Tool Sharpening 101

Sharpening is one of the most controversial topics in woodworking. Years ago, man-made oil stones were used and, when unaffordable, natural ones such as Arkansas stones. Next, the Japanese water stone revolution replaced the oil stones. After this came diamond stones, then fine coated abrasives on plate glass such as the “Scary Sharp” system. Now, diamond sprays and pastes are gaining popularity. Throughout, there have always been the partisans of stropping and of powered systems. In short, this can be time-consuming, expensive, and confusing for beginners to navigate.

This discussion-based class will cover the theory and practice of single (chisels and plane irons) and double bevel (knives) sharpening, demonstrate most of these systems and detail the advantages and limitations of each. We will discuss water stones, diamond stones, coated abrasives on glass, stropping with and without diamond and other compounds and a few powered systems. Each system has distinct advantages and disadvantages, guiding you to determine which is personally most appealing without the time and financial expense. Information on where to find each system will also be discussed.

*If you have a chisel you'd like to sharpen, feel free to bring it along.

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