Work Sharp - Sharpener - Comments ?

Sharpening...

Believe it or not, I use sandpaper. I clamp a piece to my table saw cast iron top and sand in one direction, while keeping pressure on the chisel. I hold the chisel so that the blade flat on the paper. I found that simply clamping the paper on the opposite edge is enough to hold it while you work.

I start with 80 grit, move to 100, 220, 360 Wet/dry, 1000 wet/dry and then 2000 wet/dry. When I get to 2000 grit, I usually spray the paper with WD-40 to create a slurry for polishing. I don't know if that is a good Idea, but I have had no bad things come of it.. I recently purchased a leather strop and green chrome oxide compound to add that final edge, but I haven't tried it yet.

I read about this in an article, but I cannot remember which magazine. I know that Fine Woodworking has an article about it on their website, but you have to subscribe to the web content before you can get it.

The reason I chose this method is simple. There are so many different ways of sharpening something and I didn't know which one to go with. so after reading an article about sand paper sharpening I knew I could do this method with much success, its almost full proof. The Idea works with odd shaped tools as well, like lathe turning tools, because you simple turn the tool as you push it across the paper.

Every time I tried grinding a chisel I ended up burning the tool.. Using sand paper makes the burning impossible, because you do not get that much heat from it.

I have had very good results with this.

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I just watched the video and is seems like a very good sharpening system... It also uses sandpaper... hmmm...
 
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Work Sharp

Fine Woodworking magazine did a comparison of motorized sharpening systems. It was a 2006 issue.

I own the Veritas machine. It is expensive, but after I burned through $35 in sandpaper trying to flatten the soles of my handplanes (and getting nowhere), I needed help.I also have a history of failing with stones to get my wife's kitchen knives sharp. If I were good with the scary sharp method or with stones, I'd be happy. But I'm not.

The Veritas MK is fast. Less than 90 seconds to take a plane blade or chisel to a perfect edge. I think all the various machines have that advantage. The LapSharp comes to mind. If you're not in a hurry, start watching eBay for a used machine --- even a Tormek. A big part of your long-range costs with any device are the consumable abrasives. The Veritas uses auto body shop disks.

Gary Curtis -- northern California:)
 
Hi there.

Sharpening tools is a tricky job, and the more you do it the better will be your technique no matter which it is.
I haven't seen the video, so I can't give an opinion about it.
A couple of years ago I shifted from oil stones to water stones, and I must say that the sharpness of my tools improved, most problably because I was able to get the proper grit sizes, getting sharpening stones (oil or water) and some proper advice is getting difficult here.

I've also tried once the so called "Scary sharp" system and I got a round bevel on the chisel I tried. Reason? First time trial I guess, it works fine for other people so:dunno:.

If one gets a proper edge and bevel, maintaining it is a matter of a couple of minutes before starting to work.

My advice: don't let your edge get too blunt, it is easier to "refresh" it with a few strokes on the finest stone than having to go down to rougher grits or even to a grinder.
The best technique and stone is the one that works for you. If you are happy with it why change?

My five cents.
 
Bartee , Like many, I struggled with hand sharpening and never got it right. I have a plastic box full of almost every jig available ... still never got right. I finally broke down and bought a Tormek and took a 3 hour class at Woodcraft on how to use it.

The initial cost does hurt, but the immediate results took the pain away very quickly. My tools are SHARP, I touch them up often (it only takes a minute), and they stay sharp.
 
Gary,

I agree with the consumables cost. Looking at the cost of paper for the Work Sharp vs the Veritas, it could add up.

I trust Lee Valley. I know they build and standby their equipment.

So I will just wait and see.

Great comments by all.
 
bartee,
i think a fellow is better off finding somebody who can sharpen and have them teach you how .....once you know how to sharpen you can sharpen with stones,sandpaper or a grinder......only after you can "freehand" an edge should you consider training wheels.....otherwise it`s likely you`ll be stuck using the same set of training wheels for all your edge tools...tod
 
I have to agree with Tod on this one.

