Hammer5573 Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 I have read conflicting information about whether to apply a back bevel to my chisels. 1. Are they beneficial...if so, when? 2. Does the back bevel angle vary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Eric. Posted July 23, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 Do not back bevel chisels. You can use the ruler trick on plane blades to save time sharpening, but it's unnecessary and unwise on chisels. You want an absolutely dead flat back on a chisel. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 I've never back beveled anything, and never have any reason to. It's a crutch to make sure you get a cutting edge if you can't get it quite right on the bevel side first. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 10 minutes ago, Eric. said: Do not back bevel chisels. You can use the ruler trick on plane blades to save time sharpening, but it's unnecessary and unwise on chisels. You want an absolutely dead flat back on a chisel. Just in case Eric was not clear, NO back bevel on a chisel. Be fanatically religious about this. It only takes a microscopic bit of bevel in the back of a chisel to ruin its function. It'll still cut, buy you'll have no control. I know this from experience. I don't but a back bevel on plane blades, because by the time I heard of it, all my plane blades had been flattened & polished, so no point. It didn't take long to get them that way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 Taking that shortcut, simply means you're gonna have to work harder the next time you sharpen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted July 23, 2016 Report Share Posted July 23, 2016 When is aback bevel desirable? 1)If you have a badly dished backside to an ancient iron you want to put to work. 2)If you have a single iron woodie bedded at 45° and you want to play around with higher pitches. BTW Tom, I got ***ched at here for implying the ruler trick was a gimmick. Maybe crutch is better phraseology. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted July 24, 2016 Report Share Posted July 24, 2016 Nahhh, its a gimmick, or maybe a cheat. A single-bevel tool should have exactly that - one bevel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekcohen Posted July 25, 2016 Report Share Posted July 25, 2016 The Ruler Trick, championed by David Charlesworth, is an excellent quick method of ensuring that the back of a plane blade is as well prepared as the bevel face. This is not for everyone (I do not use it currently), but it does have its supporters, and some are very well-known and experienced woodworkers. Where the RT is particularly helpful is when honing BU plane blades. The very fine (2/3 degree) backbevel is placed where a wear bevel might otherwise grow. A wear bevel will reduce the edge on these blades. The RT will prevent its incusion. Regards from Perth Derek 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamV Posted September 3, 2016 Report Share Posted September 3, 2016 I made a newbie mistake once and did the ruler trick on my chisels. Stupid Stupid mistake! Never again. Plane blades maybe, chisels never. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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