which sharpening system for chisels and plane irons
- Thread starter dazzer
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Jesse Cloud
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Welcome to the forum Dazzer!
I think I have gone through just about every sharpening system marketed. Used to have a Tormek. I have the Worksharp now. Not particularly happy with either, though either will produce moderately sharp chisels and plane irons.
My own theory is that the best system is the one you will actually use. The Tormek, or any water cooled system, takes a good deal of setup and cleanup, so I wouldn't use it often and let my tools grown duller than I should have. The worksharp is somewhat less trouble on the setup end and much less on cleanup, so I use it more often, but still not as often as I should.
Actually, my favorite 'system' is simply sandpaper adhering to a piece of glass or other flat material. Its something I can leave out and use quickly. With this I find that I will hone a blade as soon as it starts to dull, which overall makes for much less work and happier woodworking. Its also quite cheap.
You can find some excellent videos on the Lie Nielson You Tube area. Including a jig for setting your honing guide.
Hope this helps.
I think I have gone through just about every sharpening system marketed. Used to have a Tormek. I have the Worksharp now. Not particularly happy with either, though either will produce moderately sharp chisels and plane irons.
My own theory is that the best system is the one you will actually use. The Tormek, or any water cooled system, takes a good deal of setup and cleanup, so I wouldn't use it often and let my tools grown duller than I should have. The worksharp is somewhat less trouble on the setup end and much less on cleanup, so I use it more often, but still not as often as I should.
Actually, my favorite 'system' is simply sandpaper adhering to a piece of glass or other flat material. Its something I can leave out and use quickly. With this I find that I will hone a blade as soon as it starts to dull, which overall makes for much less work and happier woodworking. Its also quite cheap.
You can find some excellent videos on the Lie Nielson You Tube area. Including a jig for setting your honing guide.
Hope this helps.
Dazzer,
I can't comment on the tormek or worksharp systems. Bridge City can be reached at http://www.bridgecitytools.com . In their sharpening section you will find the honing guide.
Jesse has mentioned the Lie-Nielsen You Tube area as a great source of information. Woodworking/Popular Woodworking blog has a lot of material on sharpening, as well. http://blog.woodworking-magazine.com/blog
In addition to the Eclipse type honing guide, you might also want to investigate the Veritas guide, as well as the Richard Kell honing guide. Both are highly regarded, and priced more competitively than Bridge City.
For more on honing guides, check http://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/Understand_Honing_Guides .
Hope this helps.
Richard
I can't comment on the tormek or worksharp systems. Bridge City can be reached at http://www.bridgecitytools.com . In their sharpening section you will find the honing guide.
Jesse has mentioned the Lie-Nielsen You Tube area as a great source of information. Woodworking/Popular Woodworking blog has a lot of material on sharpening, as well. http://blog.woodworking-magazine.com/blog
In addition to the Eclipse type honing guide, you might also want to investigate the Veritas guide, as well as the Richard Kell honing guide. Both are highly regarded, and priced more competitively than Bridge City.
For more on honing guides, check http://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/Understand_Honing_Guides .
Hope this helps.
Richard
Notorious T.O.D.
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I too have used about everything over the years and find I like course, medium and fine diamond stones/plates and if I really need the ultra fine finish off with waterstones at 6000 or 8000 or perhaps some diamond paste. The diamonds cut fast are easy to clean and maintain, travel easily if needed and produce a fine edge for most work. Carving tools need to be buffed with fine compund to get utimate sharpness and truning tools can be quickly ground or done with a medium diamond for most work.
I have a Tormek and find it a chore to set up with the water and all and somewhat slow and messy, but it can do a good job. Did some 8" jointer knives on it and it did a nice job but took about 2 hours to finish 3 knives...pretty slow. Waterstones seem to always need to be flattened which is one of their disadvantages aside from the water mess and getting it all over your hands unless you wear gloves.
Sandpaper is amazingly effective and also inexpensive...but I'll stick with the diamonds...
Best,
Todd
I have a Tormek and find it a chore to set up with the water and all and somewhat slow and messy, but it can do a good job. Did some 8" jointer knives on it and it did a nice job but took about 2 hours to finish 3 knives...pretty slow. Waterstones seem to always need to be flattened which is one of their disadvantages aside from the water mess and getting it all over your hands unless you wear gloves.
Sandpaper is amazingly effective and also inexpensive...but I'll stick with the diamonds...
Best,
Todd
Count me in with the Worksharp 3000. It is easy to setup and use. Also because it is dry, the operation and cleanup is relatively easy. Instructions are great. Accessories and replacement abrasives are readily available. Very effective on flattening the back of planes and chisels. Also very easy to establish a secondary bevel.
Jerry Work also has an excellent (as usual) supplemental manual that is available online.
I noted that Woodcraft now offers diamond honing wheels. I have not tried them because they are somewhat expensive.
Neill
Jerry Work also has an excellent (as usual) supplemental manual that is available online.
I noted that Woodcraft now offers diamond honing wheels. I have not tried them because they are somewhat expensive.
Neill
I use the Veritas MKII Power Sharpening System ( http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=48435&cat=1,43072 ) and find it very easy while producing great results with a minimum of a mess (sharpening is messy no matter what, but water makes it even worse). I can have any plane blade or chisel sharpened within a couple of minutes - literally.
Loren Hedahl
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- Jan 16, 2007
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- 160
I bought a Tormek used from a woodworking neighbor a number of years ago who was going to another system. Since then I have purchased several more jigs for it so it will do more than basic knife, chisel, plane sharpening.
Since the Tormek puts a radius grind, I then hone the edges of chisel and planes between times with a Veritas guide on a diamond plate. I've studied most of the other systems available and while they may 'shine' a bit better on certain jobs, I am satisfied with the Tormek.
When we travel, I often bring it along and if we park our trailer in a relative or friends yard for a night or two, I sharpen all the knives and scissors in the household. I've been known to put a "free knife sharpening" sign in front of my camper at a campground. It is a great way to meet nice people from all over the country. People don't forget our encounter and appreciate sharp knives. In fact some have never used a sharp knife before!
For that use, I think the Tormek has better "WOW" factor than other systems with its slow turning water wheel!
Since the Tormek puts a radius grind, I then hone the edges of chisel and planes between times with a Veritas guide on a diamond plate. I've studied most of the other systems available and while they may 'shine' a bit better on certain jobs, I am satisfied with the Tormek.
When we travel, I often bring it along and if we park our trailer in a relative or friends yard for a night or two, I sharpen all the knives and scissors in the household. I've been known to put a "free knife sharpening" sign in front of my camper at a campground. It is a great way to meet nice people from all over the country. People don't forget our encounter and appreciate sharp knives. In fact some have never used a sharp knife before!
For that use, I think the Tormek has better "WOW" factor than other systems with its slow turning water wheel!
nice one guys been mulling over all your comments,thanks for taking time out on this subject,sounds like the tormeck is good allthough time consuming,sandpaper grits on a flat surface sounds really good,i personally have been using a belt sander,and diamond stones,think i need a coarse stone to help me after the belt sander,along with a honing guide,really like the simplicity of the bridge city,regardless of the price,but dont no where to get one in the u k.any ideas guys?
dazzer said:
I believe that Bridge City ships world wide. http://www.bridgecitytools.com/Products/Sharpening/HG-1+Honing+Guide
EDIT: I'm sure that they do -- they say that at the top of honing guide page.
