Sharpening out of square
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16 October 2016 at 4:06 pm #141467
Hi all,
I’ve been trying to follow Paul’s video on chisel sharpening, but I find that I’m consistently going out of square, especially with smallers chisels such as 13 and 6 mm sized and end up with a skewed edge.
It’s most likely that I’m slightly rolling my wrist when sharpening on the stones, but I can’t tell that I’m doing it.
If I hold the chisel straight on and don’t angle it like Paul does I stay square but I know/don’t think I’m getting as sharp a finish.
Anyone else had the same experience?
Does anyone have a method for telling if your rolling your wrist?
Cheers,
Graham
several places its been mentioned that it does not have much impact if not too out of square. if it bothers you try to square it up and then future sharpenings you can try and reverse the angle (right to left, then left to right) the same number of strokes. Myself, I would just try and check progress and correct as you go at each sharpening opportunity.
BrianJ16 October 2016 at 6:18 pm #141473[quote quote=141468]several places its been mentioned that it does not have much impact if not too out of square. if it bothers you try to square it up and then future sharpenings you can try and reverse the angle (right to left, then left to right) the same number of strokes. Myself, I would just try and check progress and correct as you go at each sharpening opportunity.
BrianJ[/quote]
Thanks for your reply.Personally when out of square, I’ve found it makes a difference when chopping a mortise as it affects the shoulder and makes the chisel want to twist, hence the question.
I presume that you are sharpening by hand rather than with a guide or jig.
If it matters that the chisels are maintained dead square across on subsequent sharpenings, instead of pushing and pulling the blade along your stone in a forward and backwards motion, try drawing the blade backwards in a single stroke.
I find that for narrower blades this way you can maintain the vertical ballance better. It also helps to draw the ‘sharpening wire’ backwards from the bevel.In time practice will improve your techniques.
If you have a camera that has a movie function, why not film a typical sharpening exercise to see exactly what is happening?
21 October 2016 at 11:00 pm #141747Thanks for the reply.
Yep not using a guide as trying to follow the YouTube video.
I’ll give the camera a go and see if that helps and just drawing back for sharpening.
22 October 2016 at 4:06 am #141768This is something I have problems with also. I find I have to really focus on wrist placement and the pressure and finger position of my left hand (I am right handed). Of course mental focus is a big think in handtool woodworking.
23 October 2016 at 7:48 pm #141839The first couple of boards i planed the sides of for laminating were out of square quickly, and always to te same side. I made a point of trying to plane out of square the other way, the net result of which was much closer to square. And now i find i need to do a lot less finetuning when planing sides.
Maybe this works for you also – and after a while you should find that your muscle memory will help you sharpen square almost automatically.
My 2 cents.
Mic
I have the same problem occationally as you said with the smaller chisels. and it’s hard to get them back square once you notice it is out of square however, I put more presure on the side that is long and over a few sharpenings they come back square. I’d say that is a common problem with hand sharpening.
30 October 2016 at 8:17 pm #142039Thanks for the replies folks.
I haven’t had time to try and film myself sharpening. In relation to getting the chisel back to square I’ve read that using a guide could help, either that or grinding them, but that’s not an option for me at the moment.
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