Sharpening Angles for Dullards
The most embarrassing jig I’ve ever owned has been photographed, measured and pondered more than any single piece of fine furniture I’ve built. It’s a stupid little block of wood with stops on it [...]
Arno Burnisher: The One True No-fail Burnisher
Sometimes it’s not you. Sometimes, it is the tool that is causing the problem – especially if we are talking about burnishers. The following scene has been repeated so many times during the last [...]
All Oilstones are not Equal
When steel and an abrasive intersect, the typical result is utter confusion. Today we have more choices in steel than ever before. The same goes for abrasives. And so wading into the issue of [...]
DMT’s Dia-Flat Takes a Crazy Beating
I don’t get too worked up about sharpening equipment. With a few exceptions, any abrasive gets your tools sharp. And I find that the less I write about abrasives, the happier I am. But I’m going [...]
Back Bevels on Block Planes
When I was taught to sharpen in 1992, the flat back of the iron was holy ground. We were taught to flatten it completely and polish it like a mirror. Never mind that none of the old tools we were [...]
Q & A: Restoring a Blued Chisel
Q & A: Restoring a Blued Chisel Q: The first thing I did with my new grinder was to blue the edge of a chisel. Is there anything I can do to save it? A: Most woodworkers have faced…
Q & A: Setting Jointer Knives
Q & A: Setting Jointer Knives Q: How can I set my jointer knives without using a jig? A: A wood block and a pencil will do the job on a jointer with an adjustable outfeed table. If the [...]
MWA Chats with Ron Hock, of Hock Tools
Download podcast episode No. 10 from the Modern Woodworkers Association (also known as MWA) to listen to an almost hour-long chat with Ron Hock, the owner and founder of Hock Tools, and author of [...]
Power Sharpening System
Power Sharpening System By Tom Caspar I’m crazy about sharp hand tools. When edges are perfect, these tools sing in your hands. When they’re dull, you might as well hang them up. [...]
How Larry Williams Hones a Chisel – Don’t Blink
On my recent visit to Kelly Mehler’s School of Woodworking, in Berea, Ky., Larry Williams of Old Street Tool took a few minutes away from his planemaking students to show me how he hones [...]
Woodworking 101: Basic Sharpening
Sharpen a Plane Blade There are many ways to sharpen plane blades, and woodworkers have strong opinions on the best technique. Here is a simple, reliable method to achieve a sharp edge. It takes [...]
Learn to Sharpen Chisels the Japanese Way
Another video on sharpening? Ugh! No, wait…this one’s kinda different. In fact, this video isn’t about the cutting edge of the chisel. What?! It’s true. “Chisel Sharpening with Harrelson [...]