OK, here's my report: the $12 1/4" glass works great.
No doubt all these other ideas are good, too, but this was the most convenient. Last night was the first time I've ever sharpened a tool, so the brand new $20 block plane from HD was the only thing to practice on. It did get very sharp, but I apparently need to (a) get the blade at a perfect right angle in order to get an even grind, and (b) pull out all of the staples that are still in the lumber.
Thank you everybody for your adivce.
Eric
I used a piece of glass from an old 8x10 picture frame. I glued it using super glue to a piece of scrap plywood. I used Super glue because it took very little glue, it has a very thin body to it, and it wouldn't leave any air pockets that could develop from rubber cement or sprays. I was completely bored one day and framed it in so that the framing was flush with the surface of the glass. Once you do this, you can get a chisel "scary sharp." I had a set of Stanley chisels that would shave wood as easily as the hair on your arm. My block planes demanded more respect than ever before. It also disciplined me to take better care of them when I got through using them. If you invest your own time in sharpening, you tend to do things like this. I never took them higher than a 400 grit wet or dry paper and I found that using water to form the slurry was just fine. You can make a sharpening block quite easily by using your miter box saw and dial in the desired =B0 - the most important ingredient to a successful edge: PATIENCE. You can polish the face so smooth that it can be used as a mirror. Have fun with it.
Jimmy Mac (aka Jummy)
I missed the start of this thread - has anybody mentioned Scary Sharp yet?
One of many copies of the original Usenet post:
Y'know the more of this thread I read, it occurs to me that most cities have surplus/recovered building material yards these days. A properly sized chunk of half inch glass or granite or something similar ought to be easy enough to find at a true bargain price. Some of the local countertop places will (as long as you ask 'em first) allow you to look in their dumpster for scrap chunks. It's possible to make a boatload of guitar saddles and nuts out of a small piece of corian.
Ed
That would have to be a small boatload. Conservation of mass, and all. ;)
LOL. Ok, a bunch.
Ed
s -
That's the one I was looking for - Thanks Paul. This should cover everything quite nicely!
Jummy (aka Minwax Mac)
you need 3 surfaces to produce 3 flat surfaces. 2 will produce 1 concave and 1 convex surface.
regards, charlie cave creek, az
you can get a yardsale dining room tabletop for about $20, which can make a lot of sharpening plates.
regards, charlie cave creek, az
If you have a good tablesaw, jointer or shaper you already have a flat surface suitable for scarysharp.
scott
On Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:27:37 +0000, charlie wrote (in article ):
well yeah. I presume we're talk Buy three tiles :-)
and some labels.
Freedom Nut wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@z6g2000pre.googlegro ups.com:
What you need are 2 things...
1-Larry
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required