Hey Rob, former engineer here. The break in process of the diamond stones has nothing to do with some “grits” being too long. What it is, is the “glue” that holds the diamonds to the surface is a little temperamental, so they actually put significantly more diamonds on than necessary, so when many of them fail, you’re left with a stone that is accurate to the design. If you have a 1000 grit diamond plate/stone, it’ll have the equivalent of 1500-2000 grit to start with, but many of them will be sticking up higher than others as they didn’t get proper glue seat depth, making the 1500-2000 grits per inch feel as rough as a 4-600. The break in process is simply removing the diamonds that were not properly attached. It’s very predictable what you will be left with after they fall off so once it’s broken in, the grit rating should be very close to accurate. This is why many people think that their diamond stones have “failed” as their first cut might’ve cut faster than they expected, but quickly began to stop cutting as well. That’s simply because it was cutting at lower than rated grit and now as at properly rated, and should last a very long time. It doesn’t really matter to know, I just thought you might find it interesting. Cheers
Way to go, Mr. Cosman! My late father was a World Class Carpenter, carver, cabinet and furniture maker. In 1966, I got my first formal lesson, and my first set of carving tools from his teacher of nineteen years, the late Charlse Marshal Sayers. Since then, I have spent thousands of hours honing tools, and I was convinced of your ability to hone a perfect cutting edge, when you began polishing the flat side of the iron before honing the bevel. Your edge was confirmed in the shavings. Nice job! My dad always told me, that it didn't matter, whether gouge, chisel, plane iron, etc., "It's not ready to sharpen, until the opposite side of the edge is polished. If you fail to polish the smallest of scratches from the opposite side, of that being honed, they will absolutely become worse, and eventually chip." Thirty years or so later, he told me, "Here, you watch this video. This guy knows his stuff! His name is Rob Cosman." My dad thought a lot of you, and he really enjoyed your dovetail video! He was good at them also. Thank you, for a job well done. Keep em coming! Sean Manwill, Sr. Cusick, Washington
Hi Sean, I read a lot of comments but this was unique. Love the connection of family, I have 10 children so that means a lot. Glad we are doing things that pleased him. Cheers, Rob
Rob I suffered through many years of the same frustrations you did in spending hours grinding king waterstones and Norton stones to polish complete plane backs and chisel backs to mirror finishes trying to get really sharp blades. I gave up and embraced sand paper and quit using my nice hand planes. I was never satisfied with my finished results. I now own several of the planes, and of all the sharpening equipment you suggest in your videos. I have been able to obtain the exact sharpening results you suggested I might. It is so refreshing to follow a fine craftsman’s hard thought out and proven concepts and be able to duplicate his technique. Thank you so much. It’s made me re-embrace wood working with great pleasure. Sincerely Steve Girod
Rob Cosman... I have watched this video at least 20 times. It would often come onto my YT feed while I was working on my 1st workbench. Well this week I finally decided to go all in with your method. I am happy to say that I just got all 6 of my planes up and running! (5 of them were out of commission before just now) Good stuff Cosman!! Thanks for being such a good dude and a great teacher!! Any noobs reading this, Do not wait to start this sharpening method. if anything buy a cheap $15 harbor freight plane and spend a few hours getting the hang of this! Its not as difficult as it first seems.. Cheers!!!
Simple, precise, important detail that most tutorials miss out and assume that those new to woodwork would be able to work out for themselves. No sloppy speech, no one trying to be a comedian, clear speech, excellent quality video. Interesting procedures. Sharpening is the bane of my 60 years working life. Simply a brilliant video. Thank you
I am a woman - I like woodworking - I care about tools and I needed to learn how to sharpen them - now at least I 'know' and the rest is PATIENCE. Many - Many thanks Mr. Not patronising - not blokey - just skill and knowledge - Thank you.
Just checking in to say that I've watched this video like 30 times and obtained the same core sharpening gear and have finally gotten the hang of it. the results are phenomenal. thank you Rob!
@@bbattles1031 I doubt i am maintaining a *perfectly* constant angle either but i think the key there is the process of locking your elbows and ensuring that only your shoulders are moving. it helps me to keep my elbows in towards my sides and really take a moment to feel what it feels like to only rotate my arms from my shoulders. you can practice that part without anything in your hands. really feel into your shoulders to make sure that's where the movement is coming from. drop your hands down and let them hang then lock your elbows. to me locking my elbows feels a bit like flexing my biceps but without changing the position of your forearm. then start circling your arms from your shoulders. once you realize shoulder-only movement, start bringing your hands up to parallel with the floor and continue rotating from your shoulders. try to notice any time you start to move in any place but your shoulder joints and re-calibrate. once you get the hang of that you can hold the iron in your hands and practice with the iron centered in front of you without any stone. this is all a guess as to what might help you. i think if you are raising up the angle from the primary bevel enough the sharpening time is so brief that tiny changes in angle are unlikely to make much difference. you know you're ready to move to the next stone just as soon as you can feel a burr that goes completely from side to side.
Really appreciated seeing that you had to go through the process several times before you got results you were happy with, rather than editing the process down. Thanks for including everything!
A great free hand sharpening tutorial. I was admiring my father when he was sharpening his jointer’s blade free hand too and then taking a full length shaving of a three meter long beam. Thank you for passing the knowledge to the next generation. This is a sign of a real master.
After 20 years of sharpening, starting with Krenov's hand-cranked wheel stone, then wet paper, followed by the Tormek machine, I finally landed here with Rob's method. I saw an earlier video by him about this method some time ago and followed his recommended way of sharpening. It is by far the quickest and best way of keeping your irons sharp. So easy and fast, that since then I do not let my irons (and I do a lot of planing; I don't even have a sander) get any dull. As soon as the iron does not cut anymore as fine as it could, just invest half a minute to sharpen like shown here, and planing the wood for all your furniture will be fun and a trademark of your work.
I've spent many many hours working on 150+ year old plane irons. I've picked up on many nuances and tricks in that time. However, this video is teaching me SO much more. Thank you, sir.
Thanks stan. You should also subscribe to our free monthly newsletter, and check out out online membership videos. Links to both are in the description section.
I just today discovered and subscribed to your website. Thanks so much for your presentation and knowledge. Hmmm - 72 yrs old and continuing to discover why my dad did some of the things he did and tried to teach me. Wish now I had paid more attention. But I continue to learn. Thanks again !
I particularly appreciate showing all the "doing it again" parts and sticking with it. Shows integrity, teaches how to fix the problem and shows the reality of woodworking. When I get the money, I'm getting this plane.
I'm a carpenter and learned loads from watching Rob, Brilliant. Over many years I've developed my own muscle memory, but we can always learn. Many thanks, I really enjoy your videos
Rob this is absolutely the finest video for sharpening I've ever seen. I am fairly new to woodworking and watch a lot of videos on TH-cam and have never had someone explain so thoroughly so that even I can understand it. I'll always remember it .Thanks so much , Ben Clark
From my own experience two things were essential in making hand sharpening viable: (1) the sharpening station that is much lower than your std bench (my platform is 27" off the ground for my 5'10" frame) so your shoulders-to-hands orientation are in the same vertical plane (no pun intended); and (2) making sure your left and right hands are interlocked in some manner when sharpening. Without those two being set, hand sharpening was initially a very frustrating experience for me. Once I got the setup correct I was able to sharpen a skew block plane blade as my first trial with excellent results. It's now a very personally satisfying experience to be able to sharpen blades/chisels in that manner. If I did not have space for a dedicated station or something kept me from locking hands together, e.g. arthritis, then I would definitely be using a jig. Fortunately I currently (cross my fingers!) have neither of those two restrictions.
