Mzdadoc Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 One of my classes is a totally unplugged class and sharpening is how we are beginning. I bought a machined flat piece of granite and water stones. Also wet/dry sand paper. I know I could have went cheaper with glass but with young ones I know it would get broken. Holy cow is this labor intensive!!!!! Our instructor let us pass around his box of chisels he's acquired and we all took one or more. I took one and spent HOURS flattening the back side and then putting a 30 degree angle on it down to 8000 grit. I can totally shave very easily with it and if I get it with 1/4" of wood it starts to shave off curls.... LOL I can also see myself in the steel. 1 down 5 to go.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Thankfully, back flattening is something you only have to do once. I took one and spent HOURS flattening the back side and then putting a 30 degree angle on it down to 8000 grit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChetlovesMer Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Fortunately, keeping tools sharp isn't as difficult as getting that way in the first place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 If it took you hours to flatten it, then you weren't using a coarse enough stone...or are you using sandpaper? I'm confused...you said you have a piece of granite and stones. Which are you using? I use my DMT Dia-Flat to flatten...it takes longer to get the scratches out from the DMT than it does to flatten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 If it took you hours to flatten it, then you weren't using a coarse enough stone...or are you using sandpaper? The way I read it, his instructor gave him a chisel to sharpen, so I'm betting he gave him something horrendously un-flat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 Still, my DMT could probably grind down an inch of rebar in about 15 minutes. I bet he tried starting with too high of a grit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 I don't think I've ever flattened over the last inch or so of an iron or chisel, and I doubt I ever spent longer than five minutes flattening anything, except maybe a plane sole. I also use a granite surface plate, and paper for first flattening. I start at 320 to see what it's like, and then go way back from there depending on what it needs. I use Waterstones for fine finish, but final polish is done with diamond lapping film because it's so fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mzdadoc Posted September 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 I use exactly what Tim King uses but you are correct I didn't go coarse enough first. At class tonight I made quick work of it. Much happier with the outcome. It still takes a bit but nothing I can't do with Pandora playing in the back round. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim DaddyO Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Sharpening....learn to embrace it.....you will be doing it a lot. Working with sharp tools is so much more enjoyable than working with dull ones. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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