Reply To: Cap iron question
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That’s a nice simple sharpening stone set up you’ve got there. The stones aren’t recessed into the base are they?
@franiel it’s as simple as it gets. I built when I first started, so it needed to be simple. It is a hunk of 3/4″ ply 12 1/2″ wide x 11″ deep and two paint stirring sticks from the hardware store. Also, cut another strip of ply 12 1/2″ x 1″. Glue and screw that strip to the underside of the ply to form the cleat that goes in the vise or just butts up against the bench edge. Next, cut a pain stick to length and glue and tack it flush to the near edge of the top side of the ply. Now take two of your stones, or all of your stones, line then up along that tacked down stirring stick, and use that to place the second stirring stick, trapping the stones gently between the two sticks. Ise glue and tacks for that second strip, of course. That’s it. Done. You can put some finish on if you like. I did it this way because it required no tools other than a hand saw, a hammer, and a drill. If you use drywall screws, you may not even need the drill to countersink, but it’s better if you do and woodscrews are better. I thought it would be temporary but I’ve used it for about 8 to 10 years now and I don’t see any reason to rebuild it. I would never want the stones to be mortised and would absolutely never want them to be glued in. I slide them around to reach the edge to do various kinds of sharpening and often take the out for various purposes, not the least of which is to take the to the sink and scour them. The biggest risk to your plate holder is water from the glass cleaner, so I’d definitely use ply, not press board, MDF, etc., but, really, use what you have. Go ask for two pain stirring sticks at the hardware store and you’ll have a plate holder in an hour.