For years, no matter what method I used, my sharpening efforts were a disappointment. Then I tried high-quality sandpaper as the sharpening medium, used with an angle jig. To my surprise and delight, the process proved to be remarkably quick, easy, and effective. Indeed, it now takes less than two minutes on median to grind a dull plane blade or bench chisel with a exquisite bevel angle every time.
Sandpaper sharpening has been nearby for a long time. As the name suggests, it uses sandpaper as the sharpening medium, rather than customary oil-stones or water-stones. The paper is glued temporarily to a flat surface, such as the top of a tablesaw or joiner, or more generally of late, a piece of glass.
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I now use a commercially ready jig for most of my honing, but for a long time my jig was shopmade. I still use the shopmade jig when I want to add a shallow back-bevel to the flat side of a plane blade. The industrial jig will furnish a back bevel, but it's puny to an angle that's not to my taste.
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Customer Reviews
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 24, 2012 08:45:06
After switching to sandpaper sharpening, I experimented until I found the technique that worked best. I now use high-quality sandpaper that has a remarkably consistent grit size and an adhesive backing that secures it solidly to the glass. That way, as I sharpen, the paper doesn't push up in front of the cutting edge and convert the sharpening angle. And I add three microbevels, which gets me through the three successive grits of sandpaper more quickly.
The sandpaper must be mounted to a flat surface. I use thorough window glass. It's inexpensive, ready at any glass shop, and more than flat enough. Because my sharpening policy requires three distinct sandpaper grits, I use three pieces of glass, each measuring 5mm thick by 6 in. Wide by 16 in. Long. A glass shop will cut them to size for you. For safety's sake, take a few minutes when you get them home to flat the sharp edges with sandpaper.
To expand and safe the glass, glue it to a backer board. I use 4-in. Thick hardboard (Masonite), but plywood also works. I use a glue called Weldbond, but I think that any glue that bonds wood and glass will work. Apply a thin coat of glue to each mating surface, then place the glass on the backer. A few pieces of masking tape prevent the glass from sliding, and a stack of books on top holds it down.
The most important part of my ideas is high-quality adhesive-backed sandpaper. I use microfinishing sheet abrasives made by 3M, compared to quarterly sandpaper, the grits on this 3M stock are more uniform in size. That means you are less likely to get unwanted deeper scratches from an occasional oversized grit in your paper. Plus, because the sandpaper mounts firmly on glass, the abrasive stays flat. I use three grits-15 micron, 5 micron, and 0.3 micron-one for each piece of glass.
It's important to apply the paper carefully. Any dirt or air bubble can leave a bump, and even a tiny bump can nick the edge of a tool or catch an edge while sharpening and tear the paper. Before adding the paper, wash the glass with soap and water to remove odd pieces of dirt or sawdust.
Cut the sheet abrasive in half lengthwise and remove the backing paper. Wash your hands with just a puny soap on them (not too wet) and rub your hand on the glass to dampen the surface. If you tilt the glass and water runs off, it is too wet. Add the paper carefully to avoid trapping air bubbles in the middle of the glass and the paper. Place one end of the paper on one end of the glass, lowering the paper until you reach the other end. The soapy water will prevent the adhesive backing from adhering immediately, so you can slide the paper nearby until it's centered. The water will dry through the paper in short order. No matter how small they might be, roll or push out any air bubbles.
Because I use microbevels, I must hold the cutting edge at a consistent angle every time. I've long been partial to my shopmade jig, but of late, I've also learned to like the Veritas Mk.Ii jig. The Mk.U accepts most plane blades and bench chisels, and allows me to manufacture three microbevels quickly.
Before you start honing, grind a fresh 25° customary bevel on the blade. When grinding, make sure the edge ends up quadrate to the chisel or blade. After the edge is ground, set the Mk.Ii to 30° and mount the blade or chisel. Make sure the knob on the eccentric roller is in the 12 o'clock position. Then, put a puny baby oil or mineral oil on the 15-micron abrasive. As you sharpen, the steel that's removed will end up as tiny filings. You'll want sufficient oil to float the filings out of the abrasive so that the blade can push them along the sheet for a natural cleaning action. When you're finished, you can clean up the excess oil with a paper towel.
To start, rest the edge of the blade in the oil and pull back first (this prevents paper rips if there is a incommunicable bump or bubble at the edge), then forward and backward a few times with light pressure. Keep the roller of the jig off the sandpaper. Check the bevel after no more than a join dozen strokes. You should see a new bevel forming at the edge. Typically, it need be only about one-tenth the width of the 250 customary bevel.
Now, convert the angle of the jig from 30° to roughly 31°. That's done plainly by turning the knob on the jig's eccentric roller to the 3 o'clock position. Repeat the honing steps with the S-micron grit. I normally spend no more than 30 seconds at that grit.
Finally, convert the angle of the jig from 31 ° to roughly 32° by turning the eccentric roller knob to about the 6 o'clock position. Repeat the honing process with the 0.3-micron grit. You should need only a dozen or so strokes to add this final microbevel.
A t this point, you will have a burr o n the back of the blade or chisel. To remove the burr, flip the jig and hold the back side of the blade or chisel flat against the 0.3-micron paper. Slide the blade back and forth a few times until the burr breaks free.
That's it. The edge will be razor sharp and ready to go to work. When it begins to dull, place it back in the jig and redone it, always working through all three grits. If your jig is already set up, you can faultless a rehoning in less than two minutes.
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