Sharpening
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- This topic has 6 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 7 months ago by Christopher.
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31 August 2015 at 9:02 pm #129979
Ive been trying to sharpen using Paul’s method now going on six months, but no matter what I do or which diamond stone I use it always abrades more in the center of the plane iron or chisel.
I’ve watched his video a thousand times , I hold the iron exactly like he does and I skew the blade like he does but still I get a very frustrating hollow in the center which, we all know leaves the iron pretty much useless for planing.
There must be something to the amount of pressure he uses or slightly raising one side and then the other. Im not sure Ive tried everything I know to so far.Ive even bought different diamond plates. I now have fourteen different diamond stones DMT, EZLap, 8×3’s, 4×10’s, 3×12’s, 2 1/2 x 11 1/2’s you name it and I have it. But all do the same thing so it has to be something that Im not doing correctly.
Is there anybody who has perfected this method and has the same issue before figuring out to do to eliminate this problem?
I find it hard to believe that nobody has seen this cause Im doing exactly what he is suggestion in his Video’s.
Please Help I’m going broke trying to figure this out.
The irons are coming out sharper than any other method Iv’e ever used, and the have a great feel when using them,
I have the whole 30 degrees down to 20 degrees micro bevel thingie going on so that’s not the problem, “I think”
Im thinking it has to be in the way Im holding the blade or the amount or lack of pressure Im using??? Its not my stones I have ruled out that being the problem at least eight times now.
By purchasing new stones of the exact same size.
“The Bright side” of all this is When and If I ever do get this method down I want have to ever worry about buying new diamond stones thats for sure..
Thanks For any help and advise you can offer in advance. Cheers Chris1 September 2015 at 2:41 am #129988Well, I’m puzzled. I don’t believe I’ve heard of such a thing before. You say you’re getting more abrasion in the CENTER of the iron on plane irons AND chisels?
I can’t help but think I’m getting the wrong image in my mind because what I think you’re saying just shouldn’t be possible on a flat stone with ANY method of sharpening. Just to be clear, you’re saying that when you sharpen a plane iron from (for instance) a #4 Stanley which is 2″ wide, at approximately 1″ from either side of the iron there will be a dip in the bevel.
What makes you think your getting this result? Can you see it and measure it on the iron or is this something you’re seeing when you use the iron on wood? I’d LOVE to see a picture of this if it shows up well enough.
You’re really got me intrigued now.
John Purser
2 September 2015 at 2:25 am #130007Yea , Well it has me puzzled even more ,lol Ive done everything I could think of . It has to be something Im doing wrong here. I can Manipulative the iron and get it to work . I was able to last night anyway. I did this by deliberately lifting the blade ever so slightly on its sides and creating a camber across its width. Then by the time I get to my super fine stone I run several straight stokes to wash out some of the camber. I do notice this also that If I dont pay close attention and compensate for it the blade will cut out of square and its always the left side that has more metal removed than the right siide so I must be relaxing my right hand too much or putting to much pressure with my left finger thats sitting on top of the left side of the cutting iron. Chisels I cant sharpen at all this way it just totally screws them up they end up way out of square so I dont even try for now . I try to conscientiously pay attention to make sure that Im not leaning one way more or the other or putting more pressure on one side or the other so again Im confused. Do you sharpen this way? I have no idea. You can see the slight hollow or concave in the center of the irons when Im thru so It obvious what the problem is with the iron, There’s no question about whats happening. Thanks Chris
3 September 2015 at 1:22 am #130054Try running your iron or whatever you’re sharpening 90 degrees in another direction to see if coming at a different angle helps. I started doing that with my plane iron and got better results.
Also try marking it with a sharpie or other black marker. Make a series of marks or lines along the edge to be sharpened. Then, on a DRY stone, take one pass. Then see what marks have been effected. Do this several times. That way you can see exactly where your iron is contacting the stone and you can make an adjustment.
Good luck,
Kevin4 September 2015 at 2:22 am #130070Christopher, I’ll second what Dmytro said. If the back of your blade is not flat, then you could end up with the problem you describe. It’s easy to ignore this very important step in sharpening. Make sure you review Paul’s videos where he shows flattening the back before sharpening the bevel.
Let us know how you make out.
6 September 2015 at 6:23 pm #130130Thanks for all your ideas and help I finally got it right. It wasn’t my backs they are flat. It was a combination of things that was causing this. First of all I was dropping my hand to far down really I had too much movement going on but I will say that squaring up the blade whether it was a plane iron or a chisel made a huge difference. I also pay closer attention to where the abrading is taken place and then adjusting pressure or angle to compensate where it needed to be cut.
My cutting tools have always been super sharp but I will say this method is awesome not only are they razor sharp but the irons in my bench planes now cut much better. It feels solid in the cut and smooth. I’ve even done this on my Lie Nielsen Planes and WOW what a difference. I’m not just saying this to be talking in fact I don’t normally use forums mainly because I would much rather be building something and I don’t like bothering people.
I still have a problem doing the corners so instead when I get u between my fine and super fine stone , I make about four to five strokes on a 1200 mesh Odate Diamond plate I bought a few years back when they were available. And that cambers the blade slightly enough to perfection. Again thank you for your help I do appreciate it.
Cheers
Chris -
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