Flat Sharpening surface options
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- This topic has 11 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 3 months ago by Thomas Angle.
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4 January 2017 at 11:17 pm #143803
I just bought some tools, including an old Stanley Bailey #4, and I need a way to flatten and sharpen them. I have already watched Paul’s video on sharpening technique, and I decided to go the cheap sandpaper route. The problem is I need a good flat surface to begin. What are my options?!
Cheaper is better.
thx
- This topic was modified 7 years, 3 months ago by mysticjbyrd.
5 January 2017 at 1:35 am #143814I bought a couple of 3/8″ thick glass plates a few years ago. About 7″ x 24″. I’ve used regular sandpaper with a spray adhesive and now have some adhesive-backed sandpaper. Both work fine, but are a hassle to get off the glass.
I was hoping the glass place would give me the cutoffs for free or very cheap, but they charged me about $35 U.S. At least they put a soft edge on them all around.
5 January 2017 at 4:02 am #143816Has anyone tried these?
Cheap thin diamond plates, but for $12…
The only complaint in the review is that the back comes off, but that is an incredibly easy fix. Heck, you might be better off putting it on a stone to start with.
- This reply was modified 7 years, 3 months ago by mysticjbyrd.
- This reply was modified 7 years, 3 months ago by mysticjbyrd.
5 January 2017 at 10:35 am #143821How about these DMT’s?
http://www.bestsharpeningstones.com/catalog/Ultra-Sharp-II-Kit.htm
The issue i think you will find is that the stones need to be flat but solid as well, as you dont want it to yeild under the blade, and the second size at 2×6 is going leave you wishing for more room to work the blade. keep with glass or a flat tile and sandpaper for now would be my suggestion.
I actually recently bought the UltraSharp 3×8 stones. I haven’t used them long enough to tell you how durable they are and I can’t speak to their true flatness but otherwise I am very happy with them so far. Generally speaking you’re going to get what you pay for and I think those $12 DMT stones are probably pretty crappy.
I actually did what Paul did in one of his videos–you can get a truly/certified flat granite block from Amazon for $30-40. They weigh about 20-25lbs. But I assumed OP wanted the cheapest option available which would just be a cheap, “flat” plate of some sort.
Bottom line, you’re going to get out of your tools what you put into them.
5 January 2017 at 5:50 pm #143833A tile worked for me. Better buy it personally in a shop, where you can check it for flatness first (straight edge or at least eyeballing), because not all tiles are perfectly flat.
And don’t get too obsessed about flatness. For quite a while, your skill will determine your results much more than the flatness of your plane.
Dieter
5 January 2017 at 6:36 pm #143835[quote quote=143822]The issue i think you will find is that the stones need to be flat but solid as well, as you dont want it to yeild under the blade, and the second size at 2×6 is going leave you wishing for more room to work the blade. keep with glass or a flat tile and sandpaper for now would be my suggestion.
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Paul sharpens at an angle, so if I do the same, 2″ would be sufficient to sharpen things 2″ or slightly larger.
[quote quote=143823]I actually recently bought the UltraSharp 3×8 stones. I haven’t used them long enough to tell you how durable they are and I can’t speak to their true flatness but otherwise I am very happy with them so far. Generally speaking you’re going to get what you pay for and I think those $12 DMT stones are probably pretty crappy.
I actually did what Paul did in one of his videos–you can get a truly/certified flat granite block from Amazon for $30-40. They weigh about 20-25lbs. But I assumed OP wanted the cheapest option available which would just be a cheap, “flat” plate of some sort.
Bottom line, you’re going to get out of your tools what you put into them.
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Yah, I think I am going to go for the $50 diamond plates. Seems like a good deal, and they have a lifetime warranty, supposedly anyways.
- This reply was modified 7 years, 3 months ago by mysticjbyrd.
I bought a glass shelf from a big box hardware store (6″x 24″x 3/8″)
for about $10 here in Oz. I clamp the wet/dry paper with two small spring clamps (like a cloths peg, I don’t know their proper name) and I squirt the glass with some water before putting on the paper. I find this holds the paper quite well.
Cheers5 January 2017 at 10:00 pm #143844Hi James
I have diamond stones very similar to those cheap ones on Amazon and indeed the backs came off but I just used double sided tape on a melamine board and they’ve stayed put. I can sharpen all my plane blades on them (including the wider 4 & 1/2 etc) freehand using Paul’s method. I will replace them eventually with 3″ x 8″ Eze-Lap stones but for now they do the job!
Regards
Craig
7 January 2017 at 12:35 am #143954I started out with a piece of glass from Goodwill for a couple bucks. I have also spotted thick glass shelves when stores close. If you live close to Cookeville, TN the Goody’s store is closing. I know they are thick glass shelves that you can pick up cheap.
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