Barr vs. Narex: The Ultimate Timber Frame Chisel Showdown (Tested on Real White Oak)
We put two legends of timber framing—Barr Tools and Narex—to a real workshop test: white oak, end grain, identical mortises. One costs €145, the other €32. Here’s what actually matters.
€145 vs. €32 — two chisels enter the workshop, only insight leaves.
Imagine this: you’re standing at a workbench in front of two chisels.
One gleams like a ceremonial sword—hand-forged, heat-treated, signed by its maker.
Price: €145.
The other sits beside it, humble but sharp, with a simple beech handle and a no-nonsense label.
Price: €32.
You lift them both.
The heavy one feels like authority.
The lighter one feels like a reliable friend who shows up early and brings coffee.
Welcome to The Great Chisel Showdown—where craftsmanship meets practicality.
Today, we test two legends of the timber framing world:
- 🔹 Barr Tools (Canada) — the Bentley of chisels
- 🔹 Narex (Czech Republic) — the dependable workhorse
No fluff. No worship. Just oak, sweat, and a stopwatch.
🔨 Round 1 — First Impressions: Packaging & Feel
Barr Tools Chisel — 1¼" (≈32 mm)
Arrives wrapped like a museum artifact: kraft paper, no plastic, light oil, and a handwritten note:
“Forged for generations.”
The hornbeam handle feels substantial, dense, and perfectly shaped. The edge is already sharp.
Narex Chisel — 32 mm (≈1¼")
Comes in a bright red box—easy to spot in a chaotic shop. Inside: a light oil coating, multilingual info card, and a QR code for sharpening guides.
The beech handle is simple and ergonomic. No signature. No mystique. Just function.
💡 Punchline
Barr arrives like a VIP guest.
Narex shows up early, already wearing an apron.
🧪 Round 2 — The Oak Mortise Test (White Oak, End Grain)
We prepped three identical white oak beams (12% moisture, air-dried 18 months).
Goal: clean, vertical mortise walls—no tear-out, no wandering.
Both chisels were sharpened to 25° using identical waterstones.
We cut repeated 1 in (25 mm) deep mortises by hand.
Results
Metric / Test | Barr 1¼" | Narex 32 mm |
|---|---|---|
Avg. time per 1" (25 mm) mortise | 3 min 22 sec | 3 min 48 sec |
Edge retention after 5 mortises | Still shaving hair | Minor rounding — needs light stropping |
Vibration on mallet strikes | Minimal — solid feel | Noticeable but manageable |
User fatigue (after 10 mortises) | Low | Medium |
What we felt
Barr glides. It enters oak with a controlled, quiet shhhk, leaving glass-smooth walls. The weight and balance reduce wrist correction—you forget you’re holding a tool.
Narex works. Solid, predictable, slightly more force required. By mortise #4 it benefits from stropping, but it delivers clean results without drama.
💡 Punchline
Using the Barr feels like conducting an orchestra.
Using the Narex feels like playing in a garage band that still gets the gig.
🔍 Round 3 — Steel, Handles & Long-Term Use
Steel Composition
- Barr: O1 tool steel, 60–61 HRC, hand-forged for tighter grain and toughness.
- Narex: O1 steel, ≈59 HRC, factory heat-treated—consistent but softer.
Translation:
Barr holds its edge longer.
Narex sharpens faster.
Handle Design
- Barr: Hornbeam, brass ferrule, sculpted grip.
- Narex: Beech, steel hoop, classic Euro durability.
Longevity
- Barr: Built for 30+ years. Many pros pass them down.
- Narex: Built for 5–10 years of steady use. Handles may wear; blades regrind well.
💡 Punchline
Barr chisels come with a will.
Narex chisels come with a warranty.
💰 So… Is €145 Really Worth €113 More Than €32?
If you're a hobbyist building a pergola or small frame?
➡️ Narex is more than enough.
Minimal upkeep, dependable, affordable.
If you're a pro cutting 8 mortises/day?
➡️ Barr pays for itself in time saved, fewer sharpening breaks, lower fatigue.
If you’re launching a timber frame company?
➡️ Best setup: 1 Barr for precision + a Narex set for the crew.
💡 Punchline
It’s not either/or —
It’s strategic and/or.
🛠 Final Verdict — The Winner(s)
🏆 Barr Tools Wins For:
- Precision finishing
- Daily pro use
- Long-term value
- That “cutting wood like butter” moment
🏆 Narex Wins For:
- Starting out without fear
- Team tools
- Projects where “good enough” = genuinely enough
- High ROI
🤝 And the REAL winner?
You.
Because now you know:
- You don’t need expensive tools to begin.
- Good steel + good technique beats big budgets.
- Craft > cost.
🔚 Closing Thought
A chisel doesn’t care about your budget.
It only asks:
“Are you sharp enough for me?”
So sharpen your steel.
Sharpen your skills.
And if the edge dulls?
Just add water, stone, and 5 minutes of quiet focus.
That’s not tool work.
That’s craft.
