sharpening - - - an opinion

[phavriluk]

I didn't want to step on the thread that I saw a moment ago....

I try as best I can to exercise the KISS principle. Start at the simple end of everything and add complexity as needed.

So...I read about the 'scary sharp' sharpening process, and I love it. A few sheets of ascending sandpaper grits and an angle-keeping rolling fixture for the chisels/plane blades and I'm on my way. I have a scrap piece of quartz countertop to use as a surface, it won't move and won't break and the price was right. I can shave my arms.

(I'm allergic to using power tools for precision tasks unless I have a lot of confinement and control of the process.)

[Srick]

Peter - I can certainly understand your love of hand sharpening! The “Scary Sharp” system is also sold by Taylor Tools. I am totally sold on the use of abrasive sheets for sharpening. It just makes so much sense. And with today’s technology, it’s pretty easy to purchase a really flat surface, like your quartz tabletop, or a sheet of tempered glass.

One problem with all of this, however… after a full afternoon, you pretty much run out of hair on your arms to test your blades on. And i am reluctant to move on to the next patch of hair!

[phavriluk]

I can see how choosing test areas would require some insight....

[JLT]

I've used both systems: scary-sharp and diamond stone. My preference is for diamond stone for the simple reason that sandpaper requires replenishing from time to time, whereas diamond-stone doesn't. But it's hard to beat scary-sharp for starting with a minimum of investment and getting excellent results, particularly if you can scrounge the glass (or other remorselessly flat surface).