Rob you're a bloody genius! I've been woodworking 15 years and couldn't get the shaving you do after sharpening. So I bought the Trend and Shapton stones and added the sharpening station to the end of my work bench. After watching you video a million times I took a deep breath and had a go myself. I couldn't believe the results. I am now getting the same shavings that you get after my first attempt!! I don't mind admitting I danced around my workshop with a big smile on my face for a while. Thank you.
it's really encouraging to see and hear someone speak about the "full body" ergonomics of seemingly small and simple tasks. Great tutorial - thank you.
Rob...thank you for the offer. I'll appreciate using it on the plane blades. I have some General and Starrett rulers but they are either too thin or thick or too short. You commented on one of your videos the thickness of the ruler you used in your teaching videos is .025. I carried to Lowe's recently my Verner caliper to mike out flat sheet metal and learned that hack saw blades are within a .001 of an inch of .025. I ground off all the saw teeth and was going to use that until your gracious offer was made. I am a retired Industrial Arts Teacher, but you know something....there is always another method that has been learned and then taught in woodworking and the tools associated wiith the need. And as a teacher, you learn what know and practice from your former teachers or what you have experienced with your own failures and success. I appreciate your videos and the things you are passing off to your students. Thanks again Rob.
Excellent explanations as you go through your process, I appreciate you including the obstacles you encountered as you progressed through the sharpening of the new blade, and bringing everything together with the functionality you showed from your previous plane when you started the video. Your ability to teach as you work is very valuable rather than working, stopping, explaining, working, stopping, explaining, etc. this approach keeps the brain fully engaged and better focus throughout the demonstration process. I feel very confident now as I have learned why I need the various tools you used compared to how I have been “getting by” with my planes and then using my scraper to finish. Thank you immensely!
I watched whole thing bearly blinking my eyes. If i blink I rewind. This is b.a/phd/master degree/engineer of sharpening which bundeled together makes you Professor of sharpening at highiest University level. Thank you Rob
Absolute awesome detail. Much easier to learn from this man. He, unlike some others, does not try to cover up situations and explains the possibilities of reason for the plane blade to respond to the area of error.
Rob, further to some comments I made 11 days ago, I have a few more. Sharpening is, as you say, the foundation of any kind of accurate work. It is THE most important skill to master and yet there is more BS talked about this subject than possibly anything else on YT. 95% of what I watch is filled with errors and downright garbage. I am really grateful for the time and effort you have devoted to this subject and you have provided some real insights into the basic, essential truths about sharpening. 1) Your comments about correct position (including height of the table) and posture are invaluable. 2) The need for a flat stone is frequently understated but is so important. 3) The need to cover as much of the stone as possible when working it. 4) You have provided a fast way to attain a fine edge, nobody wants to spend hours sharpening when they could be making things. I imagine that many of your subscribers are, like me, part-time woodworkers. What you do here is great for the aspiring joiner and I truly admire your tenacious and uncompromising quest for excellence. I simply don't do enough sharpening to go freehand so I use a jig. Being the skinflint that I am, I hate wasting money on "fad" purchases that will just sit in the cupboard, so I strop. This is not a subject for here but for the most part I get a superb polish with the exception of the tool edge, the most important bit! What you call the fluorescent light effect. (It's there on the sides of the bevel too). I can mitigate this by v gentle stropping on MDF or a very thin leather substrate. Be that as it may, you've talked me into buying a 6kHR! Q1. Does the miniscule fluorescent tube effect matter on the sides of the primary bevel or the underside of the chisel? Q.2. How can you be sure that flattening the 16k stone with the 300 diamond plate is not burying 300 grit diamonds into the highly expensive Shapton? Something you might consider, I've bought a Plugable 250x microscope (£50/ Can$80) to learn where I'm going wrong, a great investment as I can take photos with it for reference as well. Again, many thanks for your prodigious and generous contribution to the craft. Paul
You know , until I started to watch TH-cam videos here, last few yrs, I never flattened a back, other than a chisel , I just did the outer edge Bet the old timers 1-200 yrs ago never flattened a whole back, but they never had the net. I do like the way Rob shows how to hold the blade, That is my downfall, and stones on top of the bench, or in my case a sink table at 3 ft high.
For someone new to working with wood I like how you cut to the chase from your experience. Your tutorial here is nothing short of excellent. Thank you Rob.
Incredibly helpful information! I have a cheap #4 bench plane that I've always gotten frustrated with, but I took the time to address the chip breaker and followed this technique for sharpening the blade...I was getting perfect shavings on highly figured red oak all weekend! I stopped getting tear-out, produced full thin ribbons, and it created square edges on my boards that actually broke the skin when I ran my hand along them. Thanks for the lessons, Rob! These techniques will last a lifetime!
Big cheers from Kuwait 🇰🇼 you are a true master crafsman Rob and i just wanted you and whoever reading this comment to know that i have invested a lot in sharpening system / jigs i got the deluxe Varitas mk2 system and Lie Nielsen along with other Amazon products.. The problem with them is that they actually have a learning curve and they are absolutely not a time saving products you really have to set them up! So i decided to use your method and i got the gear that you have recommended 2 stones and some elbow grease and pew pew! English is not my native tongue language but you have explained the process in a way that maybe if your student was a donkey it will master the skill of hand sharpening in no time😅.. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge you are amazing man 🙏🏼👌🏼
I am from Srilanka. Excellent video. Pleasure to watch you woking. Carefully explained slowly step by step. Thank you so much. Look forward for a chisel sharpening as well. Thanks
Wow! That was most impressive. Going to order your trainer just to pay you for that lesson in sharpening and the lesson in teaching. Camera operator deserves a cold one, too.
As a trim carpenter / woodworker I love sharp tools. I started knife sharpening and making knives about 6 years ago and I must say I’ve learned an incredible amount of knowledge from your video. You should think about teaching these skills 😂. Kidding, you definitely have the skills and ability to teach in a way that definitely connects with my brain. Thanks so much. I started my comment right before the end so I might have missed it but do ya ever strop. Probably not after 16000. I don’t think my emulsions are that fine. 👏👏👏bravo
Watching Rob struggle with those thin shavings clinging on his hand and apron all through this video made me laugh so hard. Thank you Rob for this informative and funny video!
Many thanks Rob, You really do possess a gift with your superb style of relatable and easy to follow teaching you were totally correct when you stated this would change the way you do woodwork it sure has. I just sharpened my Grandfathers Number 7 Stanley jointer following your methods and it cuts better than it probably has in Its entire history. BTW I estimate Its over a century old now to sharpen the Number 8C beast and the rest of the fleet. Our very hard native woods here challenge even the best blades. Best regards Alan Australia "Downunder"
Wow. I love the fact you had to do this three times before perfecting it, because it is exactly what I would expect if I ever get to try this myself. It is comforting to see that it might take few trials even when you certainly know what the heck you are doing.
I love the fact that you repeat the process until the exact results are achieved. Demonstrating that the process works. And proving that the same exact result can be expect every time if you follow the process. It is obvious to me that you are Quite the Professional. Thank you.🇺🇸
Hi Rob, here is my experience. When I started sharpening I got a cheap jig and realized very quickly that it was awful. Then I decided to invest in a veritas MKII jig. While this definitely improved the sharpness of my plane and chisel blades, I found myself having to dedícate a significant amount of time to sharpen all my blades (Setting them properly on the jig). Some time later I came across your sharpening videos. I had the trend plate, but decided to invest in a Shapton 16000 glass. I struggled a bit a the beginning, Until it finally clicked. The thing that made the difference was all about the pressure I was applying. Once I eased off and just let the blade glide over the 1000 grit stone with just the slightest pressure I started getting amazing results. For the angle the way I went about it at the beginning, was to raise to the secondary bevel angle a few degrees on the 1000 grit, and then to the secondary angle on the 16000, and finally to the tertiary angle of the 16000 grit (this extra step gave me lots of extra practice identifying the secondary bevel angle) Now like you said, it takes about 1-1.5mins from the moment I remove the blade until I’m back to planing. Thank you so much for changing this aspect of woodworking for me. It has made such a huge impact on my enjoyment of using hand tools.
