Tips for Sharpening Woodworking Tools
George VondriskaIt’s an old cliché, but it’s true: dull tools are more dangerous than sharp tools. Instead of being able to gently and easily slice wood, as you can with a sharp tool, you’ll have to force a dull tool to do what you want it to do. That’s an accident waiting to happen.
Stones
There are lots of different stones available in the marketplace. But it’s hard to beat diamond stones. They’re durable, they stay flat, and they can be used to sharpen nearly anything, even carbide. Yep, you can sharpen carbide on a diamond stone, and in this video we’ll show you how to sharpen router bits and carbide lathe tool inserts.
What else is covered?
In addition to router bits we’ll give you lessons on sharpening bench chisels, lathe chisels, and plane irons. This includes techniques that will help ensure you’re sharpening at the correct angle, along with information on which grit of stone to use.
Want to dig deeper?
Sharpening is a big topic. So big, we offer a sharpening techniques class. Check it out for some great online instruction. Want more specifics on sharpening hand tools? Here’s a great video that covers how to sharpen a spokeshave.
More info
If you want to know more about DMT and their sharpening products, visit their website.
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6 Responses to “Tips for Sharpening Woodworking Tools”
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I'm curious about what part of that Diamond Sharpening Stone is the actual Diamond. I see a piece of what looks like perforated metal with some Yellow material underneath. Could someone explain how the Diamond Stone is built up / what parts are the actual Diamond?
It looks like you are using the DMT Duosharp 10" 600/325 or 600/1200 and the DMT Diafold 1200. What is the Grit of the stone lying on the table to your right and what would it be used for?
Will the same method (i.e. 1200 grit stone) work on a negative rake carbide scraper or is that just for straight edge carbide blades?
I use a rolling chisel holder which keeps the tool at the correct angle. I don't know today where one can purchase but, Diefenbacher tools is a good place to start.
Nice but what is the liquid he's spraying on the stone? Water, oil, what?
The one tip that I did not hear mentioned was to dry the newly honed edges, thoroughly, and to apply a drop of oil or wipe with an oiled cloth to keep the fresh edges from rusting.