Cryogenic treatment turns good steel into great steel. Great steel married with beautifully balanced handles results in Narex’s ‘Richter’ chisels.
The Long Handle versions are specialised tools for paring, delivering more control for fine work, and better leverage for shearing cuts.
These are heirloom tools that are a pleasure to sharpen and an absolute joy to use. Dedicated woodworking enthusiasts and professional makers deserve a set of Richter chisels on their bench.
Cryogenically Treated
The physical properties of steel can be controlled through careful cycles of heating and cooling, changing the molecular structure of the metal. ‘Cryogenic Treatment’ simply refers to extending the cooling of the steel to temperatures far below room temperature, resulting steels that are high in hardness while retaining superior wear characteristics.
Hard AND Tough
With cryogenic treatment, steel can achieve a unique combination of hardness and toughness, which is often challenging to achieve without this specialized treatment. Without cryogenic treatment, steel typically exhibits either high hardness or high toughness. A hard chisel may be prone to chipping and fracturing at the edge, while a tough chisel may deform or fold under pressure. However, cryogenic treatment can offer the best of both worlds – a chisel that is both hard and tough, capable of resisting chipping and folding equally well. This results in a longer-lasting cutting edge that can withstand the demands of heavy use.
Balanced Profiles
Each chisel in this set (except the 1/8”) features tapered bevels with ultra-thin sides for reaching into tight spaces. The responsibly harvested 180mm long European Ash handles are sensitively carved so that the overall tool’s centre of gravity is perfectly placed for ultimate control.
Flat and Accurate
Strict manufacturing tolerances ensure that only very minimal flattening, if any, will be required to get the backs of the Richter series chisels perfectly flat. The cutting edges are ground to 24°. A secondary micro-bevel is advisable depending on how the chisel is used.