Well took that journey!! To anyone who hasn’t started (and I will add the scary sharp system to my list of adventures) just go with freehand on the diamond plate and 16k!! If you stick with it I promise you will not regret!!
One more thing I forgot to mention is that lowering the sharpening station is also a great help for consistency. Rocking back and forth on toe and heel keeps the angle locked down and helps tremendously in moving the blade to use the entire stone as not to wear a single area.
As a Fitter, machinist/Toolmaker, i can totally appreciate all the cutting angle geometyry diascussed Rob, however i still can not cut tight dovetails for the life of me, you have a real skill and it is beautiful to watch! keep it up.
I've been using Rob's technique for a year now and it's a real time saver and a game changer. I think it's the best method for sharpening a plane blade because when you master this, your arms become the best jig given by nature. I admire Rob's approach of woodworking as a R&D lab. Great buying tips, i bought a CBN grinding wheal too and it also changed my life, no risk of burning expansive tools. Thank you for all you've done for us, greatings from France and i will defenitly buy one of your saws when my wallet agrees.
Bonjour! Thanks. You will love a saw. Make sure you have signed up for our free newsletter. There is a link in the description and you should also look at my online workshop see links in the description
This is a gem of a video. Between you and Paul Sellers you have covered just about everything. I have invested in a Trend 300/1000 diamond plate and broke it in on a seriously thin, old Naniwa Chosera 400 stone using the Trend lapping fluid for lubrication. I found that the Trend plate went dark near each end with a wider dark strip parallel across the middle. I suspect that the diamond coating was applied on a rolled plate which had not been finish ground. Also, once completely flat and washing in water, the green Chosera 400 twinkled all over with tiny diamond fragments, which I expected. In all, I spent about 4 or 5 minutes gently flattening the Chosera. I hope this doesn't irritate you but one technique that Paul Sellers uses to flatten convex blade irons is to lay it on the bench, convex side up and twat it hard with a heavy soft-faced hammer. It works! Every now and again I chance upon a treasure of a channel. Yours is one such, Rob. Thank you for enriching us all. Paul
Really Excellent Rob. Its great to hear from a true and dedicated professional with an obvious wealth of perfection targeting experience. I learned this in school over 40 years ago (with those old Stanley planes), but never mastered it, or properly understood it. I do now. You just made my day. Thanks for sharing. Schaun
Rob, great video. As a professional straight razor restorer and honer we hone razor edges to a much higher level. We often see the same edge issues with new razors and ones that have had a lot of the edge removed as in chip repair. The edge will test fine, (thumb nail test) but will micro chip when put under stress of use or on a straight razor, stropping. I suspect this is caused because the edge is weakened during the angle grinding process, (overheated) by aggressive grinding, or edge impact damage beneath the chip. Once a bit more steel is removed, (it does not take much) and good solid steel is reached, the edge will hold, Also, be careful recommending the use of dish soap, it can damage, (pit) the binder of some stones, particularly Naniwia and Norton. I believe Norton recommends against it. I have never had an issue with Shapton stones and soap. Additionally, a micro bevel will make a stronger, longer lasting edge, and boost performance.
Increasing the angle of the entire bevel produces the same gain in durability, it’s nothing special about the microbevel. They don’t change the performance other than making sharpening quicker (or more difficult and less precise, depending on who you ask).
So Today I received my Sharpening kit from You and followed the steps on this video . This set up is a game changer and worth every penny I spent . Thanks so much for making my wood working even more enjoyable . Jim Pittner
I know this video is old but after watching it for the third time I have to say, Rob you are a natural born teacher. You explain everything so completely starting from the beginning and finishing with the end. You don’t mix up the middle and go back to the beginning confusing people by bouncing back to the end. You talk about the process in a clear and concise manner. I’m so glad there are people like you that don’t mind sharing their experiences instead of acting like it’s a secret club which would do nothing but hold back the hobby and profession. I guess I’m just saying I’d like to give you a pat on the back because you deserve it for all the help and information you’ve shared over the years. Thank you.
28:20 Amazingly, the shavings you got from after your first unsatisfactory sharpening are about 5 times better than those I currently get. I'm looking forward to trying your sharpening techniques in the coming weekends. Thank you!!!
I started watching Rob when his hair was black, long and he didn't wear glasses. Good teacher. I've watched hundreds of sharpening videos - many ways to skin the cat. One thing is for sure...for hundreds of years there were no fancy sharpening stones or angle gizmos - just craftsmen who developed real skills. The proof is in their work which still astounds. Still, modern goodies have their place for those of us who do not have the time to develop- such skills. One thing is for certain, the sound of a finely sharpened plane on a piece of wood is music to the ears.
just something i found to be helpful while using the ''Charlesworth" ruler trick. while holding the blade in the three finger position, use the bottom of your palm to help push the blade through each stroke. in the beginning, it was hard to control the motion with just using my fingers. thanks rob. i enjoy watching and learning from you. i appreciate woodworking so much more!!!!
Rob. I saw you in Ottawa some long time ago when we had a woodworking show. I was already very impressed with the way you communicate. But now. wow the clear description of tools, tecknique, reason why etc... you are way ahead.
Just bought my first hand plane so this is a great video for us newbies!! Question...what is the thickness of the steel rule you use to give a little angle when doing your first pass on the 1000 grit??
Rob. Forgive the wordiness, but I have to write to say THANK YOU! I am a beginning wood worker (3 years). My first major plane purchase was a Lie Neilsen low-angle jack plane, which I have been using infrequently right out of box. It was time for a sharpening. I watched your presentation two times, then applied everything I learned from standing to sharpening. Long-story-short, my plane works like a dream. I can't believe how even and thin the shavings are. Amazing. I taught high school art and computer for 25 years; I recognize a good teacher. You are one! Thank you for posting and sharing your knowledge. Much appreciated. I'm super excited to get started on my next project: two night stands for the guest bed room. THANK YOU!
After years of using one jig or another, I am finally getting into your method of hand sharpening. Getting better, got some to go. Thanks for this tutorial, and for keeping in the pieces where it didn't work perfectly the first time. It's always nice to know even the best can have a bit of trouble sometimes. Also, I've got to mention it's so nice to see someone constantly give credit where it's due. So many videos out there showing David C.'s ruler trick without mentioning where it came from. You always mention his name every single time, as it should be. (I don't know Mr.' Charlesworth, I just like to see when someone gets credit for their work.)
He comments here every now and then so chances are he will see, read , and thank you for your comment!. Keep at it, one day soon it will all pop into place
As with polishing platinum the right way is exquisite, the wrong way telegraphs all your previous missteps,thank you this was truly priceless,potentially life changing!
Hi there Rob, It’s taken a long time to get your sharpening system to work properly. I have invested in the Shapton 16,000 grit stone and also bought the 300 and thousand grit diamond stone. I have in my box of tricks, a steel ruler, so I can use the Charlesworth trick. In my case, it all boiled down to patience and getting the various steps into the right order. It helps to feel and understand what you are doing, as well. So , finally, I am happy and have that strong sense of achievement. Thanks Rob for your help and the professional way you teach. Best regards from John Baker from Australia. Ps please pass on to Jake my apologies for being a little sharp with him. Put in down to the fact that I am 74. That means that I am old and sometimes , grumpy.
For years I was very frustrated by hand planes. I never could get them to work the way they were supposed to. Then I purchased a set of stones from Rob, studied his videos, and practiced (both the sharpening and the tuning) and it totally changed everything. Now, planing is a pleasure! If you're a serious woodworker, this is the way to up your game. Buy Rob's stuff, and follow his teachings. You will not be disappointed.
I’m simply aw’d by Rob’s video on sharpening chisel’s and planer blades. The difference between his method and what I was doing is like the difference between day and night.
