I'm going to order a slick from Barr tools soon.

Does anyone have any experience with them? I'm looking at their longer ones (31").

2 1/2", 3 1/4" scarf slick, or the fat boy 3 1/4" ?

anyone have experience, I'm looking for a good general slick, thanks.

If he has not changed the scarf slick from what I have seen in the past, I would only get it if I already had a nice regular slick and wanted something to hog material away quickly. It is not for finer work, in my opinion. Ask how much belly it has?

The 2-1/2" seems a little on the narrow side for a slick. My daily use slick is 3-1/4" and is just right, for me. I would also ask if the 3-1/4" fat boy has any belly on it, it should, just a little, with a straight edge applied to back of the blade up next to the edge you should see it touch in the center and a little daylight and each side. But, I suspect it is dead flat, I don't know for sure. From his web page I see the fat boy has a radius on the cutting edge, a necessity.

Barr and family are the nicest folks you'll ever meet.

Making some very fine tools, in America.

The scarf slick might be the wrong tool for everyday use, especially for cleaning tenons and mortise edges.

I've been happy with mine... pretty sure it is a 2.5" long version. Going on 10 years with it, no complaints. Wonderful tool in the hand, as are his chisels.

Thanks Guys

I'm ordering a chisel and the Fat boy from Barr today.

Thanks for the input.

In 1990 at the conference at RPI, I purchased two chisels and the small slick from Barr, these tools have been absolutely excellent. I believe that it is necessary to have knee high saw horses to provide push from the pelvis since the small slick is low mass with a high degree of crank or offset, operation is more articulate than older heavy bladed slicks. Since then I have purchased drawknives, gouges, scorps and adzes from Barr, all the tools are great useable tools.

If you are a beginner and just about to start learning, I would just start with a 1.5 and 2 inch chisel. Get some experience first, before moving on to a slick. A slick is not a necessity to learn by any means. That is if you are just beginning....
If you never do anything in Timber Frame again, those chisels would be very easy to sell and retain value.