Sharpening your chisels

[jussi]

What type of stone,grinder,oils, etc do you use to sharpen your chisels. Is there a special technique you use? Maybe a link that has detailed info? I'm still researching what type of chisels I want. Currently I only have some cheapo set from HF.

[Slik Geek]

A recent thread touched on some items that may be of interest:

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=26118

[jackellis]

I'm not quite ready to buy a good set of chisels but I've sharpened up some Stanleys and some cats and dogs acquired at garage sales using the Scary Sharp method with sandpaper. It's drop-dead easy and I get results I can live with.

I've ruled out waterstones because having to true them periodically seems like too much effort. I might look into oil stones at some point but for the moment, I'm satisfied.

[bthere]

I use both the Scary Sharp method and water stones. I actually like the water stone finsih better than the sandpaper method, but get good results from either. For me, the Veritas MKII honing guide makes the job much easier and more precise.

[Slik Geek]

...using the Scary Sharp method with sandpaper. It's drop-dead easy and I get results I can live with.

I've ruled out waterstones because having to true them periodically seems like too much effort.

I initially steered away from waterstones for that reason too. I have waterstones now and the truing only takes a few moments while I'm cleaning up. I like not having to burn through sandpaper so waterstones are my primary sharpening technique now.

[jonathan55]

I don't want to hijack the thread but could someone clarify "true them up" for me? I'm a new water stone user.

[bthere]

I don't want to hijack the thread but could someone clarify "true them up" for me? I'm a new water stone user.

As you use the waterstones they tend to get a little concave and may get other irregularities since you don't use the surface evenly. If the stone isn't pretty flat, then you can't get a true straight edge on your blade (assuming it is a straight blade).

There are several ways to true them up, or get them flat again. The first step is to scribble across the surface of the stone with a soft crayon or eqivalent. You want to be careful if you use a pencil since it can gouge the surface on some stones.

Then you use your favorite method of flattening the stone. There are special stones that are sold to do this job. You just take the wet stone and rub the flattening stone across, keeping it flat. You check periodically to make sure that all of your scribble has been abraded off.

One guy I know uses a concrete block. He has this sitting on a shelf at his sharpening station. He takes his wet stone and rubs lightly on the block.

The method I like is to use wet/dry sandpaper on a flat surface (I have some marble slab pieces that I use for a flat surface). Rub the stone on the sandpaper until the surface is flat. I use a fairly coarse grit sandpaper and I think it still leaves a very fine, flat surface.

HTH

[drumpriest]

I used to use sandpaper, now I'm mostly using diamond stones. Got some at a good price at costco, believe it or not.

Any of the methods work, and each has advantages and drawbacks.

[scorrpio]

I have MKII honing guide from LV, and a sharpening kit from Hartville. I use a mild steel lapping plate and various grits fo lap the back and I have a 1000/6000 waterstone for fine honing. Works well for me - sharpening both plane irons and chisels.

[BrazosJake]

Scary Sharp, using a big piece of corian. It's as cheap as you can get and a great way to get started for minimal investment until you find out if you like this whole WW thing or not.

I'm thinking of investing in a Surgical Black or Translucent Arkansas bench stone as I am get tired of fiddling with the paper.