I adopted this method. Just by listening to Rob's advices and trying a few times, sharpen a plane blade became easy. This allows me to go straight to my sharpening station every time I'm not satisfied how my plane runs on lumber. And I can see the results, it's worth.
Thank you so much I am so happy to find someone who does this freehand, I hit my blade against a buried nail in a piece of wood someone gave me broke a crescent moon shaped piece off the center of the blade had to grind it down so this helps a lot 😊
Remember the Star Trek episode where Data plays poker with Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein where they bantered about physics and space/time? Wouldn't it be cool if there was a similar one of Rob Cosman, Paul Sellers, David Charlesworth, Alan Peters, and other elite woodworkers and they banter about sharpening and wood working techniques?
A few years ago, I attended the European woodwork exhibition. David Charlesworth handed me a Lie Nielsen block plan that he had sharpened and set. Then put a piece of oak that he had taken the back edge of, into a vice, to plane the end grain. He then stood back chatting with Thomas Lie Nielsen. How that plan cut become a goal. With the correct settings it bocome controllable. What Rob is doing is spreading his knowlege and helping a very very worthy cause. I know of one who couldn't see his way through the Covid time and took his own life. We need more people like Rob and his family. My wish is to meet Rob some day.
I watched 4 videos before this one. I was dreading the 40 minute video but absolutely worth it!! Thought the title was funny given the length of the video. I love the way you showed how to verify the process
When I did woodwork at school you got your arse kicked if you put the plane face down on the bench. Rules are funny things, some people keep to them, some people break them and others say they don't matter. Them Brothers taught me other things too, like honesty, respect, dedication and tolerance. When I think about it ....they never taught me anything that wasn't useful or relevant .................except perhaps differential calculus. Stavros
Steve, I was just wondering how to word this.,dad would give me hell if he found one of his planes upright on a bench, I've watched so many highly skilled craftsmen who don't lay a plane on its side that I eventually decided it was just another way of his to have a go at me. Thanks for your comment .
Thank you Rob. I purchased a new plane iron recently and was putting off using it because I knew I’d probably spend hours getting the back ground flat. Having watched this video last night, I spent less than 20 minutes putting it to work today. First time sharpening by hand, room for improvement. Defiantly the way forward. Thanks again.
I've been trying to work your method with the equipment I already own with limited success. I finally broke down and purchased the Shapton 16000 and wouldn't you know, three blades in a row with 0.001" shavings. What a blast! I finally get the type of shavings I've been watching you get for years. Thank you Mr. Cosman!
I tried Rob's sharpening method . I had to adapt to my plates diamond 400,1200 , 3000 followed by leather strop . Even with my equipment the results were astronomical . Straight onto figured maple that came out silky after no time at all . Thanks Rob .
I’m a complete noob when it comes to sharpening. I bought a Hock blade for my Stanley #4. Took me a little long to get the back flat but once it was it was fast sharpening after that. No honing guide and never will use again. Sharpened perfectly!!! Great video
Damn. Been sharpening for over 30 years and this is a game changer. Will be trying it tomorrow. Sure hope it works. I'll be saving so much time especially when it comes to prepping a new blade.
I just received my Trend and Shapton stones from Rob's online store and putting the sharpening station down low like he has his in this video is THE TRICK to getting this down. Pivot on your feet vs elbow, and wrists. That part is so important. Thank you Rob, for all the instruction and your work with the PHP. Your youtube channel has been a blessing for me in this crazy world we are now living in.
Best advice in the video... If it doesn't work the first or second time, Just keep trying. It's taken me time to learn to just keep trying until things come out right. I notice it takes me fewer and fewer tries as I repeat the processes.
Hi Rob, long time subscriber, first time commenter. I have got to be sharpening my plane blades wrong because i swear I have been at it today for six hours, not 32 seconds. I have quality Norton wet stones I keep flat with a diamond lapping stone. Finally this morning I was able to get one good face thanks to 120 grit sand paper. but I am stuck on the 220 grit stone trying in vain to get the edges of the blade. I am still a Padowan Learner making more sawdust than actual boxes but I am getting better. My sharpening skills are still growing.
I gave up on my Nortons in 2006. Don’t cut the steel fast enough and they hollow up too quickly. Speed of cut allows you to do the job while your ability to hold the angle freehand is still intact! That is the “32 second” answer!
I don't even own a hand planer and have watched thw full eight minutes. Great stuff and told in a way that cough my attention and kept hold of it all the way through. Big thumbs up and I'll remeber where to come for advice once I've bought myself a nice planer.
Just did this for the first time. It works so well and has immediately improved my enjoyment using the plane and the results. Thank you, Rob! What a fantastic video!
I have never seen ANYBODY mention the point I am about to make . I use Rob's method and there is also an important added bonus to doing it HIS way.You are able to change the cutting angle to a steeper cut on ANY blade with the bare minimum of effort . This is particularly useful in the case of real tangle grain wood ,as we all know a steeper cut angle results in less or no tearout. BRAVO to you ROB.
Thank you Rob. First of all I am a 12 year Marine and want to thank you for what you do for our wounded warriors. Secondly, I was having a hard time sharpening free hand until I watched this about 3 or 4 times and copied you techniques and how you hold the iron and place your fingers now I am getting fantastic shaving and I am delighted so thank you for your instruction. You are a detailed and easy to learn from teacher and thank you.
Sounds like you are getting the hang of it. Where are you stationed? Any chance you are in the san diego area? Luther is down there for the summer and he is doing some free classes. If you are contact him at 253-3814113
Hey Rob, former engineer here. The break in process of the diamond stones has nothing to do with some “grits” being too long. What it is, is the “glue” that holds the diamonds to the surface is a little temperamental, so they actually put significantly more diamonds on than necessary, so when many of them fail, you’re left with a stone that is accurate to the design. If you have a 1000 grit diamond plate/stone, it’ll have the equivalent of 1500-2000 grit to start with, but many of them will be sticking up higher than others as they didn’t get proper glue seat depth, making the 1500-2000 grits per inch feel as rough as a 4-600.
The break in process is simply removing the diamonds that were not properly attached. It’s very predictable what you will be left with after they fall off so once it’s broken in, the grit rating should be very close to accurate.
This is why many people think that their diamond stones have “failed” as their first cut might’ve cut faster than they expected, but quickly began to stop cutting as well. That’s simply because it was cutting at lower than rated grit and now as at properly rated, and should last a very long time.
It doesn’t really matter to know, I just thought you might find it interesting. Cheers
I used to work with some "engineers". God they were stupid.
Way to go, Mr. Cosman!
My late father was a World Class Carpenter, carver, cabinet and furniture maker.
In 1966, I got my first formal lesson, and my first set of carving tools from his teacher of nineteen years, the late Charlse Marshal Sayers.
Since then, I have spent thousands of hours honing tools, and I was convinced of your ability to hone a perfect cutting edge, when you began polishing the flat side of the iron before honing the bevel. Your edge was confirmed in the shavings. Nice job!
My dad always told me, that it didn't matter, whether gouge, chisel, plane iron, etc., "It's not ready to sharpen, until the opposite side of the edge is polished. If you fail to polish the smallest of scratches from the opposite side, of that being honed, they will absolutely become worse, and eventually chip."
Thirty years or so later, he told me, "Here, you watch this video. This guy knows his stuff! His name is Rob Cosman."
My dad thought a lot of you, and he really enjoyed your dovetail video! He was good at them also.
Thank you, for a job well done.
Keep em coming!
Sean Manwill, Sr.
