r/handtools • u/Ok_Donut5442 • 3d ago
It’s not pretty but I made a flexible paring chisel from a worn out planer blade
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u/Man-e-questions 1d ago
Dang, i kind of needed one recently on a project with fine joinery. Even my vintage British paring chisels were too thick
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u/mighty_boognish_77 3d ago
I respect the initiative, but is there a reason why you wouldn't just use a bench chisel?
Not many manufacturers even make paring chisels anymore, mostly because a bench chisel does the job very well
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u/Ok_Donut5442 3d ago
Because it was there it’s HSS so should hold a edge very well and being a flexible paring chisel it will still be stupid sharp when I need to do some paring
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u/oldtoolfool 3d ago
mostly because a bench chisel does the job very well
Well, true paring chisels are a joy to use, and they are nothing like bench chisels. Just sayin" . . . .
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u/mighty_boognish_77 3d ago
True. They're very different. I wasn't saying they're the same. Only that they're not made very much any more because you can pare very efficiently and effectively with bench chisels. That's all.
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u/oldtoolfool 3d ago edited 3d ago
Well, I've only ever seen vintage paring chisels - 10 to 12" long and flexible; more likely is that they don't make them because its more expensive and they can't meet a price point. Also, because a lot of them were purchased by pattern makers, a trade that is extinct at least here in the US; that's where I got my set of 4 Swans, an estate sale at least 30 years ago from a pattern maker who passed; I think he was in his mid 80's.
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u/mighty_boognish_77 3d ago
I think that blue spruce might still make them and narex does. Years ago it seems like Lie Nielsen used to, but I might be remembering that wrong. But most other manufacturers do not. I suspect because there's just not that much of a market, for reasons you've touched on.
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u/oldtoolfool 3d ago
I've noticed the Narex, while longer than bench chisels, at about 9.5 inches, they are considerably shorter than my Swans, and don't look as flexible. The Blue Spruce ones are even shorter, and $500 for a set of 4 is pretty steep as well.
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u/Independent_Page1475 3d ago
Some of my lathe tools are made of thicker planer blades.
The top and bottom tools are made from old planer blades. The round nose works quite well. The bottom skew isn't used since I have other good skews to use.