Why the fixation to throw money at the problem (this is not an attack on any one person, especially Bartee) I see it on every forum I've ever been at, buy this buy that new fangled jig etc.

Do these things work? Certainly some of them so, and well, but do you need to put out the mega bucks to get a sharp edge?

No way.

I have a flat (enough) granite tile that is about 14" square, I use the scary sharp system on this, it really works on things like flattening the sole of a plane, or the backs of a badly worn chisel. I also have waterstones, and like Toni says, they work really well, and I like working with water, more than oil, as the clean up is easy :thumb:

I also made myself a power strop, after Tod suggested it, it works very well, and I get a great hair shaving edge from this.

Learn to sharpen by hand, I know it is not easy, at first, but nothing worthwhile ever is :D

Now if you have the funds and the inclination to buy a motorized system, please do, I'm sure it will work well, and give you a great edge.

Bartee, if you get a system, we expect a full write up and pictures :D :wave:

Cheers!
 
Just have to chime in. I am frugal and hate spending money on things I can do cheaper. Just seems like a waste to me. If I were you and had the water stones I would follow Todd's advice and find out what I'm doing wrong. We know water stones can work. Nothing personal but you must be doing something wrong. Save the money you would spend on something else and find out what your doing wrong.

Like others I started out with the scary sharp. Using a cheap jig and the sandpaper I could get hair shaving edges on my chisels fairly easy. It did take me a while to get the hang of it. My results were less than great to start with.

I recently switched to the Makita knife sharpener. I did that so I could do my own planner and jointer blades. But it took some effort to learn to use! I didn't turn it on and get perfect hair shaving chisels. I notice that while Tony likes his Tormek, even he took a class to learn to use it.

I say what you have will work just fine, you just need to learn what your doing wrong. Buying a book or taking a class is much less expensive than buying a sharpening system that you may still not be happy with.

Jeff
 
The general critisism of the worksharp system is manufacturer tolerances. Apparently it's not unusual for the disc to wobble. I think this would be unfavorable with woodworking tools. As for consumables, they say that it uses any adhesive backed abrasive you want. :dunno: I use water stones and the veritas guide:

05m0901_dsp3.jpg


I was getting a true edge immediately. I use the same guide with the scary sharp method with excellent results.

As for the power sharpeners, it looks like you get what you pay for. If you want a premium edge, your best bet comes with a premium machine. I'm sure there are exceptions, but I would toss ANOTHER 200 bucks to see. So, Tormek, Lapsharp and Veritas. I'd get a GOOD guide and the scary sharp method and then an 8000 waterstone. I say "I'd get," because that's what I do and it works. I've never tried one of the motorized sharpeners, though I have coveted both the Veritas and the Tormek.

Cheers!
 
I have tried just about every way there is too sharpen a chisel. I finally settled on freehand using a DMT diamond stone and waterstone. One reason I don't like jigs that hold the tool at the required angle is that I find I can never get the angle exact and consequently end up putting a new bevel on it. If I am just honing then I end up doing a lot more work then is necessary. And frankly I don't want to have to put a new bevel on my tool every time I sharpen because then I am wasting metal.

The method for holding the chisel is important if you want to have good results and not round the edges of your chisel. To get the best results I hold the chisel bevel flat on the stone with my left index finger and cross my middle finger over top for strength. My index is positioned lower middle toward the cutting edge. Then with my right index and middle finger I hold side to side for stability. Again lower middle. I then position the chisel blade diagonally to the length of the stone and start stroking slowly. When you get a feel for it you can speed up a little without fear of rounding the edges.

Recently I saw Pinnacle is making a very nice sharpening jig and I was almost tempted but then quickly realized the above method is the best one for me. Freehand sharpening with a Diamond and waterstone.
 