Cusick, Washington
Hi Sean, I read a lot of comments but this was unique. Love the connection of family, I have 10 children so that means a lot. Glad we are doing things that pleased him. Cheers, Rob
Rob
I suffered through many years of the same frustrations you did in spending hours grinding king waterstones and Norton stones to polish complete plane backs and chisel backs to mirror finishes trying to get really sharp blades. I gave up and embraced sand paper and quit using my nice hand planes. I was never satisfied with my finished results. I now own several of the planes, and of all the sharpening equipment you suggest in your videos. I have been able to obtain the exact sharpening results you suggested I might. It is so refreshing to follow a fine craftsman’s hard thought out and proven concepts and be able to duplicate his technique. Thank you so much. It’s made me re-embrace wood working with great pleasure.
Sincerely
Steve Girod
Great testimonial Steve! Glad to hear of your sharpening success, key ingredient to hand tool success!
Rob Cosman... I have watched this video at least 20 times. It would often come onto my YT feed while I was working on my 1st workbench. Well this week I finally decided to go all in with your method. I am happy to say that I just got all 6 of my planes up and running! (5 of them were out of commission before just now) Good stuff Cosman!! Thanks for being such a good dude and a great teacher!!
Any noobs reading this, Do not wait to start this sharpening method. if anything buy a cheap $15 harbor freight plane and spend a few hours getting the hang of this! Its not as difficult as it first seems.. Cheers!!!
Simple, precise, important detail that most tutorials miss out and assume that those new to woodwork would be able to work out for themselves. No sloppy speech, no one trying to be a comedian, clear speech, excellent quality video. Interesting procedures. Sharpening is the bane of my 60 years working life.
Simply a brilliant video. Thank you
Wow, that was an incredible review. Thank-you.
I am a woman - I like woodworking - I care about tools and I needed to learn how to sharpen them - now at least I 'know' and the rest is PATIENCE. Many - Many thanks Mr. Not patronising - not blokey - just skill and knowledge - Thank you.
Just checking in to say that I've watched this video like 30 times and obtained the same core sharpening gear and have finally gotten the hang of it. the results are phenomenal. thank you Rob!
You and me both!
What were the biggest hurdles for you? I can’t seem to maintain a constant angle, free hand
@@bbattles1031 I doubt i am maintaining a *perfectly* constant angle either but i think the key there is the process of locking your elbows and ensuring that only your shoulders are moving. it helps me to keep my elbows in towards my sides and really take a moment to feel what it feels like to only rotate my arms from my shoulders. you can practice that part without anything in your hands. really feel into your shoulders to make sure that's where the movement is coming from. drop your hands down and let them hang then lock your elbows. to me locking my elbows feels a bit like flexing my biceps but without changing the position of your forearm. then start circling your arms from your shoulders. once you realize shoulder-only movement, start bringing your hands up to parallel with the floor and continue rotating from your shoulders. try to notice any time you start to move in any place but your shoulder joints and re-calibrate. once you get the hang of that you can hold the iron in your hands and practice with the iron centered in front of you without any stone. this is all a guess as to what might help you. i think if you are raising up the angle from the primary bevel enough the sharpening time is so brief that tiny changes in angle are unlikely to make much difference. you know you're ready to move to the next stone just as soon as you can feel a burr that goes completely from side to side.
Awesome! What thickness steel rule are you using?
No nonsense, no voodoo. Best video on sharpening a blade. Thanks!
Really appreciated seeing that you had to go through the process several times before you got results you were happy with, rather than editing the process down. Thanks for including everything!
38 mins for 32 secs, WTF. False advertclickbait.
A great free hand sharpening tutorial. I was admiring my father when he was sharpening his jointer’s blade free hand too and then taking a full length shaving of a three meter long beam.
Thank you for passing the knowledge to the next generation.
This is a sign of a real master.
What is it sitting on your sharpening station bench? It looks like it could be a cafe’ tray.
After 20 years of sharpening, starting with Krenov's hand-cranked wheel stone, then wet paper, followed by the Tormek machine, I finally landed here with Rob's method. I saw an earlier video by him about this method some time ago and followed his recommended way of sharpening. It is by far the quickest and best way of keeping your irons sharp. So easy and fast, that since then I do not let my irons (and I do a lot of planing; I don't even have a sander) get any dull. As soon as the iron does not cut anymore as fine as it could, just invest half a minute to sharpen like shown here, and planing the wood for all your furniture will be fun and a trademark of your work.
I've spent many many hours working on 150+ year old plane irons. I've picked up on many nuances and tricks in that time. However, this video is teaching me SO much more. Thank you, sir.
Without a doubt, the most useful tutorial I have ever seen for improving woodworking skills. Thanks Rob
Thanks stan. You should also subscribe to our free monthly newsletter, and check out out online membership videos. Links to both are in the description section.
I just today discovered and subscribed to your website. Thanks so much for your presentation and knowledge. Hmmm - 72 yrs old and continuing to discover why my dad did some of the things he did and tried to teach me. Wish now I had paid more attention. But I continue to learn. Thanks again !
I particularly appreciate showing all the "doing it again" parts and sticking with it. Shows integrity, teaches how to fix the problem and shows the reality of woodworking. When I get the money, I'm getting this plane.
I'm a carpenter and learned loads from watching Rob, Brilliant. Over many years I've developed my own muscle memory, but we can always learn. Many thanks, I really enjoy your videos
Good to hear and motivation to continue. Thank-you!
Rob this is absolutely the finest video for sharpening I've ever seen. I am fairly new to woodworking and watch a lot of videos on TH-cam and have never had someone explain so thoroughly so that even I can understand it. I'll always remember it .Thanks so much , Ben Clark
Seconded.
From my own experience two things were essential in making hand sharpening viable: (1) the sharpening station that is much lower than your std bench (my platform is 27" off the ground for my 5'10" frame) so your shoulders-to-hands orientation are in the same vertical plane (no pun intended); and (2) making sure your left and right hands are interlocked in some manner when sharpening. Without those two being set, hand sharpening was initially a very frustrating experience for me. Once I got the setup correct I was able to sharpen a skew block plane blade as my first trial with excellent results. It's now a very personally satisfying experience to be able to sharpen blades/chisels in that manner. If I did not have space for a dedicated station or something kept me from locking hands together, e.g. arthritis, then I would definitely be using a jig. Fortunately I currently (cross my fingers!) have neither of those two restrictions.
Rob you're a bloody genius! I've been woodworking 15 years and couldn't get the shaving you do after sharpening. So I bought the Trend and Shapton stones and added the sharpening station to the end of my work bench. After watching you video a million times I took a deep breath and had a go myself. I couldn't believe the results. I am now getting the same shavings that you get after my first attempt!! I don't mind admitting I danced around my workshop with a big smile on my face for a while. Thank you.
Don't be ashamed. I dance every time I use my planes now.
What a legendary woodworker and teacher. Thank you!
This guy is a great teacher. Probably one of the best I've seen on TH-cam.
it's really encouraging to see and hear someone speak about the "full body" ergonomics of seemingly small and simple tasks. Great tutorial - thank you.
Rob...thank you for the offer. I'll appreciate using it on the plane blades. I have some General and Starrett rulers but they are either too thin or thick or too short. You commented on one of your videos the thickness of the ruler you used in your teaching videos is .025. I carried to Lowe's recently my Verner caliper to mike out flat sheet metal and learned that hack saw blades are within a .001 of an inch of .025. I ground off all the saw teeth and was going to use that until your gracious offer was made.
I am a retired Industrial Arts Teacher, but you know something....there is always another method that has been learned and then taught in woodworking and the tools associated wiith the need. And as a teacher, you learn what know and practice from your former teachers or what you have experienced with your own failures and success.
I appreciate your videos and the things you are passing off to your students.
Thanks again Rob.
Excellent explanations as you go through your process, I appreciate you including the obstacles you encountered as you progressed through the sharpening of the new blade, and bringing everything together with the functionality you showed from your previous plane when you started the video. Your ability to teach as you work is very valuable rather than working, stopping, explaining, working, stopping, explaining, etc. this approach keeps the brain fully engaged and better focus throughout the demonstration process. I feel very confident now as I have learned why I need the various tools you used compared to how I have been “getting by” with my planes and then using my scraper to finish. Thank you immensely!
