Sharpening Chisel and Planes

[Ken Darga]

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

Manual?

Power equipment?

[John Schaben]

Hi Ken - I seem to be somewhat challenged in the sharpening department. Even using jigs and holders I always seem to end up with a couple of different bevels. Finally gave up and bought a WorkSharp 3000, one of my better acquisitions.

[James P. Cottingham]

I bought a Tormek several years ago. Expensive but never regretted it. Lots of jigs available for it, too.

[Hugh Clare]

Ken,

I bought the Work Sharp 3000, as well. Added the leather hone and my chisels are now scary sharp. Liked it so well that I bought the knife/scissor sharpener.

[John Schaben]

hehehe,, did exactly the same thing; got the Worksharp and the leather wheel, 3 weeks later ordered the knife/scissor deal.... Downside of that thing is it's so much fun to use I wanted to start buying knives at the Goodwill just so I could play with it.

Hugh Clare said:

Ken,

I bought the Work Sharp 3000, as well. Added the leather hone and my chisels are now scary sharp. Liked it so well that I bought the knife/scissor sharpener.

[Rick]

I use the Rockler method. 

They have done my chisels, planes, and table saw blades.

[John Schaben]

That's fine if they're in the neighborhood. My closest Rockler retail store is 365 miles one way. Fine for saw blades as I keep quality backups so I haven't got sharpening down time there. Planes and chisels are another story as they need at least a touch up regularly.

Rick said:

I use the Rockler method. 

They have done my chisels, planes, and table saw blades.

[Ken Darga]

John,

Nice sharpening tool.

John Schaben said:

>>>..... bought a WorkSharp 3000, one of my better acquisitions./p>

[Ken Darga]

Hugh,

Great sharpening machines.

Hugh Clare said:

Ken,

I bought the Work Sharp 3000, as well. Added the leather hone and my chisels are now scary sharp. Liked it so well that I bought the knife/scissor sharpener.

[Ken Darga]

Anyone use the ''scary sharp'' system?

[Ken Darga]

Anyone ''strop'' their tools after honing?

[James P. Cottingham]

Yes. I always use the Tormek's leather wheel to remove the burrs off the edge of whatever I've sharpened. I probably don't "strop" the edge enough but once the burrs are off, the edge is very sharp.

On a side note, I work for a veneer mill. We cut hardwood trees into thin slices about 1/2 millimeter thick and sell the veneer to furniture companies around the world. We have 14' long knives that cut the veneer off the logs. We use both a sharpening machine and a honer. The honer has a microscope to see the edge.  If you put a new razor blade under the microscope, it looks like a profile of the Rocky Mountains. This honer get the edge completely smooth on the 14' blades. I've seen some serious injuries from people just touching one. Now that's "scary sharp!"

[Ken Darga]

James,

What's the advantage of the Tormek vs other powered sharpeners?

James P. Cottingham said:

I bought a Tormek several years ago. Expensive but never regretted it. Lots of jigs available for it, too.