My $.02

I'm not just frugal but nearly broke most of the time. :rofl: So, I purchased the Veritas guide and automotive wet/dry sandpaper. I also purchased 2 marble 12 x 12 tiles at HD and for $.50 they cut each one in half for me giving me 4 - 6 x 12 flat surfaces. To each of these I attach a different grit paper using some 3M spray adhesive. I am not an experienced sharpener by any stretch of the imagination, but I seem to be getting a very good edge and I get better at achieving it each time I sharpen. Total investment (less the guide) under $20.:)
 
Hey Bartee,
The trick with waterstones is that, like any other media, they have to be dead flat. When you sharpen on a waterstone, it makes grooves that get the stone out of flat. So you have to do a good deal of maintenance on the stones. Flatten the coarsest one with sandpaper, then use that one to flatten the next one and so on...

Popular Woodworking had a good article called "Sensible Sharpening" by Mike Dunbar recently. He uses sandpaper and describes his technique very well. Worth reading.

As others have said, the best method is the one you will use. I find that for me, that means the one with the least amount of setup. I have picked up the sandpaper habit.
 
Tony makes a very good point. You must also factor in what you'll be sharpening. I only sharpen hand plane blades and chisels. I never could get it right till I dropped $50 on the Verities MK II jig that Thomas shows and about $30 on some plate glass and micro abrasive film. So, for under $100 the scary sharp method puts a mirror finish on my stuff. Once sharpened and honed, touch ups take just a few strokes.

Stones or sand paper are functionally the same; flat abrasive material. I just didn't have the 'sharpening gene' and couldn't get it right without a jig. I am happy with this system for my needs. If I had a wider variety of things to sharpen (things that aren't just flat); I would put the $100 toward a motorized system.
 
Another good, cheap and fast way to make water stones dead flat is with a concrete block, it is more than flat enough for your coarser waterstones.

This is the set up I use.............

second_stage_sharpening.jpg


I have 4 water stones, the two large ones on the bottom are fairly coarse, the yellow and the white ones are the fine stones.

I use the concrete blocks on the coarse stones, but on the fine stones, just a slurry, on the granite tile work well.

I can get it so flat, it suctions to the granite tile............

ultra_fine_stone_lifts_granite.jpg


Like I said, I use a combination of things.

I don't have anything against the powered systems, seems like they would be nice, but I'd rather do it the cheap way, so I have money to spend on MORE clamps :rofl:
 
Definitely learn to hand sharpen first... Good water stones should easily do the trick once you master them. I used sandpaper on a glass plate with some oil for many years. Cheap and effective for the flat stuff, and burned my way to some skill on a grinder for most everything else (though the new ceramic impregnated stones are very nice there). I got the Veritas power system about 3 years ago and really, really like it. Extremely fast and repeatable and stores easily out of the way. No mess, either... water or oil. But if you don't know the basics, throwing money at the situation only makes the frustration more frustrating.
 
I have tried just about every way there is too sharpen a chisel. I finally settled on freehand using a DMT diamond stone and waterstone. One reason I don't like jigs that hold the tool at the required angle is that I find I can never get the angle exact and consequently end up putting a new bevel on it. ..........

I find that so interesting because I can't sharpen by hand and keep a consistent bevel. I finally went to the jig and it worked for me.

I did end up making a simple notched block/gage so I could locate the chisel in the same place every time because I had the same problem too.

Jeff
 
One of the things to consider for us "older guys" is the wear and tear on joints doing lots of repetitive motions.

So, I learned to sharpen without a jig,and flattened chisels on water stones -- what a pain!

I'll look for anything mechanical to avoid the "back and forth" associated with hand sharpening --it only makes my hands hurt!

Jay
 
One of the things to consider for us "older guys" is the wear and tear on joints doing lots of repetitive motions.

So, I learned to sharpen without a jig,and flattened chisels on water stones -- what a pain!

I'll look for anything mechanical to avoid the "back and forth" associated with hand sharpening --it only makes my hands hurt!

Jay

Never thought of that Jay, good point.....................and something to look forward too..........:rolleyes: :D

Cheers!
 
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