I’ve been told that a secondary bevel is not necessary, and is a basically a waste of time, on a narrow chisel such as a 1/4″. Do the experts agree? Why?
TIA!
forestgirl — you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can’t take the forest out of the girl 😉
Replies
Forestgirl,
A secondary bevel provides a slightly stronger edge that stays sharp a bit longer, so there is no reason, that I can think of, not to use it on tools with narrower blades.
John White
Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking Magazine
Thanks, John. Here's a quote from the post I'm questioning -- could you give your thoughts? [Your response would be for my personal use only; not to argue a point with anyone]
I simply want to understand this whole issue as clearly as I can. Thanks!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Hi Forestgirl,
When secondary bevels first started being discussed a number of years ago, they were promoted because they created an edge that would stay sharp longer because the working edge was at a slightly steeper angle, but the tool still cut well because the overall geometry of the blade stayed the same.
More recently, a small secondary bevel, now renamed a micro bevel, has been promoted to speed up honing a blade because only a small amount metal needs to be removed to restore a blade to sharpness.
My feeling is that a secondary bevel does, at least in theory and occasionally in practice, create an edge that stays sharp a bit longer, so it would be useful on any cutting tool, and it wouldn't hurt to use it even on a small chisel.
If you are using a micro bevel only to speed up sharpening, then the point of the quote you sent is valid, that a small tool can be sharpened quickly without going through the trouble of creating a microbevel.
To be honest, I stopped worrying too much about the fine points of sharpening years ago. Now, between regrindings, I just touch up my blades as needed with a small diamond stone used freehand right at the bench. God knows what angles I actually have at the working edge of my chisels and plane blades.
John
"God knows what angles I actually have at the working edge of my chisels and plane blades." Well, that certainly takes the pressure off, LOL! Thanks, John.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
If you are using a micro bevel only to speed up sharpening, then the point of the quote you sent is valid, that a small tool can be sharpened quickly without going through the trouble of creating a microbevel.
To be honest, I stopped worrying too much about the fine points of sharpening years ago. Now, between regrindings, I just touch up my blades as needed with a small diamond stone used freehand right at the bench. God knows what angles I actually have at the working edge of my chisels and plane blades.
Oh my, you've ruined her day I'm afraid.
As I replied to John " Well, that certainly takes the pressure off, LOL!"forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
To save yourself re-grind time don't put secondary bevels on your chisels except for, perhaps, your mortising chisels. You don't need them on your plane irons either.
As I mentioned in the other thread, if you don't use secondaries the only time you'll have to re-grind is when you chip an edge.
FWIW, the oldtimers thought a single bevel cut 'sweeter.'
You owe it to yourself to pick up the book Plane Craft - authors' last name Hampton.
"You owe it to yourself to pick up the book Plane Craft - authors' last name Hampton. " Funny you should mention that, BC -- I just dug it out of a box of books from an auction last year. It escaped my attention the first go-around. Will definitely put it to use! forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
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