Early Access Video: Freehand Sharpening Now!
Added 2020-08-01 11:01:01 +0000 UTCFriends:
You know what I don't cover enough? Sharpening. It's a core skill, but it's not as fun or interesting as a lot of other topics.
I finally decided to make a sharpening video because I see so many people struggling with it. One of my Patrons referred to sharpening as their "Rubicon." Strong words.
I also see so many people making sharpening more complicated than it needs to be. Everybody has expensive stones or 17 kinds of abrasive paper and don't even get me started on all the jigs!
If you've got a sharpening system you like, stick with it! I'm not here to change anyone's mind. But if you're struggling, or if you're avoiding sharpening because it takes you forever or you don't get consistent results, then this is the video for you.
Happy Saturday!
--Rex
Comments
This! Thank you, Rex!... My mind likes to think about those micro bevels... I got this, now.
David Willadsen
2021-04-03 02:38:53 +0000 UTCI do a lot of sharpening for myself and friends. All sorts of woodworking tools, Kitchen knives, scissors, even axes and swards. I have always used natural oil stones, but mine are smaller than I would like. I just got a set of DMT diamond stones, 3x8". Coarse, Fine and X-Fine. WOW do they cut fast! I used a strop after the X-Fine, but was not happy with the results. There was still some roughness to the cut. I finished up with 2 ceramic stones and went back to the strop. PERFECT! You could shave with my plane iron. But my ceramic stones are "pocket stones" that I use when I'm not at home. Only 1-3/4x4. Now I don't know whether to get similar ceramic stones that are 3x8" or to try DMT's XX-Fine stone. The diamond stones cut very fast, but in my experience, grit to grit, natural stones or ceramic stones leave a finer surface. Has anyone tried an XX-Fine diamond stone? DMT's XX-Fine is 120 microns with a 120 mesh.
Rick Goodwell
2020-08-29 23:33:33 +0000 UTCI really need to get more diamond stones!
Rex Krueger
2020-08-29 23:30:11 +0000 UTCIf you have a jig, use it on tools that are in real bad shape. Use it to take out nicks if you have them. Try your hand at hand sharpening on edges that are in basically good shape--just dull. Having a good flat bevel to start with will help you "feel" what you are doing. Eventually your hands will just know what to do.
Rick Goodwell
2020-08-29 23:21:21 +0000 UTCI do a lot of sharpening. Large kitchen knives, scissors, axes and all kinds of woodworking tools. Like you, I mostly had used oil stones. I have a beautiful white Arkansas stone that polishes an edge to a mirror finish. I have recently changed to diamond stones. First, I wanted larger stones. Big knives and swards take a lot longer on small stones. I got 3 DMT 8x3" stones: Coarse, Fine and X-Fine. WOW, do they cut fast. Even when you don't need it, the extra surface area is nice. However, even with stropping, the X-Find stone finish falls short for me. I have 2 ceramic stones for finishing up before a strop. The results from my white ceramic stone is as good as my Arkansas oil stone! But they are very small (1-3/4x4). "Pocket stones" that I can take them with me when I'm carving or whittling outside so I'm thinking about getting similar ceramic stones that are 3x8 to finish off my sharpening station of diamond stones. That said, DMT makes an XX-fine (grit: 120 micron, 120 mesh) diamond stone. Maybe that would be good enough. Does any one have experience with XX-fine diamond stones?
Rick Goodwell
2020-08-29 22:51:16 +0000 UTCI'm pretty lax with how I sharpen that plane. Something around 30* seems fine. I've never done a back bevel, but they probably have their place. I really don't know.
Rex Krueger
2020-08-21 23:13:35 +0000 UTCHi Rex, I know you are a big fan of the Stanley low angle jack plane. Do you sharpen bevel up planes at the same angle as bevel down planes? I have always used Veritas' recommendation of a 30 degree angle and 15 degree "back bevel," but that seems so silly after watching this.
Mike M
2020-08-21 14:42:13 +0000 UTCHi Rex! Thank you for your videos :) I have 2 simple questions: 1) the stone that I bought (double sided) recommends to use water before using it. Is oil better than water? Does it make a huge difference? 2) is it the same process when sharpening knives and hatches? Best regards from Chile 🇨🇱
Pablo Chávez
2020-08-11 23:48:57 +0000 UTCI guess I'll have to pick some up!
