber, blogger or vlogger I should tell you this and then ask you not to ask me: If I have watched 30 minutes of woodworking guru output since YT came into being 15 years ago I would likely be exaggerating 10 times". JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. The difference maker was Wood byWrights comprehensive review and the review previously mentioned in Popular woodworking. This must be why I never noticed the handle orientation when chopping with them, eh. I have amassed a pretty nice tool shop and wanted upgraded chisels. The Narex factory was founded in 1919 by Mr. Vaclav Richter, a local blacksmith who began producing chisels and gimlets. The bottom line (ha ha) is that the standard Narex items work very well indeed; come near ready for work with only minimal fettling of the working end; and are inexpensive partly because they don't spend enormous efforts on the cosmetics rather than on the functional aspects. We also offer Richter bevel edged cabinet chisels individually in these and other sizes. :-). I'll use whatever I get to try a similar set of 4 Narex Richter as all reviews I've read extoll their virtues. I'm not sure what others are saying about the leather in the handles, I just got a set for the Richters, and there's no leather. Blade Length = tip to ferrule edge. The bevel ground to an angle of 24 is more suitable for fine work and softwood. Care is given with the factory's finish-grinding of surfaces, so your initial conditioning of Expected to be available from week32/2022, Sizes: If I had to do it over again I would be hard pressed to spend the additional money on the vm-11s. The reviews on these are excellent.