Furniture Builders: What size paring chisels do you use most often?

[Joe A Faulkner]

I'm currently working on a tool cabinet. This is my first project with hand-cut/chopped dovetails. I am getting by with bench chisels, but I am considering adding some paring chisels to my arsenal. I am considering the Narex set but got to wondering how useful the 1" and 1 1/4" chisels are. My projects primarily tend to be home furnishings: cabinets, book cases, tables, chests, boxes, specialty cabinets, beds, that sort of stuff ...

I'm thinking that 1/4" 1/2" and 3/4" paring chisels would likely see a lot of use, but I'm not so sure about the wider ones. What has been your experience? What size paring chisels get frequent use, and which ones are rarely used?

[Jim Koepke]

Joe,

It really depends on what you are doing. My 1-1/2" chisels get a lot of work. Some of my dovetails are pretty big.

If all you do is London style dovetails with skinny pins, you may only need a 1/4" chisel.

My work includes a lot of lap joints with construction lumber. So a big chisel is a must for my work.

jtk

[Reinis Kanders]

Big Narex paring chisels are like a mini swords. At minimum they are good for a self defense Big chisels do come in handy here and there.

[Frederick Skelly]

Joe, for me its one of those 'when you need it you're real glad to have it' things. I used the 1 1/4" on Sunday for the first time in the year Ive had this NAREX set. And I was very darn glad to have it. But honestly, I only use my NAREX parers when my regular chisels (regular old blue handled Marples) are too short. But I agree - I use my 1/4"", 1/2" and 3/4" (of either set) the most.

Just thinking about it though - do the dovetails you're cutting really require chisels that long? I think I've seen some vintage paring chisels that are shorter/thinner than the NAREX. Would those - or perhaps a better set of bench chisels - suit your work better? Something to think about, anyway.

Good luck!
Fred

[Brian Holcombe]

I practically have my 1-1/2" paring chisel on my bench the entire time I am in my workshop. I use 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 3/4, 1, 1.5"

[Steve Rozmiarek]

1/4, 3/8, half and 1 1/2 mostly here too. My favorite is a 2" Barton though. The go to for so many things.

[paul cottingham]

I own 1 paring chisel,the Narex 1 1/2" one. Great tool.

[Hilton Ralphs]

Think of it this way Joe, if you purchase the full set you get the 1" and 1-1/4" at a massive 30% discount. Who can resist?

[Jim Koepke]

There are many situations when a wide chisel comes in handy.

Good for a quick chamfer on end grain.

Trimming the ends of dowels or a through tenon.

Smoothing the sides of a mortise.

Shaving the face of a tenon.

And more...

jtk

[Jim Matthews]

I like a paring chisel wide enough to 'register'
on shoulders, mortise/bridle cheeks and tenons.

The wider it is, the better I can judge if it's cutting square.

I'll use a slick to get close on larger tenons,
but it's not what I would call precise.

The chisel getting most work in my kit is 3/4" wide.
If the paring chisel is out, I'm fiddling a joint together.

[glenn bradley]

This is certainly one of those things that will vary with what you do. I picked up a Lee Valley 3/8" chisel and ground it to 25*. Other than a 3/8" crook-neck, it has done all my paring work where a long flat reference surface was desired. I do have other chisels for dovetails and such but, for general paring tasks, I have not been wanting.

[Matt Evans]

I use my 1.5 and-2" chisels frequently.

Offhand I would say that I use 1/8-1" almost daily, and 1"-2" several times a week. (increments of 1/8" with a few 1/16ths sporadically, and I wish I had all the increments of 1/16")

[Prashun Patel]

I have a 1" and 1.5" wide Narex. They do a fine job. I use these for chopping a clean base line reference on dovetails, but I don't use them for paring. I find wide blades harder to push. I use my 1/8", 3/8" and 1/2" for most drawer-paring tasks.

If you do a lot of hand paring of mortises, I can see the wider chisels being used more often.

[Shawn Pixley]

I don't own proper paring chisels. Until I found something I can't effectively do with what tools I have, I don't get new / additional tools. I have a couple of bench chisels at 25 degrees that I can use for paring when the standard chisels seem inadequate. In reality, I just keep my chisels sharp and work on.

Please don't take my cave access away...

[Steve Rozmiarek]

I don't own proper paring chisels. Until I found something I can't effectively do with what tools I have, I don't get new / additional tools. I have a couple of bench chisels at 25 degrees that I can use for paring when the standard chisels seem inadequate. In reality, I just keep my chisels sharp and work on.

Please don't take my cave access away...

I dunno Shawn, I guess we could award some points in your favor because it takes nerve to admit something so shocking...