Replies

1. 
   chuckh | May 13, 2006 08:25pm | #1

   I don't know.  I was just examing one of my plane blades under my new electron microscope and the scratches from that 12000 grit are driving me crazy!  Looks like I sharpened it on the sidewalk.  I think 16K is tablet paper isn't it?  I'll have to give it a try. 

2. 
   SgianDubh | May 13, 2006 09:12pm | #2

   I think you've got a point Will.

   There's sharp enough for most work. Sharper again for special jobs on the rarer occasions when this is required.

   If it takes a worker more than about 2-4 minutes to dissassemble the plane, sharpen up, and get back to work there's something seriously deficient with their sharpening methods for everyday common or garden plane and chisel use. 

   Then there's some that just seem to prefer sharpening over woodworking.

   Hours and hours of happy fiddling with ever finer grits and magnifying glasses. Two minutes planing until the iron's far too blunt to use anymore (sic) and back to another joyous hour or two at the grinding and sharpening. Slainte.

   Richard Jones Furniture

3. 
   hammer1 | May 13, 2006 09:19pm | #3

   It doesn't matter which way you do it, as soon as you start cutting wood you'll have to go do it all over. I figure those that sharpen to the Nth degree must not cut much wood 'cause they are too busy sharpening. Those that are cutting wood are too busy to be sharpening. It's OK either way, some enjoy tuning and sharpening just as much as woodworking. Nothing wrong with that.

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

4. 
   Ronaway | May 13, 2006 09:21pm | #4

   I am coming to a similar conclusion. I used to sharpen my smoothing plane irons to 2000 grit, however lately I've found that I can't really tell the difference if I stop at 1000 grit and just strop the iron real good and like Richard, it's time to get back to woodworking, that is why you took time to sharpen it in the first place.

   Ron

   
   

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   Edited 5/13/2006 2:22 pm ET by Ronaway

5. 
   jimmy | May 14, 2006 02:52am | #5

   Grind em on my belt sander if needed...hone on a 35 year old combo stone.  Sharp enough for both the wood and me...Like I said in a different thread, I've used a cinder block to sharpen in a pinch....

   
   

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   Edited 5/13/2006 8:15 pm ET by Jimmy

1. 
   AB | May 14, 2006 02:37pm | #6

   Isn't more always better? Don't you set the smallest mouth on your jack? Hang on a minute, I need to get my caliper Then I can get the spacing between these letters down to .001 .

6. 
   charlesstanford | May 14, 2006 03:21pm | #7

   Endless articles about sharpening... expensive systems..... electron micrographs of edges..... leaving most with a shop full of sharp edges and not a clue, not a single one, of what to do with them.

1. 
   jimmy | May 14, 2006 07:11pm | #8

   Welcome back Charles!

1. 
   charlesstanford | May 15, 2006 07:03pm | #9

   Thanks.