Rex Krueger
2020-08-10 11:04:49 +0000 UTCI'm really not even sure how that whole flat bevel thing got started.
Rex Krueger
2020-08-10 11:04:24 +0000 UTCMan it is GREAT to hear that you had such success! That's all I want. (Except for all the other things I want.)
Rex Krueger
2020-08-10 11:04:01 +0000 UTCRex, I saw your video and was inspired to give it a go this weekend. After getting the stones and setting them up, I sharpened 6 plane irons and 10 chisels in about and hour and a half. One of the irons even nicked me slightly (nothing major, but reminded myself these are sharp and to be careful when shaving hair). I can’t believe the ease of this, nor that it took me so long to convert. Thank you so much for this, and all the other content. Keep up the unbelievably great work!
David W Lisk
2020-08-09 20:39:45 +0000 UTCTotally agree on the free hand sharpening - once you understand that the bevel can be convex and does not *have* to be flat, it is quite straight forward
John Lamb
2020-08-09 18:47:34 +0000 UTCNice video Rex! On the discourse discussion someone mentioned using diamond embedded in a thin aluminium backer, where these can be bought cheaply on Amazon. Apparently Mr P Sellers has been using them. Having splashed out on the expensive steel plate versions, I thought I'd give it a try - and they work just fine so far. I got 250, 600 & 1200 grit versions, each for $10 and glued them to a flat board that I had lying around. They are as good as the more expensive ones and produce a fine edge (after a final strop finish). For me this is a great solution as maintenance is minimal and they cut quite aggressively.
John Lamb
2020-08-09 18:45:21 +0000 UTCPerhaps you mean a camber? The curve needs to be filed or ground as I have covered in a few videos. Then sharpening is the same.
Rex Krueger
2020-08-09 11:38:14 +0000 UTCDid't remind us about how to do a "heavy" bevel for a fore plane.
Eliseo Arellano
2020-08-08 02:19:03 +0000 UTCBill, those links go up later. I'm always crushed for time to get the early video up. If you look at the video, the links are up now.
Rex Krueger
2020-08-07 17:46:30 +0000 UTCYou know, I'm only okay with sharpening knives. I defer to people who know better than me.
Rex Krueger
2020-08-07 17:45:35 +0000 UTCMany years ago, I made a stop block out of some pine scraps. I did not worry about making it super accurate because it doesn't matter. I can set a chisel or plane iron in my cheap $14 jig in less than 30 seconds. I also continue to practice free hand sharpening. My 8 mm mortise chisel does not fit in the jig so I have to sharpen it free hand. I used to peruse sites like Wood Central and Sawmill Creek and they can be good for info but some people on there are caught up in the minutiae of sharpening as if it were the goal. The goal is to make s...stuff. I find sharpening boring and want it over as quickly as possible without spending a fortune. My methods are different that Rex's. I don't use a camber but I do round my corners but I don't remove camber if it is there. I find I can better maintain the bevel angle if i hold the iron parallel to the stone like Frank Klausz but I tend to use a skew even if I have room. I no longer glue leather to the MDF I just put the compound on the MDF. I recently watched a guy go from the India stone to the strop so I'm trying that (I'm not yet convinced but it seems to work). My methods are a hodgepodge. The point is, as Rex and others have said, do what works for you. Who the heck cares how you get your tools sharp as long as you get them sharp.
WhatMeWorry
2020-08-07 17:18:12 +0000 UTCI've had luck sticking them in the dishwasher.
WhatMeWorry
2020-08-06 21:44:12 +0000 UTCGreat video. My trouble was that I was trying to get the perfect edge done on a machine and that was too hard to do freehand. Your more relaxed approach has given me the confidence to try freehand again.
David Coxon
2020-08-06 09:50:49 +0000 UTCIf you've got the cash, check out the Ken Onion edition knife and tool sharpner from Work Sharp. I use it for all my knives now and can set individual bevel angles and work from 80 grit all the way up to leather.
