Has anyone else been surprised by the lack of flatness on the backs of their Narex Richter chisels? I'm starting to think it's not just my set. After years of using Narex cabinetmaker chisels and finding them reliable for the price, I decided to upgrade to the Richters for finer work. But now, after spending a considerable amount of time trying to flatten a 3/4" chisel using 100 grit paper on a surface plate, I've found 3 out of 5 chisels have a significant belly. I'm honestly pretty frustrated because they're marketed as premium chisels, and I feel silly not checking them right away. I'm contemplating sending them back, but is this a common issue?
8 Answers
I had a similar issue with my Richters. All of them were pretty badly out of flat and several even twisted. While some say chisel flatness isn't crucial, these were just unacceptable. It’s frustrating to think you're paying for ‘premium’ when the quality isn't there. Narex should really be taking these back if they're flawed.
It sounds like our experiences are pretty aligned. The flatness issues aren't just small bumps; they can significantly affect performance.
Just to clarify, are we talking about a belly or a hollow on the chisels? If there's a noticeable belly, that’s definitely a manufacturing defect, and I’d suggest sending them back.
Yeah, it's definitely bellies I'm seeing. It's quite a problem that needs addressing with the store.
In the end, Narex chisels might be decent for beginners, but if you really want tools that perform reliably without much fuss, I would suggest saving up for something higher-end like the Sweetheart line from Stanley.
Honestly, from my experience, Narex isn't really what I'd consider a premium brand. They perform decently, but if you're looking for top-tier tools, you might want to check out brands like Lie-Nielsen or Blue Spruce. Those tend to have better quality right out of the box.
You know, while my set of Richters weren’t any more off than others I’ve used, I found them to be really slow to flatten compared to my other chisels. It made the whole process pretty tedious. They seemed to have a hollow nature from the grinding process, rather than actual warps.
Same here! I ended up spending many hours flattening my Narex chisels before realizing that I might as well invest in premium brands for the future. I’ve heard great things about Veritas chisels. Honestly, after flattening these, I was wishing I had gone that route from the start.
I just got a set of five Narex Richters and the backs were surprisingly good. I didn't have to spend much time at all flattening them. If I were you, I'd definitely look into a replacement if yours are that off.
I feel your pain. I had a similar experience with my set of Richters. I couldn’t even send them back after flattening them because I’d already modified them. It's so disheartening when you hope for quality and end up spending extra hours fixing them.
Exactly! I'm not one to obsess over flatness, but this was beyond what I consider acceptable even for a lower-end tool. I can't wait to check mine with my gauge; I'm worried it might have a serious belly.