Brendon_t Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 Digging through my dad's shed recently, i came across a craftsman #5c plane that was my grandfathers. I bright it home, flattened the sole, oilseed everything and now I'm attempting to sharpen the blade. The back flattened easily and it already had a 30* bevel so I just stuck with that and put it to the stones. After two attempts and not even being able to cut a hair on my hand I raised it to 25 degrees thinking my initial measurement may be slightly off. It is now my inclination that this thing absolutely will not Take an edge. Is it posible to have the piece of steel that just cannot be sharpened? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 Depends on how you are sharpening it and with what. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 Depends on how you are sharpening it and with what. Southern translation.... " Operator Error" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted July 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 I went to 1k on wet/dry paper them switched over to my shapton stones. 1,5k,8k. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 If you were using a decent guide then the blade is crap. See if a Veritas blade will fit ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted July 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 Southern translation.... " Operator Error" How would you know Yankee doodle? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 Digging through my dad's shed recently, i came across a craftsman #5c plane that was my grandfathers. I bright it home, flattened the sole, oilseed everything and now I'm attempting to sharpen the blade. The back flattened easily and it already had a 30* bevel so I just stuck with that and put it to the stones. After two attempts and not even being able to cut a hair on my hand I raised it to 25 degrees thinking my initial measurement may be slightly off. It is now my inclination that this thing absolutely will not Take an edge. Is it posible to have the piece of steel that just cannot be sharpened? Uh, if you flattened the back, and actually took off material, then the blade can be sharpened! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted July 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 I would think so too. Even after watching the burr come off on the 5k stone, I wiped the water off of it and could barely shave a thumbnail. I'm not saying it can't get an edge at all, but I will say I cannot get an whee on it that would be suitable for Wood working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barron Posted July 19, 2015 Report Share Posted July 19, 2015 Not sure what the issue is, but even steel that has completely lost its temper should be able to develop a sharp edge. It might not hold the edge, but it should still get sharp. Having said that I'd see if you can get a PMV 11 blade from Lee Valley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilgaron Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 If it was free hand sharpened a bunch it may have too much of a convex bevel and the edge isn't contacting the wood. I usually sharpen by hand with the convex bevel advocated by Sellers but I did get the belly too fat once when taking a knick out of my scrub plane's iron. Putting a hollow grind on it with the grinder took care of the geometry issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 Just sounds like it needs a fair amount of material to be removed and to re-establish the edge profile. I've had lathe tools I had to do this too. 1000grit to start won't be enough. You wanna go real coarse. If you have a glass plate or granite plate, get some 80 grit wet dry paper. and establish a new profile before moving up the ladder of grits. 120, 400, 1000, 2000, 5000, 8000, etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxdabroxx Posted July 20, 2015 Report Share Posted July 20, 2015 I'm in the camp that thinks you just need to rub on it some more. Eventually it should get sharp even if it doesn't keep an edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CStanford Posted August 2, 2015 Report Share Posted August 2, 2015 (edited) A teaspoon will take an edge but of course won't hold it. You're doing something wrong. Hollow grind the bevel at 25* and try again. Hone on the bevel angle. Don't lift to create a higher honing angle. In this instance, grind until you produce a burr all along the flat face but quench after every pass. You don't normally grind to a burr but I think you should to make sure you've removed any sort of rounding that might be at a higher angle behind the edge. Edited August 2, 2015 by CStanford 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted August 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2015 The term hollow grind is new to me. I assume you mean on a grinding wheel? I don't own a grinder and have never really had the need for one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CStanford Posted August 2, 2015 Report Share Posted August 2, 2015 You would find one extraordinarily useful. Do you own a lathe? Are you flat grinding all your turning tools? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted August 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2015 I don't own a lathe, which is probably why I don't own a grinder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CStanford Posted August 2, 2015 Report Share Posted August 2, 2015 Well, no, you would find a grinder handy even if you don't own a lathe. Flat grinding is fine as long at it's really flat. A problem arises when a slight rise is produced behind the cutting edge that makes the cutter jutter along or not cut at all. If you want to hone plane irons and chisels and not use a grinder then use Paul Sellers' method . You round under behind the cutting edge to maintain proper clearance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 I read where you are supposed to sharpen on the pull and not the push to keep from gouging out the stone. Is that the norm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 I read where you are supposed to sharpen on the pull and not the push to keep from gouging out the stone. Is that the norm? I dunno about everyone else, but I sharpen both ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CStanford Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 If you don't have a grinder, do it just as Sellers demonstrates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missioninwood Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 All sharpening systems should include a grinder. No faster way to establish a primary bevel or repair a damaged edge.miw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Thurman-Keup Posted August 4, 2015 Report Share Posted August 4, 2015 Have you marked the surface with a Sharpie to make sure you're removing the material you think you are? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted August 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2015 Yes I have, the sharpies shows that the leading edge is getting hit first, and the entire entire edge works up a nice burr pretty quickly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted August 4, 2015 Report Share Posted August 4, 2015 Brendon, if you want send me the blade and I'll sharpen it for you, and send it back. I'm super OCD about sharpening. If I can't get the blade sharp than it's not you. I'd establish the primary bevel with my Tormek and then finish it up on the Shaptons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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