I watched whole thing bearly blinking my eyes. If i blink I rewind. This is b.a/phd/master degree/engineer of sharpening which bundeled together makes you Professor of sharpening at highiest University level. Thank you Rob
So satisfying to see and hear a thin ribbon of wood being shaved off. Nicely done. Time to step up my planing game. Thank you.
Absolute awesome detail. Much easier to learn from this man. He, unlike some others, does not try to cover up situations and explains the possibilities of reason for the plane blade to respond to the area of error.
Rob, further to some comments I made 11 days ago, I have a few more. Sharpening is, as you say, the foundation of any kind of accurate work. It is THE most important skill to master and yet there is more BS talked about this subject than possibly anything else on YT. 95% of what I watch is filled with errors and downright garbage.
I am really grateful for the time and effort you have devoted to this subject and you have provided some real insights into the basic, essential truths about sharpening.
1) Your comments about correct position (including height of the table) and posture are invaluable.
2) The need for a flat stone is frequently understated but is so important.
3) The need to cover as much of the stone as possible when working it.
4) You have provided a fast way to attain a fine edge, nobody wants to spend hours sharpening when they could be making things.
I imagine that many of your subscribers are, like me, part-time woodworkers. What you do here is great for the aspiring joiner and I truly admire your tenacious and uncompromising quest for excellence. I simply don't do enough sharpening to go freehand so I use a jig.
Being the skinflint that I am, I hate wasting money on "fad" purchases that will just sit in the cupboard, so I strop. This is not a subject for here but for the most part I get a superb polish with the exception of the tool edge, the most important bit! What you call the fluorescent light effect. (It's there on the sides of the bevel too). I can mitigate this by v gentle stropping on MDF or a very thin leather substrate. Be that as it may, you've talked me into buying a 6kHR!
Q1. Does the miniscule fluorescent tube effect matter on the sides of the primary bevel or the underside of the chisel?
Q.2. How can you be sure that flattening the 16k stone with the 300 diamond plate is not burying 300 grit diamonds into the highly expensive Shapton?
Something you might consider, I've bought a Plugable 250x microscope (£50/ Can$80) to learn where I'm going wrong, a great investment as I can take photos with it for reference as well.
Again, many thanks for your prodigious and generous contribution to the craft. Paul
I was just about to flattening a new plane blade, saw this and decided to watch for the heck of it. I wish someone told me this decades ago... Thanks!
You know , until I started to watch TH-cam videos here, last few yrs, I never flattened a back, other than a chisel , I just did the outer edge Bet the old timers 1-200 yrs ago never flattened a whole back, but they never had the net. I do like the way Rob shows how to hold the blade, That is my downfall, and stones on top of the bench, or in my case a sink table at 3 ft high.
Its a HUGE time saver
For someone new to working with wood I like how you cut to the chase from your experience. Your tutorial here is nothing short of excellent. Thank you Rob.
Incredibly helpful information! I have a cheap #4 bench plane that I've always gotten frustrated with, but I took the time to address the chip breaker and followed this technique for sharpening the blade...I was getting perfect shavings on highly figured red oak all weekend! I stopped getting tear-out, produced full thin ribbons, and it created square edges on my boards that actually broke the skin when I ran my hand along them.
Thanks for the lessons, Rob! These techniques will last a lifetime!
Big cheers from Kuwait 🇰🇼 you are a true master crafsman Rob and i just wanted you and whoever reading this comment to know that i have invested a lot in sharpening system / jigs i got the deluxe Varitas mk2 system and Lie Nielsen along with other Amazon products.. The problem with them is that they actually have a learning curve and they are absolutely not a time saving products you really have to set them up! So i decided to use your method and i got the gear that you have recommended 2 stones and some elbow grease and pew pew! English is not my native tongue language but you have explained the process in a way that maybe if your student was a donkey it will master the skill of hand sharpening in no time😅.. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge you are amazing man 🙏🏼👌🏼
So glad I found Rob. Looking forward to learning so much more.
I am from Srilanka. Excellent video. Pleasure to watch you woking. Carefully explained slowly step by step. Thank you so much.
Look forward for a chisel sharpening as well. Thanks
Wow!
That was most impressive.
Going to order your trainer just to pay you for that lesson in sharpening and the lesson in teaching.
Camera operator deserves a cold one, too.
As a trim carpenter / woodworker I love sharp tools. I started knife sharpening and making knives about 6 years ago and I must say I’ve learned an incredible amount of knowledge from your video. You should think about teaching these skills 😂. Kidding, you definitely have the skills and ability to teach in a way that definitely connects with my brain. Thanks so much. I started my comment right before the end so I might have missed it but do ya ever strop. Probably not after 16000. I don’t think my emulsions are that fine. 👏👏👏bravo
Watching Rob struggle with those thin shavings clinging on his hand and apron all through this video made me laugh so hard. Thank you Rob for this informative and funny video!
So many points regarding bevel up and down planes. Seems like the # 5 had many advantages. You certainly are a masters Woodcrafter !
Many thanks Rob, You really do possess a gift with your superb style of relatable and easy to follow teaching you were totally correct when you stated this would change the way you do woodwork it sure has. I just sharpened my Grandfathers Number 7 Stanley jointer following your methods and it cuts better than it probably has in Its entire history. BTW I estimate Its over a century old now to sharpen the Number 8C beast and the rest of the fleet. Our very hard native woods here challenge even the best blades. Best regards Alan Australia "Downunder"
I like how the shaving sticks to Rob’s hand cause it loves him so much
Wow. I love the fact you had to do this three times before perfecting it, because it is exactly what I would expect if I ever get to try this myself. It is comforting to see that it might take few trials even when you certainly know what the heck you are doing.
I love the fact that you repeat the process until the exact results are achieved. Demonstrating that the process works. And proving that the same exact result can be expect every time if you follow the process. It is obvious to me that you are Quite the Professional. Thank you.🇺🇸
Hi Rob, here is my experience. When I started sharpening I got a cheap jig and realized very quickly that it was awful. Then I decided to invest in a veritas MKII jig. While this definitely improved the sharpness of my plane and chisel blades, I found myself having to dedícate a significant amount of time to sharpen all my blades (Setting them properly on the jig). Some time later I came across your sharpening videos. I had the trend plate, but decided to invest in a Shapton 16000 glass. I struggled a bit a the beginning, Until it finally clicked. The thing that made the difference was all about the pressure I was applying. Once I eased off and just let the blade glide over the 1000 grit stone with just the slightest pressure I started getting amazing results. For the angle the way I went about it at the beginning, was to raise to the secondary bevel angle a few degrees on the 1000 grit, and then to the secondary angle on the 16000, and finally to the tertiary angle of the 16000 grit (this extra step gave me lots of extra practice identifying the secondary bevel angle) Now like you said, it takes about 1-1.5mins from the moment I remove the blade until I’m back to planing. Thank you so much for changing this aspect of woodworking for me. It has made such a huge impact on my enjoyment of using hand tools.
What a success story. Thanks for sharing, so others will see that it can be done.
Well took that journey!! To anyone who hasn’t started (and I will add the scary sharp system to my list of adventures) just go with freehand on the diamond plate and 16k!! If you stick with it I promise you will not regret!!
great story Juan Carlos - and GREAT tip about backing off on the pressure. That was hard for me to learn, but for sure, it made a huge difference.
One more thing I forgot to mention is that lowering the sharpening station is also a great help for consistency. Rocking back and forth on toe and heel keeps the angle locked down and helps tremendously in moving the blade to use the entire stone as not to wear a single area.
Number one best video EVER in all respects. Camera man was ON POINT. Man, you're amazing. THANK YOU!!
Absolutely fantastic tutorial. I might even start using hand tools again. Thank you.