A1BASE
2020-08-05 15:20:27 +0000 UTCThe 300/1000 diamond stone and a leather strop with some abrasive compound is all you need unless your blades need a full regrind. :)
A1BASE
2020-08-05 15:18:13 +0000 UTCHey Rex, I saw your pic & thought to myself - 'Self, Rex has shown us how to sharpen woodworking tools, now he's gonna show us how to sharpen our knives!' I think I'm kinda disappointed!
Daniel L. Quigg
2020-08-04 22:32:08 +0000 UTC;) Edge makes an appearance, like it. Just bought myself a diamond stone 300/1000. 300 was way more aggressive than I thought it would be.. But spent a couple of hours and a few blades practicing and I am kinda sold on diamond plates now.
Darren Wright
2020-08-04 08:19:39 +0000 UTCRex love your no nonsense approach. I rarely find the links to tools etc. you mention at the end of the films. Can you guide me how to find the links. Thank You Bill Payne
William M. Payne
2020-08-04 00:18:49 +0000 UTCQuestion: on doing a spokeshave blade, like a Stanley 151/152, how far back do I need to get it flat on the back? On plane irons I usually go about a half inch and on chisels I go about an inch. Do you also sharpen freehand the same way on these irons?
Sean O'Neill
2020-08-03 17:10:42 +0000 UTCI'm imagining that chair sitting on the curb with no skin. How well do your neighbors know you? 😂
Lucas Ellis
2020-08-03 04:06:35 +0000 UTC😂Of course, a good ol’ Doall horizontal bandsaw goes without saying!
Sean O'Neill
2020-08-02 23:19:05 +0000 UTCI'm good at looking creepy. Strange tallent I have.
Rex Krueger
2020-08-02 21:20:40 +0000 UTCI've heard they're expensive. Are they?
Rex Krueger
2020-08-02 21:20:09 +0000 UTCIf the jig works, then don't sweat it!
Rex Krueger
2020-08-02 21:19:48 +0000 UTCMy God, my Grandfather said THOSE WORDS....except he added a Doall bandsaw.
Rex Krueger
2020-08-02 21:19:05 +0000 UTCIt's a bit like that.
Rex Krueger
2020-08-02 21:17:43 +0000 UTCIt was the eyes that worried me.
Jim Williams
2020-08-02 19:35:21 +0000 UTCI'm imagining you wrestling the chair down, Crocodile Hunter style, slitting its throat and getting covered in stuffing while you skin it
Matthew Leigh
2020-08-02 14:51:38 +0000 UTCThey are not expensive just the opposite in fact but to get a good one it's either secondhand (cheap but unknown) or good luck finding a good one. The new ones are only £2 or 3$ at most but are so rough they are good enough for mower blades not woodworking. It's odd how different the ease of getting certain things we see all the time is hard to get somewhere else over the pond (and other way around too).
WoodworkLearner
2020-08-02 07:49:03 +0000 UTCThat’s great! I always said that if you had a lathe and a Bridgeport (verticle milling machine), you could make anything. I really appreciated this video, because with that field in my background, I tend to be a knit-picker about getting the angle, secondary bevel and the back super flat, to a point where I’ve spent several nights at times trying to get it right. So, you’re telling us to not sweat it too much is a welcome message. Also, I will be trying the freehand sharpening. I ditched the sandpaper for diamond stones. I still use sandpaper for flattening plane soles and the first grinds on the plane irons and chisels.
Sean O'Neill
2020-08-02 00:47:14 +0000 UTCSounds like the perfect time to get some junk chisels and wreck em! Practice make perfect.
Jim Williams
2020-08-01 23:13:17 +0000 UTCMatt Estlea said just that last night on his live feed. The bottom line is do what works for you.
Jim Williams
2020-08-01 23:11:44 +0000 UTCRex, a “big” knife and a comment about skinning the neighbours chair like a big buffalo Was I the only one just slightly scared for a moment??
Wayne
2020-08-01 23:08:29 +0000 UTCHave you tried ceramic (e.g, spyderco) stones? I have had good success but there are some kitchen blades I’ve had trouble with however I suspect it is the quality of the steel 🤔
Brian Bell
2020-08-01 22:31:23 +0000 UTCI have had no luck free hand and have two chisels to show for it. I bought a jig and fixed one of the chisels. I had better luck with a plane blade when I tried free hand, but it still did not work anything like it did after a redid it with the jig.
