Sharpening

[Vulcan]

Ha Ha, here we go again.

Just a new sharpening jig that popped up on my YouTube feed. Enjoy, hate, or burst a blood vessel!

 

[duke]

I burst a blood vessel.

 

[duke]

Drives me nuts with these best sharpening methods, what is their real life experience. I don't use any jigs when sharpening chisels or planner blades. Ok , if i'm a few degrees off I don't mind. When on a job site and I have a dull chisel or iron or whatever I sharpen it on an electric belt sander! Lets get real with reality. Hell I have even used a flat stone ie. rock. Sorry in advance to you purists. Do you actually make a living doing wood work?

 

[duke]

Glade you posted this.

 

[duke]

It is a never ending Disneyland of sharpening methods. I feel sorry for those who think these people are experts. Really lets get a grip on life.

 

[duke]

Or are we all a bunch of bumbling fools! Not me and I'm sure not a lot on this site arn't? But the debate still persists, only for controversy which some are experts at.

 

[worker]

There's another new jig, search for Dead Edge Honing Guide, works like a shooting board. This one is much more affordable though and looks quite good.

I guess it could be useful for some, not everyone wants to learn to sharpen freehand, or know freehand sharpening but prefer consistent angles with each sharpen.

Perhaps people just enjoy doing things differently.

Edit: Am I the only one who thinks it's insane how off the rail sharpening threads go on this forum?

 

[duke]

Your not alone,we must unite lol.

 

[duke]

These vids are great for the new ones to woodworking as they don't know the diff from reality to fluff.

 

[duke]

I am opening myself to scorn , go a head make my day.

 

[wiley198]

I use a veritas honing jig. Honestly, I would be lost without it.

I have bought in a couple of used hamd planes over the last 12 months and it's obvious the blades have been 'hand sharpened'. When I say obvious, I mean they come in with an edge shaped like sand dunes. All over the place.

My OCD can't cope with it. The redwood 2x4 I tested the edge on couldn't cope with it. And my rheumatoid arthritis in my thumbs can't cope with it.

Using the veritas means (with a little work over a few days...but here...bit there), I end up with a 25° primary bevel and a '30°' secondary bevel that is perfect every time. No problems with waving edges my brain keeps me awake with overnight. No problems with whisper fine shavings. Less problems with my thumbs (climbing related not work related).

I have a plane iron in the guide now on my work bench. I started getting it back to how it should be last weekend. My thumbs were not happy about it after a bit, so I just put it to one side and can pick it up as and when I want to and it is still exactly where it should be to carry on.

Horses for courses I guess.

 

[johnnyb]

What dukes saying I think is how ridiculous sharpening obsessions become in the microscope of the Internet "workshop" . It's almost a subject that can never be resolved.unless of course someone's paying you to make something who has no interest in wood at all only in having a fashionable "thing" at the lowest price. At that point sharp enough is good enough.
A super woodworker once said as soon as I pick up a hand tool I'm losing money........

 

[Noel]

@duke
Please moderate your use of language.
Thanks.

 

[Blackswanwood]

It’s a topic that has been done to death on here and other forums.

Using a jig is neither right or wrong. If you find it useful to use one use one. If you are comfortable sharpening without one don’t.

The same applies to the choice of oilstone, waterstone, diamond plate or sharpening paper etc. Pick one and provided it works for you it’s okay.

There’s no need to get wound up about it.

 

[wiley198]

Sorry in advance to you purists. Do you actually make a living doing wood work?

No. I don't make money from woodwork. Not in the sense joiners, cabinet makers etc make money.

I built a fence for a mate...he asked how much...I didn't want his money (he's a mate). He went out and bought me a makita leaf blower. Not something I would have ever considered buying myself but so glad he got it for me.

I've made tons of nest boxes. Sold a few to get the money back on materials so I could then donate some to the local nature reserve.

I'm a primary school teacher by trade. Science is my 'specialism'. So woodworking is a hobby that has helpful benefits from time to time. For example, I built a second shed over this summer for storage (built the first one a couple.of years ago). I got a much better shed than I would have had I bought one off the shelf.

I didn't realise a prerequisite of being able to call yourself a woodworker (of any kind) was to be able to sharpen by hand...and make money.

 

[MorrisWoodman12]

Really chaps I don't know what all the fuss is about. The Egyptians had it right! Put your target, beit razor blade, chisel or plane blade or whatever, leave it overnight and miraculously it will be sharp come morning.

 

[Doug71]

As jigs go the one in the video is about as simple as it gets, I could see people using it regularly to refresh chisels as it's so easy to use with no clamping or set up needed, it's practically freehand.

Mike Farrington the guy selling it makes some nice stuff and has a decent Youtube channel, I like his style of presentation and must admit I am slightly jealous of his well kitted out aircraft hanger size workshop.

https://www.youtube.com/c/MikeFarrington

 

[RobNichols]

Blades need to be sharp! I thought you just had to push harder.

 

[Sgian Dubh]

Enjoy, hate, or burst a blood vessel!

None of the above. Just a head shake from me at the pointlessness and huge waste of time spent sharpening that some people think is an essential element of working wood.

Every now and then I find the urge to post this hoary old chestnut again irresistible, and this is one of those occasions. Slainte.

 

[Jacob]

Following Richard's lead, I trot out this sort of stuff every year or so, on demand, whether they like it or not!
I went a little way down the modern sharpening path some years back and had various jigs (the cheap ones) 3 EZE lap plates, Sorby Proedge, etc. Then one day I was absent mindedly poking a chisel over an oil stone and suddenly discovered that freehand was faster, easier, and could be as sharp as you wanted. Never turned back!
Sold the diamond plates and the Proedge. Still got jigs in a drawer but haven't used them in years.
Amongst other things, three essentials with freehand sharpening on oil stones;
1 you need to freshen the surface occasionally; I use a 3m diapad which I happened to have, but any old bit of stone will probably do
2 You need to put some energy into it, which is much easier if you dip as you go, creating a slightly rounded bevel, which as we know is anathema to modern sharpeners, for no apparent reason. Start the pass at 30º then lower it a touch, fast and energetically
3 Bring up a burr along the whole edge, especially near the middle of plane blades as this is where you get most most wear, Then turn it face down and remove it.
4 Ignore all the frantic borlocks about flattening/polishing everything.
PS I don't use a powered grindstone at all. Cause problems for novices, easily avoided, blades last much longer. A little and often sharpening will keep it in good shape.