As a Fitter, machinist/Toolmaker, i can totally appreciate all the cutting angle geometyry diascussed Rob, however i still can not cut tight dovetails for the life of me, you have a real skill and it is beautiful to watch! keep it up.
With hand tools that is, the milling machine works ok... hahaha
I've been using Rob's technique for a year now and it's a real time saver and a game changer. I think it's the best method for sharpening a plane blade because when you master this, your arms become the best jig given by nature. I admire Rob's approach of woodworking as a R&D lab. Great buying tips, i bought a CBN grinding wheal too and it also changed my life, no risk of burning expansive tools. Thank you for all you've done for us, greatings from France and i will defenitly buy one of your saws when my wallet agrees.
Bonjour! Thanks. You will love a saw. Make sure you have signed up for our free newsletter. There is a link in the description and you should also look at my online workshop see links in the description
This is a gem of a video. Between you and Paul Sellers you have covered just about everything.
I have invested in a Trend 300/1000 diamond plate and broke it in on a seriously thin, old Naniwa Chosera 400 stone using the Trend lapping fluid for lubrication. I found that the Trend plate went dark near each end with a wider dark strip parallel across the middle. I suspect that the diamond coating was applied on a rolled plate which had not been finish ground. Also, once completely flat and washing in water, the green Chosera 400 twinkled all over with tiny diamond fragments, which I expected. In all, I spent about 4 or 5 minutes gently flattening the Chosera.
I hope this doesn't irritate you but one technique that Paul Sellers uses to flatten convex blade irons is to lay it on the bench, convex side up and twat it hard with a heavy soft-faced hammer. It works!
Every now and again I chance upon a treasure of a channel. Yours is one such, Rob. Thank you for enriching us all. Paul
Really Excellent Rob. Its great to hear from a true and dedicated professional with an obvious wealth of perfection targeting experience. I learned this in school over 40 years ago (with those old Stanley planes), but never mastered it, or properly understood it. I do now. You just made my day. Thanks for sharing.
Schaun
That is the best demonstration on how to sharpen I have seen on youtube so far and have watched alot of them. Thanks so very much.
Rob, great video.
As a professional straight razor restorer and honer we hone razor edges to a much higher level. We often see the same edge issues with new razors and ones that have had a lot of the edge removed as in chip repair. The edge will test fine, (thumb nail test) but will micro chip when put under stress of use or on a straight razor, stropping.
I suspect this is caused because the edge is weakened during the angle grinding process, (overheated) by aggressive grinding, or edge impact damage beneath the chip. Once a bit more steel is removed, (it does not take much) and good solid steel is reached, the edge will hold,
Also, be careful recommending the use of dish soap, it can damage, (pit) the binder of some stones, particularly Naniwia and Norton. I believe Norton recommends against it. I have never had an issue with Shapton stones and soap.
Additionally, a micro bevel will make a stronger, longer lasting edge, and boost performance.
I agree with your assessment on the likely cause of the fractures. I recommend Shapton and have never had issue with the soap trick ,
Increasing the angle of the entire bevel produces the same gain in durability, it’s nothing special about the microbevel. They don’t change the performance other than making sharpening quicker (or more difficult and less precise, depending on who you ask).
Doesn't miss a beat! I love to see a master working his craft, even if it's just teaching routine tasks
So Today I received my Sharpening kit from You and followed the steps on this video . This set up is a game changer and worth every penny I spent . Thanks so much for making my wood working even more enjoyable .
Jim Pittner
I know this video is old but after watching it for the third time I have to say, Rob you are a natural born teacher. You explain everything so completely starting from the beginning and finishing with the end. You don’t mix up the middle and go back to the beginning confusing people by bouncing back to the end. You talk about the process in a clear and concise manner. I’m so glad there are people like you that don’t mind sharing their experiences instead of acting like it’s a secret club which would do nothing but hold back the hobby and profession. I guess I’m just saying I’d like to give you a pat on the back because you deserve it for all the help and information you’ve shared over the years. Thank you.
Thanks I feel obligated to pass on what my teachers gave to me
28:20 Amazingly, the shavings you got from after your first unsatisfactory sharpening are about 5 times better than those I currently get. I'm looking forward to trying your sharpening techniques in the coming weekends. Thank you!!!
The best thing a teacher can say is, don’t give up. Thank you sir.
My goodness that was terribly thorough!! Great tutorial, thx.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Rob thanks for the clear instructions on how to set up the 5 1/2 and the Block Plane. Worked great for me! Much appreciated from Cape Cod.
Just wondering how you prep the chip breaker on the older plane, with the slight hump?
Same way...The blade and chip breaker must match perfectly...no light between them
I started watching Rob when his hair was black, long and he didn't wear glasses. Good teacher. I've watched hundreds of sharpening videos - many ways to skin the cat. One thing is for sure...for hundreds of years there were no fancy sharpening stones or angle gizmos - just craftsmen who developed real skills. The proof is in their work which still astounds. Still, modern goodies have their place for those of us who do not have the time to develop- such skills. One thing is for certain, the sound of a finely sharpened plane on a piece of wood is music to the ears.
just something i found to be helpful while using the ''Charlesworth" ruler trick. while holding the blade in the three finger position, use the bottom of your palm to help push the blade through each stroke. in the beginning, it was hard to control the motion with just using my fingers. thanks rob. i enjoy watching and learning from you. i appreciate woodworking so much more!!!!
Hey thats a great tip
Rob. I saw you in Ottawa some long time ago when we had a woodworking show. I was already very impressed with the way you communicate. But now. wow the clear description of tools, tecknique, reason why etc... you are way ahead.
Just bought my first hand plane so this is a great video for us newbies!! Question...what is the thickness of the steel rule you use to give a little angle when doing your first pass on the 1000 grit??
Here is the link for the ruler he had made for this purpose
robcosman.com/collections/sharpening/products/pec-sharpening-rule
Rob. Forgive the wordiness, but I have to write to say THANK YOU! I am a beginning wood worker (3 years). My first major plane purchase was a Lie Neilsen low-angle jack plane, which I have been using infrequently right out of box. It was time for a sharpening. I watched your presentation two times, then applied everything I learned from standing to sharpening.
Long-story-short, my plane works like a dream. I can't believe how even and thin the shavings are. Amazing. I taught high school art and computer for 25 years; I recognize a good teacher. You are one! Thank you for posting and sharing your knowledge. Much appreciated. I'm super excited to get started on my next project: two night stands for the guest bed room. THANK YOU!
After years of using one jig or another, I am finally getting into your method of hand sharpening. Getting better, got some to go. Thanks for this tutorial, and for keeping in the pieces where it didn't work perfectly the first time. It's always nice to know even the best can have a bit of trouble sometimes.
Also, I've got to mention it's so nice to see someone constantly give credit where it's due. So many videos out there showing David C.'s ruler trick without mentioning where it came from. You always mention his name every single time, as it should be. (I don't know Mr.' Charlesworth, I just like to see when someone gets credit for their work.)
He comments here every now and then so chances are he will see, read , and thank you for your comment!. Keep at it, one day soon it will all pop into place
As with polishing platinum the right way is exquisite, the wrong way telegraphs all your previous missteps,thank you this was truly priceless,potentially life changing!
Amazing. I've been hand sharpening for 50 years yet I have now seen the light... Next time in shop I'm going to resharpen all my blades..
😀
Working my first plane,
Going to apply these techniques in the morning. Chip breaker doesn’t make proper contact and now I know how to fix it. :)
He speaks so well. Ive been listening for one break in his speech, or a studder, and there isnt one.