William Fishburne
2020-08-01 21:09:08 +0000 UTCI have heard of using kerosene too. I've also heard of using WD-40.
Robert A Carbo
2020-08-01 20:30:13 +0000 UTCThere's NOTHING wrong with the jig. If it's working, then keep at it!
Rex Krueger
2020-08-01 20:22:55 +0000 UTCI'm really glad it all resonated with you!
Rex Krueger
2020-08-01 20:22:20 +0000 UTCThere's no secret, I promise you!
Rex Krueger
2020-08-01 20:21:39 +0000 UTCIt was all Nate!
Rex Krueger
2020-08-01 20:21:15 +0000 UTCMy father taught me about clearance and he learned it from my Grandfather, who was...a machinist! My dad still has his lathe.
Rex Krueger
2020-08-01 20:20:57 +0000 UTCThat's what I was going for!
Rex Krueger
2020-08-01 20:20:00 +0000 UTCI was scared, too, believe me. But now it's second nature. If the jig works for you, might not want to mess with it. Spend your time making things!
Rex Krueger
2020-08-01 20:19:52 +0000 UTCI'll echo what Nic said and also suggest you get at least one new stone. When in doubt, start fresh!
Rex Krueger
2020-08-01 20:18:47 +0000 UTCWhat a nice thing to say! Thank you!
Rex Krueger
2020-08-01 20:17:52 +0000 UTCI've heard, although I don't know for sure, that kerosene is good for soaking stones. Gets out the crud.
Rex Krueger
2020-08-01 20:17:15 +0000 UTCAlways good to get the view from across the pond! I didn't know oil stones were so expensive over there.
Rex Krueger
2020-08-01 20:16:30 +0000 UTCNo, but we have lots of metaphors!
Rex Krueger
2020-08-01 20:15:24 +0000 UTCToday, i finally made a stop block jig for the measurements for my honing jig, and here you go, encouraging freehand sharpening. Well, I think it is also about preference. With the jig, you can just slide it in the honing ji, press it against the stop block for the 25 or the 30 degree angle, and sharpen away. I made this jig, not because its the perfect measurement, but because i can sharpen my tools on the exact same angle, thus sparing me tons of time sharpening. Apart from my monologue there, I like the video as always. If i hadn't made the stop block, I would have switched to freehand.
Bas Noblesse
2020-08-01 20:02:25 +0000 UTCThank you Rex for another excellent video. I very much agree no one should be afraid of freehand sharpening a chisel or plane blade. They are the easiest tools to freehand sharpen. Because of the relatively wide bevel it is easy to tell when you are properly aligned. Kitchen or pocket knives are harder since you need to maintain a consistant bevel across the length of the blade and often they have a curved end. I like using my benchhook to hold the stones - one less thing in the shop and allows my wrists and arms to rest on the benchtop for reference. Only good for pushing, so I pull the tool over the strop away from me. If you love micro-bevels, just raise the blade a bit for a few stokes. The advantage of a mirco-bevel, IMO, is when you need to do a quick tune-up sharpening. You only need to sharpen the little bit of iron that is the mirco-bevel, not the entire bevel. Also, generally no need to spend much time on the course stone unless it's a used chisel in bad conditon (or you have sharpended it a whole lot). Generall, I skip that and start with the finer stones unless I hit a nail or dropped the chisel on a cement floor making a nick. Again, kudos!
Mark Diaz
2020-08-01 19:37:25 +0000 UTCI spent hours and hours when I was starting out too. Keep at it. You'll figure it out eventually, I promise! Sharpening really is a skill. It takes practice and patience. The payoff is huge though! Gouges in the side of the cut would be a frog or adjustment lever issue. Take your time and set everything up to the best of your ability. It doesn't have to be perfect to do a good job.
Nic Beurskens
2020-08-01 19:07:33 +0000 UTCThanks for covering the details! I've always sharpened knives freehand, but have been wary of trying it with the couple of plane irons I've gotten a hold of. Felt like I was missing the "wood worker's secret". I'm going to tackle it now with confidence, thank you!
