Sharpening with sandpaper

[jp_spins]

What grit of sandpaper do you use when sharpening chisels and hand plane blades? Also is it better to use it dry or use honing oil?

[tejensen]

As with any "sanding" project you start with course and work down to finer grits. I guess the first question you need to answer is how bad is the edge? If it needs a touch up, I start with 220 and work up to 2000. It doesn't take long at each grit unless you are trying to take out large nicks. I do it all dry, no oil or water and it works fine. I use a piece of 1/4" thick glass with the edges duct taped for safety as a backer.

I have seen one set up with a big piece of glass and multiple pieces of sandpaper taped to it. It is convienient but a little harder to store.

[Ken Massingale]

Google for Scary Sharp. More than you want to know.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Google for Scary Sharp. More than you want to know.

And a pretty funny read as well . . .

[gsmittle]

What grit of sandpaper do you use when sharpening chisels and hand plane blades? Also is it better to use it dry or use honing oil?

I usually start with 220 with a new chisel/bad plane iron, etc. and work up to 4000. I use water sometimes, especially with coarse grits. Once I get things sharp, I usually do maintenance sharpening starting at about 800 and working up. I have a granite slab from Wood Craft I use as the reference surface.

g.

[jp_spins]

Thanks for the input, I bought a couple marble tiles from HD and ordered a honing guide from Holbren and a sample pack of sandpaper from here

http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/M...egory_Code=THS