This thread is fascinating.

quote:

Originally posted by Veeper:
This thread is fascinating.

These products are fascinating. See the roller wheel behind the blades?

Sandpaper while economical will actually be the most expensive method of sharpening. Diamond stones would be most economical among the sandpaper and water stone.

Everything else being the same, water stones will give a finer edge than diamond stones.

I find that to get the edge very sharp, you need the lightest of touch at the very end of the process. If you think about it, the smoothest you can get the bevel is only as smooth as the surface of the stone. But the surface of the stone is still rough, otherwise, how can it remove the steel? So the technique is you're just kissing the stone with the bevel to knock off the roughness, hanging particles, wire edges, burrs, etc. off the edge. too much pressure at the final stage is deforming the edge making it less sharp.

Then more light kissing stropping of the blade against a good strop. I found Knives Plus Strop for $29 to be very good.

My chisels double as prybars

quote:

How can I make my chisels sharper than razors, without taking them to a pro?

I have been tasked with teaching basic wood technology as well as the technical drawing classes that I teach. I learned straight away that I needed a quick and efficient way to maintain (and repair) chisels and plane irons. This video was the answer. Once you get your edges right, it takes no time at all to maintain them.



ETA: I requisitioned a set of diamond sharpening plates and they work well for repair work and everyday use. However, when I need a REALLY sharp edge I use the plate glass and sandpaper method as well as the leather strop.

quote:

Everything else being the same, water stones will give a finer edge than diamond stones.

The issue I ran into with stones was that they don't remain flat. I mean, for the amount of sharpening I have to do. If you have one at home but don't sharpen 120 chisels and 60 plane irons almost daily then it might be a while before you have to lap your stone. It was only a matter of weeks for me. The plate glass and sandpaper is well worth the extra costs for my shop.

Very informative! Thanks, parallel.

And I learned a new word ... cods·wal·lop - ˈkädzˌwäləp - noun BRITISH informal - nonsense.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodman:
How can I make my chisels sharper than razors, without taking them to a pro?

Are you looking to shave your arm hair, or cut wood? Cutting wood was always my "standard".
 

 

6000 grit paper on a glass plate.
Puts a mirror finish on blades. Cuts end grain like butter.

quote:

Originally posted by parallel:

quote:

Everything else being the same, water stones will give a finer edge than diamond stones.

The issue I ran into with stones was that they don't remain flat. I mean, for the amount of sharpening I have to do. If you have one at home but don't sharpen 120 chisels and 60 plane irons almost daily then it might be a while before you have to lap your stone. It was only a matter of weeks for me. The plate glass and sandpaper is well worth the extra costs for my shop.

This. Plus, I work in production. I go through Xacto's like toilet paper. This is a desperation move for me, trying to touch these damn things up.

It's a granite tile, spray adhesive and whatever grit sandpaper you need until the task is done and then the next guy is using it for something else. Expensive and repeatable have a balance in my realm, and for how much of my day I spend touching up Xacto's vs much more important tasks, my boss would laugh me back to my bench if I asked them to buy me a stone set. A few packets of sandpaper over a few year's time never pissed off the bean counters at work, so I guess I'm good with that.

quote:

Originally posted by henryaz:
Are you looking to shave your arm hair, or cut wood? Cutting wood was always my "standard".

While I like to be ready for any contingency ... there is always the emergency appendectomy or tracheotomy to consider. At this time, cutting through the end grain of a 9.5mm boxwood peg like I'm preparing wafer-thin slices of ginger root for tea. Possibly maple pegs down the road.

International Violin wants $8 for a single 2˚ maple fingerboard shim ... that's the next project. Pay the $8 or make one. 32mm x 125mm, from zero thickness to 2.5mm. Interestingly enough, according to the Taper & Angle Calculator found at http://www.magafor.com/841/uk.htm it is exactly 2˚, which is a stock item at I.V.

quote:

6000 grit paper on a glass plate.

Bet Hagstoz has that.