Care and feeding of Draw Knives

Yes they need to be sharp. Mine is razor sharp.

Flatten the back then holding the stone run it along the blade.. That's the easiest way.

While learning to use it, wear a leather apron.. so you don't kill yourself.. No joke. I picked up a welding apron from HF for 6.99 on sale, I use it for that, and at the tablesaw (sometimes).. It's split leather and heavy.

IIRC there are instructions in this book. The complete guide to sharpening / Leonard Lee Art

"Mike Marlow" wrote in news:835ef$4ffb2e1e$4b75eb81$ snipped-for-privacy@ALLTEL.NET:

I'm not hiding behind questions, just out on the road for several days and this is the easiest way to enjoy my new purchase.

Puckdropper

I picked up a coupla draw knives at an antique store, and now get the interesting task of learning how to use them. It looks so simple watching Roy on TV *g*.

How sharp do these need to be? Is the tool like most where super sharp is better? How do I sharpen them? I've got a Worksharp 3000, but doubt it'll be any good for this task.

What else do I need to know?

Puckdropper

On 09 Jul 2012 19:53:38 GMT, Puckdropper

Try shaving with them?

(Well, you wanted ideas didn't you? You didn't say they had to be good ideas.) :)

It is. The trick is to use them enough to find the correct angle. Then learn watch your grain, just as you do with a handplane. After that, it's simple.

Scary.

Yes.

Carefully. Sharp blades are dangerous.

Probably not. I prop my 2x6" DMT 600 grit diamond plate on a 4x4 in the vise so I have handle clearance. Then I move to 1000grit paper and strop on green crayons from LVT.

Use it bevel-down, like a high-angle plane, for most cutting. They stay pretty sharp for quite awhile since they're not used a whole lot.

-- It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt