Hand tools for $100 #4: Sharpening for Cheapskates
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 เม.ย. 2017
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Struggling with sharpening? Thinking of spending big money on some gizmo? Don’t. Sharpening is both cheap and easy. In this video, I’ll show you how to get started with common abrasive paper and a cheap honing guide. Once you’ve outgrown the sandpaper method (and it won’t take long) you can move on to cheap, durable oil stones. I’ll also show you how to free-hand sharpen and get rid of the silly jigs and guides forever.
I can take a moderately dull knife or chisel and, in only a few moments using sandpaper, oil stones, or diamond plate, I can turn it into a lump of steel that won't cut butter.
I always tell myself if a cave man could sharpen stone enough to shave with, what the hell am I doing with my life?
hi rex i just want to thank you! i am a 20 year old carpenter and for years now i have been making some truly amazing projects with some sharp but not sharp enough chisels/planes i have always struggled to sharpen them, i was so focused on getting that perfect 20 degre angle and i think that was were i was going wrong, and as soon as i saw this video i ran into my shop and attempted to sharpen my tools using this technique, and im amazed i managed to sharpen them razer sharp on my first attempt, thank you !!!!!!!
Isn't it funny that centuries worth of woodworking artisans of all kinds managed to create some fantastic examples of their art that are still held in the highest regard today without any of the overhyped nonsense available today? OMG, my plane's sole isn't flattened within .0001", and all I have is one worn oilstone and no sharpening guide. Whatever will I do? 😄
Actually, it’s not necessary to do what you do at about 19 minutes in. With bevel down planes, the edge contacts the wood at 45 degrees because that’s the angle of the frog. So long as the bevel angle doesn’t exceed 45 degrees, you will have clearance. The common angle tolerance of 30 to 35 degrees still allows for 10 degrees of clearance under the bevel, so rolling the bevel isn’t necessary.
free leather where?
Excellent explanation of plane iron maintenence. I bought a set of soft, medium, hard, and extra hard Arkansas Stones for my first sharpening system. I was in 8th Grade. Over the years I learned how to maintain the flatness of my hand sharpening system. Accumulating stones Wow! "Ain't it the truth?" I have a dedicated tool box that has so many stones in it it is very difficult pickup. It must weigh at least 200lbs. I have been doing woodworking with hand tools since elementary school in the 1950's. I'm still learning.
Rex you are so right. Perhaps it's time to turn our back on those tools that promise instant gratification (or instant disappointment) and sit down and learn a new skill in a calm and thoughtful way. Thank you.
its so true. i buy so much junk i don't need its embarrassing. don't get me wrong sometimes you need the stuff. i just want something that works, lasts forever, is indestructible and is near effortless and extremely fast. but sometimes i get bored and need change in my life so i dont jump off a bridge.
Good video. You might let viewers know that the second bevel you ground is commonly called a microbevel. In addition to being quicker to sharpen, it removes less material from the tool iron since you only work with the microlevel. I use almost nothing but sand paper, up to 10,000 grit on a scrap (but flattened) piece of granite. My final strop grit is a .5 micron diamond paste on leather or Flexcut Yellow Compound (.6 micron and non-toxic to kids and pets). Also good to mention that the grits used in sand paper (there are 2 types, US and Euro) and the grits sizes for waterstones, Arkansas stones, Aluminum, Ceramic and diamond plate are all different. A 1200 grit USA sandpaper is around a 9 micron grit size while a a DMT x-fine Diamond stone is also around 9. The Shapton 4000 grit waterstone is a 3.6 micron stone while the Norton 4000 grit is 3 microns and the Lee Valley is 2 microns. As a result, when I go to fine grit papers on Amazon, I look at the particle size as opposed to grit. Not a big deal when the paper comes from AutoZone or Lowes but as the skill level increases and need for finer edges continues to go up, it can make a noticable difference.
What I love about this video is it gives you a starting point. I have been spinning my wheels buying water stones, oil stones and diamond hones in all the wrong ways for years and struggle to get a sharp edge. This method will get you where you need to be at minimal cost. And for a glass plate I just took a shelf out of the refrigerator. To keep the wife from know what was up I cleaned and rearranged everything in the fridge so she would not even notice the missing shelf. Worked like a charm.
Thank you. You have just saved an old glass topped weighing scale from going in the bin.
I can't tell if you are best at being friendly, teaching, or wood working. You are so awesome. I always thought that sharpening was so tough.
I've watched a TON of videos about sharpening over the last few years, and I have to say, this is probably the best one. You explain the theory of sharpening, you explain how clearance works and how the bevel angle isn't that important on bevel-down planes, and you demistify all the supposed secrets of sharpening. Very scientific video in my opinion, which makes it great. Even if I don't agree that much with the "change the iron angle as you sharpen" thing (not because it doesn't work, but because I find it hard for beginners to do that instead of just keeping the angle), I have to say this is the best video about sharpening I've ever seen, so thank you very much for that :)
"That coffee table you had when you were really in to Duran Duran."
I found this all by myself, and learning from others, but I like the way you put this together, easy to follow and very well presented and explained! Congrats again!
You are literally the reason that I got into woodworking. Now teach me how to build an over the top extravagant tree house. Thanks in advance.
Having declared my dissatisfaction with this sharpener last night
Great explaination. I've been sharpening chisels for years. I started with the plate glass and sandpaper method.
Made my own whetstones with my angle grinder, a $15 diamond disc, and free rocks from my local beach. Just cut them flat and rub it on another cut flat rock until smooth. Works great on chisels, knives, and axes