Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi folks! First post here. What a great resource this forum is! I'm curious as to how you all go about sharpening your chisels and scrapers. Any tips or references would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

I'm lazy! I use the work sharp 3000 to sharpen my chisels and planes...Mike
http://www.worksharptools.com/product.asp?specific=137

I like the Norton stones too. If you take a little bit of time getting the initial edge on the tool, but after that a few swipes on 1000 followed by 8000 will bring you back to an amazing edge. It just so happens that I got a good deal on some stones. The plate glass or other methods are probably just as effective.

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Don't confront me with my failures--I have not forgotten them.

I have used Scary Sharp Sandpaper method, Diamond stones, Stropping, and a combination of oil and ceramic stones.

My conclusion is that Sharp is Sharp... and I do better with a Jig of some sort.

If you haven't done much successful sharpening, take a class at the local Woodworking store or Woodworking club -- there can be a long and frustrating learning curve otherwise.

Thanks

John

I couldn't agree more.
Link

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Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

Hey all... thanks for the replies! I don't have much experience sharpening and need to learn the basic techniques, angles etc. First step is getting the appropriate stones and just practicing. Please keep those suggestions coming... cheers!

If you can't shave it isn't sharp. I use a tomek knock off , and I have diamond , Norton and japanese water stones. After seeing Todd,s demo at my open house I splurged. I know the Japanese water stones give me the sharpest edge and I use them on the finest chisels. The Wet stone on my http://grizzly.com/products/10-Wet-Grinder-Kit/T10010 sets the angle and squares the chisel back up. It makes it fool proof.
The little jigs to hold a chisel on a flat stone are very good to have. In my case I need to be economical in time and the investment allows me to sharpen a chisel to shave in a few minutes.
Find what works for you . A dull chisel is a danger .

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Me too!!!

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Cuts with really sharp chisels heal faster DAMHIKT.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I have to agree with the KISS school. I use a combination of stones and 1200 - 2000 grit paper with a A$12 Stanley jig. Consider making a strop from a piece of leather and some metal polish as well. But the most useful piece of kit IMHO is a loupe or some other type of magnifyer. You can see very clearly where your edge needs tuning. It was a revelation when I started using it. There are some great paper on sharpening on the net, look for the ones that use microphotographs to make their point (no pun intended).