Scary Sharpening

[carlb40]

I have the rolls from axi aswell. I find they last longer than the 3m stuff as they are quite a bit thicker. But i find the 3m stuff from mathew cuts quicker

When my rolls from axi run out, i won't be buying anymore.

 

[keithkarl2007]

Oh.....I was only joking, because I know how expensive the stuff is. But thank you for the kind offer though

Your kidding me, right? I practically live on the bog and get pieces the whole time. What I have in the shed is bone dry and mostly crack free.

No, I tired to buy a piece recently and nearly fell over. I am soon to start turning pens for the family and small peices like that, so not that much was needed, but the price I was quoted was not what I had expected; and therfore put it on the back burner for now at least.

If your looking for pen blanks I can send you a few.

 

[Peter Sefton]

We used to use red ali oxide abrasives mounted on the surface planer bed and lubricate it with paraffin but the paper would always expand even after stretching and then dub the edges of the plane sole or make it convex as mentioned by Bugbear, the other possible problem with this is making sure the grit does not damage the machines bearings or cutters.
We moved over to PSA abrasives and have been using 80 and 120 grit for very damaged soles working up to 240 grit Hermes but this is no longer available. We now import an industrial product which has a superior performance as it is designed for use in the metalwork micro-finishing industry and is a far more robust product overall. This abrasive comes in a range of grades from 80 micron (180 grit) to 9 micron (2500 grit). For plane soles you go as high as you wish before your arms fall off but 80u and 40u are normally plenty high enough - for plane soles coarser grits can dub the plane again.
As for sharpening here is an over view of how we use it.
80u - (180 Grit) Black - For removing original grinding marks on new blades or grinding the primary bevel; cleaning or initial lapping of plane soles to remove damage or rust
40u - (360 Grit) Blue - Used for flattening new chisels and plane blades (if required) initial primary bevel forming and lapping plane soles
20u - (1000 Grit) Red - Great for general secondary bevel and backing off chisels and plane irons
15u - (1200 Grit) Orange - Refining secondary bevels on chisels and plane irons and backing off
9u - (2500 Grit) Light Blue - Produces micro bevel and backing off chisels, plane irons and knifes; should cut hair but the edge can be improved if required
You may wish to use this fine edge for your general woodworking or improve it further by using a leather strop and honing paste or move over to 3M lapping films for a final polishing of the edge.

 

[keithkarl2007]

Thanks for that Peter. I was mainly looking at flattening the sole of a Record No. 7. It might not be that bad. I just got it. I suppose lapping it with a very fine abrasive will show if it is flat enough to use.

 

[Peter Sefton]

If the glass is flat you will soon see the soles high spots if any. We keep the blade in the plane when working the sole but withdrawn within the plane.

 

[keithkarl2007]

Great, thanks again. I can't wait to get stuck into them.