A good quality hand tool really does equal happiness. I use hand tools...a lot. I often feel that woodworkers will spend tons of time setting up a woodworking task on a power tool when they could have done the same task multiple times over with a hand tool. This doesn't mean that power tools are bad, just that there are times when hand tools do the job better or quicker. And truthfully there are just some hand tools that every shop needs to have. That's why we are happy to introduce the Narex line of premium chisels, rasps, mallets, and hammers. We feel that these high quality, affordable hand tools are perfect for the novice and experienced woodworker alike.
Chisels
Every shop needs a chisel and they range in price from the “oh my god how much?” down to the “there’s got to be something wrong with them for that price!”. So where do you begin when buying a set of chisels? You can go to the big box stores and get the standard everybody-has-them plastic handled type (and never understand why people who love their chisels really love their chisels) or you can spend a fortune on really expensive ones and wonder over and over if they’re worth it.
Let me save you some time - the Narex Premium Bench Chisels are a great choice because they let you enter the world of quality hand tools at a price that won’t break the bank. Forged in the Czech Republic from High Alloy Chrome Manganese tool steel with a nicely shaped hornbeam handle, they feel good in the hand, helping make paring and chopping a joyful experience. If you've ever pushed a chisel through a dovetail paring, then you understand why a comfortable handle is so important.
Mortising Chisels
If hand-cut mortises are a part of your woodworking routine, then Narex has a line of mortising chisels designed to stand up to the toughest of work. The specially engineered trapezoidal body shape prevents wedging, while the unique oval-shaped handle allows you to feel the exact positioning of the cutting edge. Feel free to chop away with these mortise chisels for as long as your arm can swing a mallet. The dark-stained beech handle and blade are joined with traditional hoop and ferrule construction, blow after blow, your chisel will take the punishment and keep coming back for more.
Rasps
When I am shaping my furniture, one of my go-to tools is a rasp. There are few tools better in helping you get your preliminary shaping done. The aggressive teeth on the rasp remove stock quickly and evenly making it easy for you to follow up with a file, scraper, and sandpaper to finish your work. The Narex rasps are made with 45 HRc tool steel and stained hornbeam handles and really pack a punch for a value price. With both flat and half round rasps to choose from in 6 different sizes, it is easy to find the right one for your needs, and if you just can’t decide, we also sell a 6 pc set featuring 3 half round and 3 flat rasps.
Screwdrivers
Whether you're assembling fine furniture with delicate brass screws, or making precise adjustments to your vintage woodworking machines, these select screwdrivers will allow you to do the job accurately.
The blades of these screwdrivers are forged from chrome-plated CRv steel and feature black tips that are designed to reduce slipping and stripping screws that might be made of softer metals. The blade also extends all the way through the stained beech wood handles, giving you a solid point of contact when striking them with a hammer or mallet. Each screwdriver also features an integrated hex point so you can use a wrench to gain extra torque, a leather washer to absorb shocks and protect the brass-plated ferrules.
Mallets
Most of our first memories of woodworking involve a hammer and nail. It was usually the first woodworking task we ever tried. While these Narex mallets and hammers are not for driving nails, they have that same primal feel. The bench mallets and carving mallets are perfect tools to help you drive home your chisels while the deadblow hammer will become a go-to assembly tool for you.
Traditionalists prefer a good heavy-duty bench mallet for chisel use and these Narex ones are no exception. Made from hard beech wood with a well balanced feel, these mallets will have you pounding your chisel into the toughest hardwoods with no problem. These mallets are the perfect tool for all of your hand mortising work. For me though, I prefer to use a carver’s mallet with my bench chisels. They offer me more control and feel lighter in my hand. These turned and stained beech mallets work well and come in two sizes, large and small. I have had mine for many years now and it shows no real signs of wear.
The Narex deadblow mallet is the perfect tool for assembling your joinery or cabinetry. Each hammer features an anti-shock counterweight which reduces bounce back on each strike, ensuring you don’t mar or damage your work surface. Very helpful when assembling and dis-assembling furniture and cabinetry for dry fits and glue-ups. No more having to hold up a scrap block of wood where you are hammering. These mallets also feature replaceable faces to really help keep your work piece damage free.
We chose to offer the Narex brand of hand tools because they work great and don’t cost a fortune. You’ll find a multitude of uses for them in your shop doing everything from cutting and paring to shaping and carving. Narex hand tools will help you refine your hand work and we think they make a great choice for even the most discerning woodworker.