Hand Tool Sharpening Workshop

Have you been wondering how to get your chisels, plane irons, card scrapers, or lathe tools truly sharp—and how to keep them that way? Are you hesitant to pick up a hand plane to flatten or smooth a board because the results aren’t what you expect? Do your chisels slide across the wood instead of cutting cleanly?

This workshop is designed to answer those questions and build your confidence with sharp hand tools.

We’ll cover:

• How sharp tools should really cut
• Differences between oil stones, water stones, diamond stones, and glass/ceramic stones
• Basic hand plane anatomy (frog, cap iron, plane iron, sole, tote, lever, and more)
• Recommended grinding and honing angles
• How to sharpen chisels and plane irons
• What a card scraper is, how to sharpen it, and how to use it effectively

Bring an old chisel or plane and sharpen it during the session. The workshop will be primarily demonstration-based, with plenty of opportunities for hands-on practice if you’d like.

Leave with a clear understanding of sharpening fundamentals—and the knowledge to take your tools to the next level of sharp.

Instructor: Elliot Stavnitsky

Also check out other Workshops in Portsmouth.