A paring chisel is similar in appearance to a firmer chisel except the blade is much longer (top photo). The blade on a firmer chisel is usually around 4" to 41/2" long, while the average paring chisel blade is 7" to 8" long (bottom drawing).
This type of chisel was a standard item in a cabinetmakers tool chest, but it was largely replaced by the electric router. The long blade of a paring chisel made it perfect for trimming the bottoms of grooves and dadoes cut to accept shelves and other carcass parts. Once the router entered the scene, with its ability to cut perfectly flatbottomed grooves, the paring chisel began to disappear.
Because the blade of a paring chisel is so long, it's fairly fragile, and a mallet should never be used. Hand pressure is all that's suitable for paring chisels. If you plan to use a paring chisel to flatten the bottom of a groove, consider making a gauge block to accurately hold the blade at the desired height (middle drawing). Occasionally, you can find a paring chisel with a "crank" neck where the handle is offset from the blade (bottom chisel in bottom drawing). This lets you pare with the blade flat against the workpiece.
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