Poor man's Veritas guide

[MIGNAL]

Here's something to help us impoverished WW's who can't stretch to the Veritas guide or for those of us who have loads of dosh in the Bank and are reluctant to see declining figures.
Nothing more than a depth stop so that the honing angle can be quickly set, especially useful if using higher angles on bevel up blades. The central slider is an interference fit but probably easy enough to fit a locking screw. The guide is the one sold by Axminster.

[/url]

 

[Philly]

Good idea! Guess it helps to make sure the blade is square, too?
Cheers
Philly

 

[Anonymous]

Er, if you wanted to save money wouldn't you just measure the blade extension with a combi square or something, rather than buying yet another almost useless bit of kit?
Or better still don't buy any gadgets, jigs etc and do freehand sharpening.

cheers
Jacob

 

[MIGNAL]

I think you've missed the point Mr grimsdale. As Philly has correctly pointed out it keeps the blade edge square, so that when transferred to the stone the whole of the blades width is in contact. No measuring involved at all - just setting, much quicker than any combination square.
I must be pretty good if you think that I actually bought it! No, no money left my account.
Freehand sharpening is fine. Not so good on thin modern Stanley blades.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Even more simple and costs nothing, as they are made from scraps. Makes blade setting very fast, repeatable and, yes, helps to keep the blade square (although Jacob won't like it :roll: )

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[bugbear]

Here's an even scrappier version...

The back has a little step, like a bench hook.

(I don't worry about square blades, since an Eclipse #36 has too small a roller to control a blade. Squareness is down to me, but the #36 is in charge of the bevel angle)

BugBear

 

[Paul Chapman]

I don't worry about square blades, since an Eclipse #36 has too small a roller to control a blade. Squareness is down to me, but the #36 is in charge of the bevel angle

However, I find that it can sometimes be helpful to ensure that the blade is held square. When honing blades from my #778 and #077, for example, which can't be held in the Eclipse-type guide (they need a guide that clamps from the top, like the Veritas Mk 1) and I want the blade edge to be dead straight with no camber and at 90 degrees to the side, then I find that the ability of the wooden jig to ensure that the blade is square very helpful. The wide roller on the Veritas Mk 1 and Mk 2 is also helpful in this respect.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Anonymous]

With this guide to 25/30deg you don't even need the honing jig! (and sharpening becomes simpler and faster):

cheers
Jacob

 

[Paul Chapman]

With this guide to 25/30deg ........

:-$ Don't tell anyone but Jacob's got a honing guide :lol: :lol:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[ByronBlack]

:lol:
I nearly fell of my chair!

Thats a slippery slope Jacob - a honing guide one minute, Tormek and Lie-nielsen chisels are next!!

:lol: :lol:

 

[Mike.C]

Mr Grimsdale,

Er, if you wanted to save money wouldn't you just measure the blade extension with a combi square or something, rather than buying yet another almost useless bit of kit?
Or better still don't buy any gadgets, jigs etc and do freehand sharpening.

No wonder some lurkers stay lurking. I do not see how it can be called a "useless bit of kit" as long as it works. The guy has hopefully saved someone some money and deserves a pat on the back for coming up with the idea of a cheaper jig. Well done Mignal and thank you for posting it. =D> =D> =D>

Cheers

Mike

 

[Anonymous]

:lol:
I nearly fell of my chair!

Thats a slippery slope Jacob - a honing guide one minute, Tormek and Lie-nielsen chisels are next!!

:lol: :lol:

It's not a guide - more of a visual aid, and as far down the slope as I'm going.
Actually it's me coming back up the slope if anything :lol: and getting away from gadgets. Completely freehand sharpening but with an occasional visual check against the guide to make sure I'm not exceeding 25/30. Works like a dream!

cheers
Jacob

 

[Paul Chapman]

It's not a guide - more of a visual aid

If you insist :roll: :roll: :roll:

Cheers :wink:

Paul

PS I've just re-named my three honing guides Tom, Dick and Harry so nobody will know they're honing guides - clever or what :lol:

 

[ByronBlack]

:lol:
I nearly fell of my chair!

Thats a slippery slope Jacob - a honing guide one minute, Tormek and Lie-nielsen chisels are next!!

:lol: :lol:

It's not a guide - more of a visual aid, and as far down the slope as I'm going.
Actually it's me coming back up the slope if anything :lol: and getting away from gadgets. Completely freehand sharpening but with an occasional visual check against the guide to make sure I'm not exceeding 25/30. Works like a dream!

cheers
Jacob

Although I may jest, I think it's a good tip, I do sometimes sharpen by hand if I cannot be bothered to setup the guide or want to use a chisel quickly, so I think i'll be making one and keeping it close by, my freehand technique I think it's generally quite good but this will help a little, it's nice to have a couple of options, but i'm not by any means going to throw my eclipse style guide in the bin, i'll just use it when I want more accuracy

 

[bugbear]

Although I may jest, I think it's a good tip, I do sometimes sharpen by hand if I cannot be bothered to setup the guide or want to use a chisel quickly, so I think i'll be making one and keeping it close by, my freehand technique I think it's generally quite good but this will help a little, it's nice to have a couple of options, but i'm not by any means going to throw my eclipse style guide in the bin, i'll just use it when I want more accuracy

Yes - I've got two "sharpening wedges", one at 25, the other at 30. The virtue is that you can set the tools angle whilst looking down, unlike most protractors (etc) where you have to crouch down and look across.

I use mainly the 25 degree one, for when I'm doing freehand primary bevel waste removal.

BugBear