Reply To: Sharpening in the cold
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Larry,
Please allow me to add on sharpening with a hollow ground bevel. From Mr. Tom Fidgen I learnt that no secondary bevel is necessary, nor – as you point out – a honing guide. Even I, the perpetual and perennial beginner, can maintain what in my humble are very sharp edges, by basically give the backs of the blades some polishing on DMT Extra Fine (4000[?]) and Extra Extra Fine (8000) diamond stones, after first having ground and sharpened them on my Tormek. The bevels receive a few, more perfunctory, strokes with no substantial pressure applied. And, it takes no time at all: now that I eventually got around to make a sharpening station.
Actually I believe that joy out of one’s work is the most important aspect to the beginning woodworker, who can start with small projects – not necessarily easier than big ones – which only require a few tools of the “ready to use from the box” type; and have as much pleasure as talent and growing skills will grant. A Tormek, albeit costly, will mitigate the distress that comes out of being uncertain on re-sharpening those once perfect edges, and thereby add quite a lot to the joy of actually achieving something that isn’t immediately destined for the wood burner – like a keepsake with secret dovetails???