Replies

1. 
   derekcohen | Sep 07, 2006 04:31am | #1

   Handrubbed

   It is not a new method, in fact it has been a standard for Japanese blades, as far as I am aware. I use this method when freehanding narrow blades, especially spokeshave blades, or those dinky things that go into side rabbet planes and the like. It proves better registration and less likelihood of tipping the bevel.

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

2. 
   RMillard | Sep 07, 2006 04:45am | #2

   I use the side to side motion for all my sharpening. I adopted it when I went to  sand paper for sharpening, because sand paper didn't lend itself to the figure 8 motion I used with oil stones.

   Rob Millard

1. 
   Handrubbed | Sep 07, 2006 04:58am | #3

   Like I said, sounds like an excuse to tout the Shaptons.  Nothing wrong with that though; everyones got to make a living.

1. 
   RMillard | Sep 07, 2006 12:52pm | #4

   It may well be an excuse to push the Shaptons, but I use because it works very well. For what its worth, I've never heard of Shaptons, so I was in no way influenced by them.

   Rob Millard

1. 
   BossCrunk | Sep 07, 2006 08:15pm | #8

   Shaptons are the latest vehicle to help you part with a few hundred bucks and have fodder for a "gloat" on a discussion board.  Pretty much marketed to the same crowd that would actually get into a car and drive to a seminar on sharpening - the kind that believe the key to it all is sharp edges and not spatial and layout skills.

   These folk's time would be better spent driving to an antique shop with a sketch pad in hand to draw a piece or a certain feature of a piece. 

   Shapton~Schmapton, I say.

   Edited 9/7/2006 1:25 pm ET by BossCrunk

1. 
   RMillard | Sep 09, 2006 02:23pm | #14

   BossCrunk,

    

   I went to the Shapton website, and those things are expensive. I can buy a lot of 3M sandpaper at Wal-Mart for what they cost.

   I like your no nonsense approach to woodworking, and your ability to say what you think.

    

   Rob Millard

2. 
   BossCrunk | Sep 09, 2006 03:26pm | #15

   It's damn hard to beat the paper isn't it?  I used to use it for rough grinds only but I slapped a few pieces of 2000 grit down on the other side of the glass and it does as spectacular a job as anything I've ever used and there is no stone maintenance of any kind. 

   And, in effect, you can own a practically countless number of different grit 'stones.'  Your only limit is the different grit papers you can lay your hands on.  I like that flexibility. 

   An old dog can learn new (actually old) tricks.

3. 
   jackplane | Sep 07, 2006 05:34pm | #5

   This method on stones can produce faster dishing, or cupping, because the force applied is  now focussed on a smaller area. Not a big deal but something to consider.

   Water stones are easy to dress, but oil stones are a sloppy more time consuming process.

    

   
   

   ---

   Edited 9/7/2006 11:53 am ET by jackplane

1. 
   mwenz | Sep 07, 2006 06:43pm | #6

   This method on stones can produce faster dishing, or cupping, because the force applied is not now focussed on a smaller area. Not a big deal but something to consider.

   With the sideways method, one can utilize the entire surface more readily and evenly--which in my experience leads to less dishing.

   I don't think Harrelson pushes the stones too much. But that is his business. And they are good stones, not snake oil, so I can accept that part. I view the salesman aspect much like if one were to take a class from Rob Cosman: you will get a dose of LN tools.

   The important part of any such vendor/teacher is to review the techniques, not the products unless interested.

   But HS does know how to get an edge.

   Take care, Mike

4. 
   mufti | Sep 07, 2006 06:44pm | #7

               Having tried them all and seen the light, I grind with the appropriate arc and sharpen by holding the blade or iron in a clamp, bevel up and use hand hones to get the edge. I can see what I am doing and tune the edge to my needs.

5. 
   BossCrunk | Sep 08, 2006 02:09pm | #9

   People are cleaving off a part of a very simple process and teaching a seminar on it.  A seminar on wiping an edged tool from side-to-side instead of to-and-fro. 

   If the absurdity of this is lost on you, then I won't be able to be of much help.

6. 
   BossCrunk | Sep 08, 2006 03:55pm | #10

   I see your point and agree with you completely.

1. 
   daryl | Sep 08, 2006 05:16pm | #11

   The guy who made the DVD on side sharpening is Harrelson Stanley, and he is indeed the US rep for Shaptons, although you can buy them elsewhere. I knw Harrelson, and have learned a lot of sharpening from him. Is he simply touting Shaptons? No, he is a major sharpening wonk. At our woodworking show last year (the Long Island Woodworkers Club), I was in the middle of a sharpeing discussion with Harrelson, Strother Purdy and Aime Fraser. Basically, he taught, and they (as well as I) listened.Shaptons are very expensive, but they are fast as anything. When you are a pro, time is money, and I am finding more pros like them because they get you back to work fast. Shaptons are a system made in Japan: they are a ceramic based water stone (but you never submerge them). They come in many grits, from very coarse (120) to 30,000, which is used if you are either operating on someone or entering plane shaving competitions (a spectator sport in Japan). They now sell a thinner set, that is cheaper, though not cheap. They also sell registered lapping plates, flattening plates for the stones, and other things. I switched to them several years ago. They are fast, they are clean, and they are accurate. I learned Harrelson's side sharpening technique, and while it probably works for any stone, they are great for Shaptons, and what they do is concentrate the sharpening on the entire perimeter of the stone, leaving the middle for final stroking. That eliminates a lot of the dishing you see in other water stones. Harrelson has always struck me as a good guy, and while his stuff is expensive, he really doesn't try to talk you into buying his wares. However, his demonstrations are great, he and Jeff know their stuff, and his tools are really neat (and I have two kitchen knives from him that cost under $50, so not everything is expensive).

1. 
   BossCrunk | Sep 08, 2006 05:31pm | #12

   "No, he is a major sharpening wonk."

   Well now, that IS something to aspire to.

   I'm sure he's a good guy and I'm sure the Shaptons work fine. 

   Edited 9/8/2006 10:42 am ET by BossCrunk

1. 
   Buster2000 | Sep 09, 2006 02:30am | #13

   "No, he is a major sharpening wonk."

   Well now, that IS something to aspire to.

   Hey give the guy a break someone is bound to be a wonk!