Sharpening Chisel and Planes

[Ken Darga]

What methods do you use to sharpen your Chisels and Planes?

Manual?

Power equipment?

[James P. Cottingham]

Here are my two cents worth since you asked. There are several things that I like about the Tormek. It's water-cooled so I don't have to worry about getting whatever I sharpen too hot. Blades that get hot loose their temper and will dull more quickly. That's the things I dislike about grinding wheels.

It has a powerful motor. If I need to press very hard on the blade I'm sharpening without worrying about stopping the motor.

I can sharpen all kinds and sizes of blades, from axes to adzes to knives to turning gouges. I've not run into anything too small or too large, yet.

There are numerous jigs available plus I've even found plans to make more. New Yankee Workshop has a set of great plans to make an sharpening station for the Tormek.

There is a built-in leather honing wheel.

The biggest downside is the wheel eventually wears away just like all sharpening stones do. As it does, you need to make some adjustments to your sharpening angles but the tools to do this are provided. Eventually you have to replace the wheel but that is true for parts for all kinds of sharpening equipment.

See Sharp Tool USA for more info. Jet also makes a sharpening tool similar to the Tormek but most I've talked to say the motor is not a powerful as the Tormek's.