A convenient way to sharpen the router plane's iron
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- This topic has 5 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 10 months ago by Christophe wloskowicz.
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11 June 2015 at 6:38 am #127669
Hi
I would like to ask : How to sharpen the router plane’s iron. My iron was made by Kirschen and it has 97 degree hook.
RegardsI presume that your iron is of the vertical type, shaped like a hockey stick? (not an OWT type)
If so, it is one of those blades that need to be done by hand and requires narrow stones such as slip stones, or better still small diamond touching-up plates in grits of your choice. Forget jigs and the like for these – you need to develop a little skill. Getting the edge razor sharp like a chisel is not an essential with router blades as you will mostly be cutting cross-grain, but you do need a good edge.
First, it is important to flatten the base (back) of the blade (once only from new) to ensure that you have a clear, smooth cutting edge edge. You’ll notice, when assembled, that only the tip of the blade is in contact with the work, so the rest of the back doesn’t really matter as it is tipped upwards, but it’s nice to get it clean and flat. To do this, I sit it flat on a diamond stone and draw it evenly backwards, using repetitive strokes – best not to rub it back and forth – aim for a clear flat edge behind the bevel.
Next, fix the blade in a vice or other convenient holding device and work through the grits on the upper edge, giving single forward strokes. Aim for a shallow bevel at the tip; you don’t need to work the whole upper face. To get a flat cut in your trench and to avoid ‘tram-lines’ it is essential to get the cutting edge is absolutely parallel with the base of the plane when it is in use. Experiment with this on some scrap, because not all blade-retaining pillars in router planes are bang-on vertical.
On subsequent sharpening, concentrate on the upper bevel edge, unless the base edge becomes damaged.
Good luck.
Hi Christophe,
I sharpen my router blade by hand. At first I was using the Stanley 71 blade that came with the router. Paul wrote a blog post that shows you how to do this: https://paulsellers.com/2012/11/buying-good-tools-cheap-the-router-plane/ . As you can see: no need to touch the vertical part of the blade.
The one he sharpens has a 90 degree angle, but I think the same principles apply in your case.
Regards,
Wesley[quote quote=127674]Thanks Joyner.
I throw in a some images of my iron.
Have I to do something with vertical part of iron ?[/quote]
No. The vertical part is held in the plane body. There is nothing to be done to this.
You only sharper the lower edge part as I described.
As well as Paul Sellers’ description that Wesley mentions, you can search YouTube and find several videos explaining the process that I outlined.
As with everything….. keep it simple and do the minimum.
11 June 2015 at 7:38 pm #127687Thanks to you all for your help.
I have sharpened already this iron. I made it with water paper , started from 400 ( 600,800,1000,1200,1500,2000) and finished with 2500. The blade is like a mirror and very easily cut in vertical the edge of the xero paper. I made the one error – foot of the iron is a litle bit round , fortunately only very ,very slightly. I will do it flat next time with the 220 paper. I have any stones and I think I will stay with water paper. My router is not ready yet , it is made in base of my design.
The body was milled on the CNC machine but rest is and will handmade. On the attached video there is no yet height adjustment system – I waited for the iron ( the irons made by Kirschen are not repeatable ) But now this system is already on the board and will made next week.
Thanks again.
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