SharpeningHandTools-WalkeMooreTools.PDFVIP

Sharpening Hand Tools Aaron Moore 2013 When It Comes to Sharpening… • All hand tools need to be sharpened regularly for good performance. It cannot be avoided and you cannot pay someone else to do it for you. • Sharpening is simple and anyone can do it. It is only the sea of conflicting information that exists about “the right way to sharpen” that makes sharpening seem difficult. • If you’ve never enjoyed using a hand plane or chisel, or if you view them as crude compared to what power tools can deliver you’ve probably never used a truly sharp tool. • A bench grinder does not create a sharp tool. • “Sharp” is 2 polished surfaces meeting at a 0° radius. Therefore, tools get dull because the cutting edge is rounded over (blunted) or scratches exist (not a polished surface). What to Consider When Sharpening • Bevel Angle: General term for the angle between the cutting edge and the back of the tool. Usually consists of 2 if not 3 actual angles. Not all tools are sharpened at the same angle, so before you begin to sharpen, decide what angle you are shooting for. • Polish of the Cutting Edge: Finer and finer grit sharpening media hones a finer and finer polish on the tool. All tools need to be honed to a reasonably high finish, but many woodworkers waste a lot of time and money pursuing a ridiculously high polish. • Blade Geometry: Many tools require a straight, square edge (chisels, some plane blades), other benefit from a curved blade (smoothing plane blades and others based on preference). When these 3 properties are understood, sharpening is simple. Bevel Angle • Primary Bevel: Main angle the tool is sharpened at. If someone says “this tool is sharpened at 25°” they are typically referring to the primary bevel. This surface is not honed/polished. • Seco