Alan Lamborn
2020-08-01 17:46:29 +0000 UTCGreat video! I just bought some water stones last week 🙄. They should be a lot better than sand paper and I can eventually use them in the kitchen anyway. I’m glad I’m on the only one who sees the “Edge” when the word edge is used 😂
Spencer Salmon
2020-08-01 17:40:43 +0000 UTCThanks, Rex! I’m a new patron and New to woodworking. I enjoy your videos immensely and they’re very helpful. As an old machinist turned Catholic priest, it’s good to get into a great hobby like this. Seeing your explanation about clearance definitely resonates with me, as with grinding the rake in tool it’s or other cutters for metal work, the rake angle was key for that clearance. I’ve been using the jig recently and will be doing the first grind on a bench grinder. One of my projects now is building a simple table for the bench grinder. Look forward to the next video. God bless!
Sean O'Neill
2020-08-01 17:26:43 +0000 UTC"Skin it like a dead buffalo" OMG Rex... my wife thinks I'm crazy now, I was laughing so hard.
Kevin Lundquist
2020-08-01 16:16:41 +0000 UTCI have been scared to try free hand sharpening. After finally getting a sharp edge using my jigs, I don't want to mess them up by going free hand. But it does take a long time. I have started playing with free hand on my chisels. I figure if I screw it all up, it doesn't take as long to regrind the bevel!
Brett Masek
2020-08-01 16:08:23 +0000 UTCI've tried both freehand sharpening and jig sharpening, and I've never felt like I've gotten a decent edge, at least on my plane irons. I end up with deep gouges on the side of the cut, tearout, and I don't know that I've ever felt a bur. I've spent literal hours trying to get some kind of an edge, with no avail. I'm going to be trying again today, and the video is well timed for me, I just needed to vent for a second. 🤣 Thanks for reading my mind, and here's hoping for a better shot today!
Natasha Stuver
2020-08-01 15:52:17 +0000 UTCIf you oil the stone well before sharpening it you can just wipe it. If it becomes loaded or clogged I've had good luck with a bit of dishwashing liquid and an old scotch Brite to clean the stone. If you do this , dry the stone well and let it air-dry overnight. The next day treat the stone with a fine/thin oil and it should be good as new.
Gary Fetrow
2020-08-01 15:21:47 +0000 UTCDear Rex, Shortly after 50 years I am back with what I have learned at school Fine woodworking. I am now retired. In those 50 years I have never performed the profession. when I watch videos after you I see my school days again, for example sharpening chisels or everything else we can do by HAND. my heart opens when I watch videos after you Rex keep it up then I watch all your videos so far I can only say PRIMA.
Jacobus Bonte
2020-08-01 14:49:56 +0000 UTCI use a very similar combination oil stone. What do you recommend to clean it?
Robert A Carbo
2020-08-01 14:29:31 +0000 UTCI agree will everything you say except the choice in the stones. This is because I live in UK. I would NEVER buy new oil stones in UK as they are ######## here. What I would suggest for UK people is to get an 8x3 inch diamond double sided solid plate, no plastic base, which you can get for about £20 (26 dollars). Also with this size you can use a jig. These stones are usually 400grit one side 1000 on other. These cheap stones last year's of normal weekend sharpening. If you fixup old planes by the dozen then they can stop cutting as fast as they did new but hey you got finner grit stones now 😂. Even for new woodworkers the sandpaper root in UK costs more than these even to get started so ,as you say, don't go down this route. Bit of window cleaner in spray bottle stops rust and no flattening needed. Ps get some plasters (band aids?) too for when you don't believe you got the irons sharp!
WoodworkLearner
2020-08-01 13:49:29 +0000 UTCDo you have a lot of buffaloes up near Cleveland? :)
Jim Williams
2020-08-01 13:30:22 +0000 UTCI think you'll like them. They're inexpensive and effective.
Rex Krueger
2020-08-01 12:32:54 +0000 UTCGreat video! I'm on the hunt for oil stones now...
Kevin S Thomas
2020-08-01 12:13:53 +0000 UTC
