After doing PS method of sharpening for a year or more, I changed to the hollow grind method. Maybe since I have oilstones. I don’t have a real coarse stone, or most likely its a technique issue, I could never get the tools really sharp. I did try it for a long time. I still do my tools freehand but have more success with the hollow grind.

I use Arkansas stones, soft and hard black, with a strop to polish the bevel to a mirror finish. I cannot say how many more strokes it takes to sharpen, than using a diamond stone, but I am able to get razor sharp edges using Paul Sellar’s method. But again, I cannot compare what I get to what others may get, because I just haven’t seen anyone else sharpen edge tools. One big negative is having to use oil. I end up getting oil on my hands, and sometimes the work bench that can smudge, or bleed on to the work piece I’m working on.. However, having a nice thin coat of oil on the blades does help prevent rust..

Like many others have said, we need to use whichever method works best for themselves.. I know the Arkansas stones work well for me. I purchased the Arkansas stones before I knew about Paul Sellars and if I had a chance to do it all over again, I probably just follow his recommendations and use diamond stones. EZE laps are the cheapest I have seen and have often considered picking up a coarse or extra coarse diamond plate to re-establish a bevel, especially on flea market and ebay finds..

cheers!

That’s good to hear Jon being able to use water stones. My fear would be the amount of lapping you would have to do to keep stones flat. Especially when doing plane irons .
I hope people don’t get me wrong I have used Paul’s method and do get good results. I just cannot get the look of a convex bevel right in my head. There is something about hollow ground bevel with a tiny micro bevel just looks right. That’s just me.
If I use a guide I use an old Eclipse guide has a small wheel and you can lean it over to take a bit more off of corners. On most bench planes a small camber preferable.

Interesting thread. I am retired. I have spent wat too much money on exploring honing methods over the past 20 years. Before I met Paul, I went back to oil stones, for several reasons. After seeing his method, I tried it with my oil stones. Works very very well.

I have heard that stropping carries with it a huge dubbing risk and that one would be better off polishing with a 16000 grit shapton as the final honing step. Any thoughts on this?

Ron

I would like the answer to that one 🙂

If that is correct, I think the entire “free hand” sharpening method that Paul uses and teaches is prone to that result.

But, I don’t think the “rounding over” thing is anything to worry about. Paul addresses it (I believe) in at least one of his sharpening videos. I think the one wherein he’s sharpening the chisel.

If that is a concern, I would think one could use the “free hand” method for quicker, faster sharpening. Then periodically, use the angle guide method to restore the flatter 25* bevel — from time to time.

Here’s the video. It should start at 2:41 where he points it out.