3:16
@@bertramkjrcarlsen409 just a glitch due to upload. He's a god and beyond reproach, so your reply is blasphemy
Hi there Rob, It’s taken a long time to get your sharpening system to work properly. I have invested in the Shapton 16,000 grit stone and also bought the 300 and thousand grit diamond stone. I have in my box of tricks, a steel ruler, so I can use the Charlesworth trick. In my case, it all boiled down to patience and getting the various steps into the right order. It helps to feel and understand what you are doing, as well. So , finally, I am happy and have that strong sense of achievement. Thanks Rob for your help and the professional way you teach. Best regards from John Baker from Australia. Ps please pass on to Jake my apologies for being a little sharp with him. Put in down to the fact that I am 74. That means that I am old and sometimes , grumpy.
Thanks Rob, love watching these “how to videos “
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For years I was very frustrated by hand planes. I never could get them to work the way they were supposed to. Then I purchased a set of stones from Rob, studied his videos, and practiced (both the sharpening and the tuning) and it totally changed everything. Now, planing is a pleasure! If you're a serious woodworker, this is the way to up your game. Buy Rob's stuff, and follow his teachings. You will not be disappointed.
I’m simply aw’d by Rob’s video on sharpening chisel’s and planer blades. The difference between his method and what I was doing is like the difference between day and night.
I adopted this method. Just by listening to Rob's advices and trying a few times, sharpen a plane blade became easy. This allows me to go straight to my sharpening station every time I'm not satisfied how my plane runs on lumber. And I can see the results, it's worth.
Super testimonial. Make sure you sign up for our free monthly newsletter. There is a link in the description
The shavings are so thin, Rob keeps fighting to get them off of his hand, makes me laugh every time :D
I need some cling free!
Reminds me of my cat stepping on a piece of tape at Christmas time.
Its his magnetic personality, ifinity to wood.
@@barrydoxseyuk affinity I believe
I was about to same comment then got yours 😊 😊 😊
Thank you so much I am so happy to find someone who does this freehand, I hit my blade against a buried nail in a piece of wood someone gave me broke a crescent moon shaped piece off the center of the blade had to grind it down so this helps a lot 😊
Remember the Star Trek episode where Data plays poker with Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein where they bantered about physics and space/time? Wouldn't it be cool if there was a similar one of Rob Cosman, Paul Sellers, David Charlesworth, Alan Peters, and other elite woodworkers and they banter about sharpening and wood working techniques?
I will tel COL Luther to make it happen!
Tell COL Luther to "make it so".
A few years ago, I attended the European woodwork exhibition. David Charlesworth handed me a Lie Nielsen block plan that he had sharpened and set. Then put a piece of oak that he had taken the back edge of, into a vice, to plane the end
grain. He then stood back chatting with Thomas Lie Nielsen. How that plan cut become a goal. With the correct settings it bocome controllable.
What Rob is doing is spreading his knowlege and helping a very very worthy cause. I know of one who couldn't see his way through the Covid time and took his own life. We need more people like Rob and his family.
My wish is to meet Rob some day.
I watched 4 videos before this one. I was dreading the 40 minute video but absolutely worth it!! Thought the title was funny given the length of the video. I love the way you showed how to verify the process
When I did woodwork at school you got your arse kicked if you put the plane face down on the bench. Rules are funny things, some people keep to them, some people break them and others say they don't matter. Them Brothers taught me other things too, like honesty, respect, dedication and tolerance. When I think about it ....they never taught me anything that wasn't useful or relevant .................except perhaps differential calculus.
Stavros
Steve, I was just wondering how to word this.,dad would give me hell if he found one of his planes upright on a bench, I've watched so many highly skilled craftsmen who don't lay a plane on its side that I eventually decided it was just another way of his to have a go at me. Thanks for your comment .
Thank you Rob. I purchased a new plane iron recently and was putting off using it because I knew I’d probably spend hours getting the back ground flat. Having watched this video last night, I spent less than 20 minutes putting it to work today. First time sharpening by hand, room for improvement. Defiantly the way forward.
Thanks again.
And here I was thinking "I know how to sharpen..." No. I didn't.
Thanks Rob. I do now.
Fantastic Tutor, explained and demonstrated perfectly. No guess work required. Thank you.
I've been trying to work your method with the equipment I already own with limited success. I finally broke down and purchased the Shapton 16000 and wouldn't you know, three blades in a row with 0.001" shavings. What a blast! I finally get the type of shavings I've been watching you get for years. Thank you Mr. Cosman!
Nice to see your technique, you are certainly getting some great results 👍
I tried Rob's sharpening method . I had to adapt to my plates diamond 400,1200 , 3000 followed by leather strop . Even with my equipment the results were astronomical . Straight onto figured maple that came out silky after no time at all .
Thanks Rob .
I’m a complete noob when it comes to sharpening. I bought a Hock blade for my Stanley #4. Took me a little long to get the back flat but once it was it was fast sharpening after that. No honing guide and never will use again. Sharpened perfectly!!! Great video
Damn. Been sharpening for over 30 years and this is a game changer. Will be trying it tomorrow. Sure hope it works. I'll be saving so much time especially when it comes to prepping a new blade.
I just received my Trend and Shapton stones from Rob's online store and putting the sharpening station down low like he has his in this video is THE TRICK to getting this down. Pivot on your feet vs elbow, and wrists. That part is so important. Thank you Rob, for all the instruction and your work with the PHP. Your youtube channel has been a blessing for me in this crazy world we are now living in.
Best advice in the video... If it doesn't work the first or second time, Just keep trying. It's taken me time to learn to just keep trying until things come out right. I notice it takes me fewer and fewer tries as I repeat the processes.
Excellent tutorial, easy to follow and very logical. I love the idea that you you don't have to flatten the whole back of blade. Thankyou from UK.
Your guidance is so clearly stated, I have learned more from the video than any of my previous sharpening videos.
Hi Rob, long time subscriber, first time commenter. I have got to be sharpening my plane blades wrong because i swear I have been at it today for six hours, not 32 seconds. I have quality Norton wet stones I keep flat with a diamond lapping stone. Finally this morning I was able to get one good face thanks to 120 grit sand paper. but I am stuck on the 220 grit stone trying in vain to get the edges of the blade. I am still a Padowan Learner making more sawdust than actual boxes but I am getting better. My sharpening skills are still growing.
I gave up on my Nortons in 2006. Don’t cut the steel fast enough and they hollow up too quickly. Speed of cut allows you to do the job while your ability to hold the angle freehand is still intact! That is the “32 second” answer!
I don't even own a hand planer and have watched thw full eight minutes. Great stuff and told in a way that cough my attention and kept hold of it all the way through. Big thumbs up and I'll remeber where to come for advice once I've bought myself a nice planer.
Thank you for the amazing video. Looks like you've gone from hundreds a year to nearly half a million students.
I have used Rob's sharpening technique for years. I can actually plane stain off of plywood veneer without removing the veneer. Thanks Rob.
Sounds like you git it. Good job
Just did this for the first time. It works so well and has immediately improved my enjoyment using the plane and the results. Thank you, Rob! What a fantastic video!
I have never seen ANYBODY mention the point I am about to make . I use Rob's method and there is also an important added bonus to doing it HIS way.You are able to change the cutting angle to a steeper cut on ANY blade with the bare minimum of effort . This is particularly useful in the case of real tangle grain wood ,as we all know a steeper cut angle results in less or no tearout. BRAVO to you ROB.
Great point......
Watching this level of skill effortlessly executed is amazing!
This is a nearly foolproof way to make your plane work like a champ, I love the style of teaching and the results afterward, Thanks Rob!!!
Thank you Rob. First of all I am a 12 year Marine and want to thank you for what you do for our wounded warriors. Secondly, I was having a hard time sharpening free hand until I watched this about 3 or 4 times and copied you techniques and how you hold the iron and place your fingers now I am getting fantastic shaving and I am delighted so thank you for your instruction. You are a detailed and easy to learn from teacher and thank you.
Sounds like you are getting the hang of it. Where are you stationed? Any chance you are in the san diego area? Luther is down there for the summer and he is doing some free classes. If you are contact him at 253-3814113