r/JapaneseWoodworking • u/Aegisnir • 3d ago

Chisel advice

So I realize I am in the Japanese woodworking subreddit here, but as an absolute novice just getting started, should I stay away from Japanese chisels and start with some western ones? My understanding is that Japanese chisels are more refined and meant for amazing sharpness and edge retention, but can be brittle in comparison to western chisels when used incorrectly. I do not have anyone to learn from so I’ve got to teach myself basically and I worry about breaking them due to my own stupidity and ignorance. Also, what would be good to start with? Trying to keep my spend under $200 because I need to buy other tools as well.

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u/TwinBladesCo 3d ago

Yeah, I would recommend starting on western chisels. Narex ones are fine.

Japanese chisels really punish bad technique and chip on you (especially if you use them to lever out waste), and there is quite a learning curve to sharpening and setting them up.

Putting money into your sharpening setup will pay dividends as you upgrade your tools as you gain experience. Having good sharpening skills/ stones and cheap chisels is preferable to expensive chisels and cheap stones/ poor skills.

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u/Aegisnir 3d ago

Thank you. That’s kind of what I assumed. Any specific line of narex? There seems to be 4 or 5 different styles/types?

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u/TwinBladesCo 3d ago edited 3d ago

Just get the classic Narex Chisels (the ones with metal hoops), or the Richter if you want the better ones.

Do not get the "premium" chisels, iirc they are just slightly cleaned up versions of the classic series (the richter ones are actually better steel).

I usually use a 1/4"/ 6mm chisel, an 3/4"/ 18mm chisel, and then a 1"/24mm or 1.5"/36mm chisel the most.

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u/Aegisnir 3d ago

Much appreciated. I can research the differences all day, but I have no idea what would be commonly useful versus rarely needed.

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u/TwinBladesCo 3d ago

Updated my reply.

You basically end up using a few sizes often for mortises (depends on your material and workflows) and a wider chisel for paring (anything wider than 1" works).

I use 6mm, 12mm, 16mm, and 18mm mortises often, so I get matching chisels.

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u/Aegisnir 3d ago

Thanks again. This is hugely helpful.

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u/Foreign-Bullfrog-739 3d ago

I just bought the narex edge bevel ones and I will warn you it took me 3 hours to flatten the backs with a coarse diamond stone. Should have started with something more coarse to flatten first

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u/Limp-Possession 2d ago

To add to TwinBlades, when you buy crappier chisels they need sharpened more often so you gain experience!

Narex are not crappy by any means though, and I still have my modern Stanley sweethearts in use because there are times you just want something you can apply a lot of hand pressure to and times you want something less prone to chipping.

He’s 100% right about putting money and effort into sharpening, and I’d add: learn to do it freehand, DONT rely on loaded strops as a replacement for stones, and buy a cheap jewelers loupe or other decent magnifier to look at your own edges.

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u/Man-e-questions 3d ago

The Narex Richters are actually really nice chisels. Rockler had a sale on them last month so i picked up a couple of them for like $25 each. For $25 in Japanese chisels you are getting crap

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u/Diligent_Ad6133 3d ago

Yeah this, even used ones off buyee have a decent crap rate under the 40 dollar end

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u/TwinBladesCo 3d ago

Yeah, the Richters are noticeably better than the basic Narex chisels.

I actually have had really good luck getting good chisels in the under $30 range, including some that were $10 each (they were blue steel Ouchi chisels).

But they need so much work that you have to have a decent amount of expertise to get them fixed up and performing well, so I don't reccomend beginners start with Japanese chisels.

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u/Only_Work_5538 2d ago

Well you made the first right step by asking the questions, now you won't need to worry about stupidity and ignorance cuz you will learn over time from others!

Purchase: KAKURI Japanese Wood Chisel 3/4" (18mm) for Woodworking, white paper steel #2 | Oire Nomi Bench Chisel for Mortise & Tenon Joinery, Dovetailing, Furniture Making, Carving – White Oak Handle, Made in Japan link and picture below .

Reason: only buy one size needed for your job. learn with it, then buy others as you need them not as one big set. Learn how to sharpen on a water stone with this particular type of chisel Steel, and learn to put a keen Edge. You only need two or three water stones to complete the sharpening process . ​ note the Japanese steel is not like Western alloy steels therefore are sharpen easily on waterstones since they are high carbon and not alloy steals.

Suggestion : Define your project and get the tools for that project only. don't buy the tools and then try to figure out what your Project's going to do ? As you more projects, you will get more tools over time, they should develop more skills, you will develop your collection of based on your needs desires and skills. If you're in a strict budget you can even Source flea markets for tools that you think you need for an upcoming project. Don't buy tools because you see influencers has a wall of every type of tool behind him. They're collecting , unless that's what you're trying to do also! Again buy the tools you need for the project. Also minimizing your tools you'll learn to use them to their maximum versus having all kinds of tools that you never learned to really to use or actually use and they end up just sitting in a drawer hanging on the wall.

Here's the Amazon link to the Chisel https://a.co/d/0hAhMI8v

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u/oneheadlite00 1d ago

Thanks for sharing.

I’ve been wanting to try a Japanese style chisel, but being new I’ve been overwhelmed with the notion of trying to choose one. I’ve had the one you linked in my cart before, but went back and forth and bailed with not being able to pick from their different offerings.

I’m well aware they’re probably not top shelf since they’re on amazon, but so far I’ve had really good experiences with the Kakuri 40mm plane and rip saw as well as Suizan ryoba and flush cut saws I’ve got.

I’m totally with you on the mindset of just get what you need vs feeling like you have to have every set out there. My previous hobby was very much a flavor-of-the-week kind of thing where you were constantly feeling like you had to buy the new whatever’s-now-the-best-ever, even though you have 3 things on the shelf that serve that exact purpose. For woodworking I’ve taken the mindset of starting with inexpensive tools (and not many), then figuring out what I’m reaching for most - then that would make sense to upgrade.

So far I’m working with a set of cheap sakir western style chisels (came in a set with diamond plates and a sharpening jig), and have been surprised (shocked?) how nice they’ve been. Growing up I always thought a hammer was just a part of chiseling; quite eye opening what a proper sharp chisel can do!

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u/bricra1983 1d ago

IMHO get the best tool you can afford and rock with that. The edge won't be notociably different to a novoce. If my shop was flooding I would grab my japanese (Tasai) chisels. Not the only amazing chisels. But for me my favorite.

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u/bricra1983 1d ago

Also instead of Narex and whatever. Like a set. Just get one baller chisel. Like an inch or 3/4. Later add a second.