After using the Sharpening Station for a bit, I’m still working on technique (see previous post on Sharpening Technique) but I’ve also done some changes to hopefully optimize the techniques as I improve and perfect them.
Here is an outline of my process as it stands:
- Flatten back of stone using sand paper on granite slab (middle of Sharpening Station)
- For plane soles only, I flatten and hone them using sand paper on the granite slab. I go from 220 up to 2000 grit on the sand paper.
- Using stones (I use Norton water stones), I flatten the surface to a polish going through 220, 1000, 4000, 8000 on the stones (flattening the stones using sand paper on the granite as needed). This is for flattening and honing the back of blades as well as flattening and honing the cutting bevel of the blades. The stones are used in the bench dog on the right side of the Sharpening Station
- After the back of the blade is flat and polished, I use the Tormek (on the left side of the Sharpening Station). I’m achieving a hollow ground primary bevel which is square the the side edges of the blade.
- For the cutting bevel I repeat step 3.
Here is a picture of my updated Sharpening Station:
As you can see if you compare the pictures in the initial Sharpening Station post, I’ve added a shelf under the bench. This is to keep the water stones ready to sharpen (i.e. wet) blades. I’ve also moved the bench clamp to the side end of the bench (right) which is mostly to keep the handle away from a car when parked in the garage. Lastly, I’ve lowered the bench about 3 inches so that I have better clearance using the Tormek.
Now, I follow the above outline and do each blade (or plane sole) before moving on to the next blade (or plane sole). Once everything is sharp, this is the way I’d use the station in the normal course of wood working.
I’m wondering what other stations and techniques people use out there. If you have any pictures or comments, please post.
UPDATE: I’ve added a hanging paper towel rack. Paper towels are incredibly important in this whole process and getting the towels up off the counter top is way more useful. I’ve also found some magnifiers that I think will work. I guess unless you get professional (eye glass tools) magnifiers, it’s hard to find anything very useful.
Greetings, Glenn;
I am glad to see you’re working so hard on your tools. Don’t let sharpening take over your life; you need some time making shavings as well.
I might offer you a suggestion or two aimed at some of the questions in your posts.
The first one deals with seeing the pattern of scratches on both the bevel and the back of your tools. As I suggested in class, I find a magnifier very useful, and I get rid of the glasses when I use mine. A jeweler’s loupe in the range of 8x-10x would work as well as the magnifiers we used. I think you will find that coupling that magnification with good, bright light will help a lot. In my shop, natural light through a window works well, but a task-specific lamp at your sharpening station would do just fine.
You hit on my second suggestion in one of your last posts. The height at which you hone the bevel makes a lot of difference. Too high and you’ve introduced a lot of bends in your wrists and elbows that you need to control. Too low and you’re hunched over. Getting the height just right is for you is a process of trial and error. Remember the height of the sharpening station at class; work from that height and adjust as you need. Developing the ability to hone freehand takes a bit of time. Be patient, and keep at it. You will see improvement each time you sharpen.
Keep your fingers out of the way of those sharp edges, and make some shavings!
Best regards,
Jeff Zens
http://jszcbf.wordpress.com
Thanks Jeff.
I am definitely not letting sharpening take over. I’m going to work through my blades but in the middle, I’ve got plenty of projects that I want to take on. I’m in the middle of a hanging tool chest right now which will hold the planes and chisels. It’s a simple design with shelves in the main body and will have hanging slots for the chisels, measuring and marking tools in the doors. I’ve finished the main body and am now onto the doors. I’ve finished the first group of chisels and they turned out great once I refined my technique. I’m sure I’ll do the next round after I get the doors done. Once I’m all caught up, I’ve got the permanent sharpening station set up, so I can sharpen one tool at a time on an as needed basis.
I have definitely noticed that different angles work better. I’m glad I lowered my bench even though it was more for the Tormek. It’s had a great impact on the honing and sharpening with stones.
Thanks again for all the great tips from your class.
Glenn
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