how to sharpen Inshave or Scorp

Unfortunately I'm not going to be much help here as I've never used an inshave so can't comment on your questions. I can say however, that if you're using tools, that this book is excellent at helping with the sharpening aspect of just about anything:

Yep, you sharpen when it's too dull to cut as you need to cut. I use a gouge stone. Fine India, followed by an Arkansas slip and chromium oxide strop.

Is it practical to use sanding sleeve on a dril press to sharpen inshave?

regards, ziko.

George wrote:

Nope. You want the scratches perpendicular to the edge. That way you get a bit of tooth sliding it sideways as you draw it.

No - I have a few scorps, inshaves and round adzes, but I rarely use them. Instead I use an Arbortech cutter in an angle grinder.

If you do want an inshave, then I've found the Bristol Design (pale blue handles) tools to be good.

The Arbortech is easy to use, works on any timber (including awkwardly grained elm) and most of all is _quick_. The downside is that it's very quick - it can easily cut faster than you're expecting, so make templates and check regularly. It's even worth using a template 1/4" short for a first pass, then going over to final size.

A curved spokeshave is useful for finishing. As it has a mouth, unlike a drawknife, it's easier to use for a thin controlled shaving. Unfortunately the Clifton I use has handles that curve downwards too much, limiting its use for a deep cut in a wide board.

This depends on the timber. Ideally the drawknife family are green wood tools. The timber is soft (so a perfect edge is less crucial) and they work by splitting ahead of the edge with a wedge action, as much as they do by cutting (so the edge suffers less wear). This isn't to say that you shouldn't have a sharp edge on your green tools, but it certainly takes less effort to keep it there.

A big hand-held coarse stone, moved over a firmly clamped shave. They're generally sharpened out-cannel (bevel out) so access is easy. If you want to hone them, a powered leather wheel (rotating away from you, unlike a grinder) is quick and convenient.