Sharpening Chisels etc.

[SARGE..g-47]

Morning Anna...

"I'm kinda blushing because I ordered this earlier today. I just ordered my new planes, and I am worried about sharpening. I watched the video and saw how easy it looked. Figured it's probably worth it to short-circuit the sharpening learning curve. Just in case it's not obvious, I'm a complete noob at sharpening".... Anna
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As an advocate of the ease of "scary sharp", this Work Sharp 3000 is a clever idea that eliminates a jig if you don't feel you have the feel for free-handing without one. I think it will be a definite plus cutting time on bench chisels.. turning chisels and smaller planes as block and medium shoulder.

But... I noticed you ordered some planes from your statement. The backs are going to have to be hand held on the WS to flatten them as demo'ed in the video. And what they didn't mention is the fact that most bench planes (#3-#8) has blades that exceed the 2" maximum that the angle jig built onto the WS can handle.

So... if you ordered hand planes other than block, shoulder and speciality you are going to need a tempered glass to do the bevels on them along with the backs. I would like to ask the WS people "why" they only engineered the bevel guide for a maximum of 2" and not say 2 1/2" which would take care of bench planes also as my biggest time consumer when sharpening comes from these.

Great idea that fell about 20% short of brillant by someone not traveling that extra mile of thought, IMO. I would consider one of these.. but guess I will stick to tempered glass as my greatest needs comes from those bench planes since I don't turn.

Regards and enjoy....

[Anna]

Sarge, I think the bar on top is supposed to be used for free-hand sharpening.

I also thought the 2" maximum was disappointing. I think the jack plane I ordered has a 2 1/4" iron, so I'll have to use the free-hand method. Still beats having to move the plane iron over sandpaper, though. I've tried the MKII-plus-wetstones method once, and it took me forever to get a good edge off a new chisel. I wasn't even going to try the old rusty ones.

Okay, the important question: Since I barely have any visible hairs on my arms, how am I supposed to know when my chisels are sharp??

[SARGE..g-47]

Anna...

"Okay, the important question: Since I barely have any visible hairs on my arms, how am I supposed to know when my chisels are sharp"??
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Your hubby (if married) will make a wonderful "test dummy" or... you can use the "draw-blood" method... whichever is more comfortable to your degree of "living on the edge" as both might be considered falling into that category!

[Ken Massingale]

Sarge, I think the bar on top is supposed to be used for free-hand sharpening.

I also thought the 2" maximum was disappointing. I think the jack plane I ordered has a 2 1/4" iron, so I'll have to use the free-hand method. Still beats having to move the plane iron over sandpaper, though. I've tried the MKII-plus-wetstones method once, and it took me forever to get a good edge off a new chisel. I wasn't even going to try the old rusty ones.

Okay, the important question: Since I barely have any visible hairs on my arms, how am I supposed to know when my chisels are sharp??

Well me being me, I was gonna suggest armpits, but Sarge has a more PC solution.

[TheRic]

Well me being me, I was gonna suggest armpits, but Sarge has a more PC solution.

I also had a few thoughts Boy am I glad you guys answered it before me.

You could leave your legs go then try it.

[niki]

Okay, the important question: Since I barely have any visible hairs on my arms, how am I supposed to know when my chisels are sharp??

"Test the edge against your thumbnail.
This is an ancient method used by silver engravers.
Set the edge against the flat of your nail and slowly lower the angle between the tool and the nail.
A sharp edge will catch the nail and stick at any elevation (angle).
You won't cut yourself because you don't push the edge.
Just set the edge on the nail without any force or pressure.
Try the same test with a dull edge before you sharpen it - it slides all over the place".

That was from a book and I'm checking like that (on my pics of the post "sharpening"...I had to show that it's sharp so I shaved my arm hair).

niki

[Anna]

Niki, thanks. I didn't know about that method. Actually, your sharpening thread scared me because of the blood in one of the pictures where you shaved your arm.

Unfortunately, my husband saw it, too, so now he won't hear of my suggestion that I should test the chisels on him. I even tried the "If you really love me" line, but I couldn't keep a straight face long enough to get the right effect.

Anyway, that's definitely a better suggestion than the one with the armpits and whatever else these guys didn't want to mention on the forum.

I'll be careful about the questions I ask next time.