Plane (and sharpening) training?

[Jacob]

...

They are the cheapest option of all

When's the last time you bought an oilstone Jacob? ...

Used them from about 1955. I've still got (and use) my own first ever (double sided) from about 1969. I got another (finer) in 1982 which I use most however. I've acquired a few more - all 2nd hand 2 or 3 quid each. They last forever and cost f.a.
Lifetime oil stone cost (calculated roughly on the amount of stone used at cost) perhaps £10 or so? They've all got many years (lifetimes) of use left in them.

PS if anybody wants to drop in here for a demo they are welcome. PM first!

 

[sploo]

Here is poor old sploo trying to get some advise and what do we get. The same three or four old codgers battling it out with innuendo, rudeness, snarkiness about the same old stuff. It gets a bit boring to have to read through this "sh*t" to see the writings of others. Time for you three or four to give it a rest for a while or better yet a year or two.

TBH I've found this all very useful; and indeed I did get a couple of generous offers for sharpening and plane setup training. One was very useful, the other offer I haven't taken up simply due to lack of tine (but would like to at some point).

In terms of argument; this pales into mild banter vs what you'll get on an audiophile forum

My journey is basically failure with an oilstone, getting success with a scary sharpening kit and a honing guide, finding I could hand sharpen "Sellers style" (and with it worrying less about the exact angle), and now experimenting with cheap diamond plates. Oh and using honing compound on a leather.

What I should do is go back to the oilstone to prove (to myself) my suspicion that my failures where technique rather than gear related.

Basically, ask 10 guys how to sharpen and you'll get 11 different answers. All that matters is you find one that works for you, and perhaps be willing to try alternatives.

 

[Jacob]

Here is poor old sploo trying to get some advise and what do we get. The same three or four old codgers battling it out with innuendo, rudeness, snarkiness about the same old stuff. It gets a bit boring to have to read through this "sh*t" to see the writings of others. Time for you three or four to give it a rest for a while or better yet a year or two.

TBH I've found this all very useful; and indeed I did get a couple of generous offers for sharpening and plane setup training. One was very useful, the other offer I haven't taken up simply due to lack of tine (but would like to at some point).

In terms of argument; this pales into mild banter vs what you'll get on an audiophile forum

My journey is basically failure with an oilstone, getting success with a scary sharpening kit and a honing guide, finding I could hand sharpen "Sellers style" (and with it worrying less about the exact angle), and now experimenting with cheap diamond plates. Oh and using honing compound on a leather.

What I should do is go back to the oilstone to prove (to myself) my suspicion that my failures where technique rather than gear related.

Basically, ask 10 guys how to sharpen and you'll get 11 different answers. All that matters is you find one that works for you, and perhaps be willing to try alternatives.

Oil stones need refreshing. It makes a huge difference. Well flooded with white spirit or thin oil; quick pass with steel pan scrubber, coarse wet n dry, or in my case 3m Diapad. This will also bring old dried up stones back to life

 

[lurker]

Beech,

Maybe you wrongly assume people here don't help others in the way you suggest.

I count a number of people here as mates who have been generous with their time and shown me how to do things.

But for those who can't travel then threads like these are invaluable.

 

[lurker]

Sploo
You have learned a lesson we all eventually "get"

It's a bout technique not kit.

Jacob can be an old git but his over riding message is that you don't need to spend a fortune on fancy toys to achieve fine results.

 

[sploo]

Oil stones need refreshing. It makes a huge difference. Well flooded with white spirit or thin oil; quick pass with steel pan scrubber, coarse wet n dry, or in my case 3m Diapad. This will also bring old dried up stones back to life

I suspect my oil stone doesn't need bringing back to life as it's hardly ever been used. It may need using properly in the first place mind. I only ever squeezed a bit of 3-in-1 on it. Given your comment "dried up" should I be rather more liberal my the use of fossilised dinosaur juice?

Sploo
You have learned a lesson we all eventually "get"

It's a bout technique not kit.

Yep, but I still want a set of 15 diamond plates, 3 honing guides, a Tormek, and enough leather strops to start my own leiderhosen factory. Or am I weird? :wink:

Jacob can be an old git but his over riding message is that you don't need to spend a fortune on fancy toys to achieve fine results.

Here is poor old sploo trying to get some advise and what do we get.

I wish you guys would stop using the "o" word... with me just having just passed into an age that I can no longer call myself a young 'un and all that...

 

[Jacob]

.....
I suspect my oil stone doesn't need bringing back to life as it's hardly ever been used. It may need using properly in the first place mind. I only ever squeezed a bit of 3-in-1 on it. Given your comment "dried up" should I be rather more liberal my the use of fossilised dinosaur juice?......

Yes flood it on - work in a pool, not a smear. Wipe it off afterwards so it doesn't dry and dump all the swarf. A magnet helps remove swarf too.

 

[sploo]

.....
I suspect my oil stone doesn't need bringing back to life as it's hardly ever been used. It may need using properly in the first place mind. I only ever squeezed a bit of 3-in-1 on it. Given your comment "dried up" should I be rather more liberal my the use of fossilised dinosaur juice?......

Yes flood it on - work in a pool, not a smear. Wipe it off afterwards so it doesn't dry and dump all the swarf. A magnet helps remove swarf too.

Thanks. Will give it a go. May be a few days now until I get a time window again, but I will try.

 

[G S Haydon]

I'll echo Jacob, if anyone in my locality wants a hand with a bit of basic sharpening just drop me a PM.

 

[sploo]

I'll echo Jacob, if anyone in my locality wants a hand with a bit of basic sharpening just drop me a PM.

It does occur to me that a separate sticky thread with the details of members (and their rough location) would be a good way for members to "advertise" their willingness to help out in this way. Especially as that may allow people to arrange times in (small) groups, as I assume it'd be easier for a member to show 2-3 guys the ropes at once, rather than doing 3 separate sessions.

 

[ED65]

Used them from about 1955. I've still got (and use) my own first ever (double sided) from about 1969. I got another (finer) in 1982 which I use most however.

My point: nothing recently. If you'd like a shock you should look up what they're asking for an India these days.

Good stones do indeed last practically indefinitely. But unless you buy secondhand they are very far from cheap and I was of course referring to buying new.

 

[ED65]

What I should do is go back to the oilstone to prove (to myself) my suspicion that my failures where technique rather than gear related.

You'll very likely get much better results now that you have more sharpening under your belt, that's virtually universal.

So technique is probably the main thing, but the oilstone itself does matter a great deal as well. There's an unbelievable difference between a Norton and some no-name grey combo stone out of China that sheds grit like cats shed hair!

 

[sploo]

You'll very likely get much better results now that you have more sharpening under your belt, that's virtually universal.

So technique is probably the main thing, but the oilstone itself does matter a great deal as well. There's an unbelievable difference between a Norton and some no-name grey combo stone out of China that sheds grit like cats shed hair!

Funnily enough, it is a Norton (two sided). Maybe 15-20 years old.

 

[ED65]

Good stuff then. You might need to check for flat, but Nortons are the cream of the crop of modern synthetic oilstones.