Thread: Recommendation for where to buy waterstones?

Originally Posted by Mnb

I remember the feeling when I finally managed to get the plane set up right and the blade decently sharp and produced a nice curly shaving. I actually took it to show my Dad. (I'm 44 but woodworking seems to bring out the kid in me.) Since then I've fallen in love with the look and feel of wood after I've planed it - with a blade sharpened only to 1200 grit. 8000 grit is "like wow".

Only problem with this is it is far too easy to lock a piece of 19 x 100 in the vice to 'test it out'. It's so addictive that once you've finished 'testing it out' it needs sharpening again.

Nice jig!

I'm actually really pleased I was on the right track though. I was trying to do the same thing but in a far more primitive way.

Instead of the groovy bar attached to the sander I have my little piece of pine going out from the drill press table. Once I got it parallel I was doing o.k. But I don't have anything to hold the blade in place except my fingers. Looking at yours I think I need to add that and probably support for my equivalent of the bar on the far side of the sander.

When I put the blade back down after lifting it to avoid too much heat I only have move it a bit to be a little bit out of alignment. Putting more pressure from my fingers on one side of the blade than the other at times is probably inevitable too. Something to hold it in place will help. I was already wondering if the wood had sagged a bit at the far side since it isn't supported there. Will add that too.

With any luck I might have both the blades in good shape ready to be sharpened by the time the stones get here


Fingers of one hand just behind the bevel. O.K. Yep , been holding it too far back. I've moved my fingers down since I started but on either side of the blade which is going to increase the chance of rocking. I'm better then I used to be but often put more pressure on one side than the other aarg.

Dr. Bush - found a couple of left over tiles in the kitchen cupboard. Thanks.

Woodworking seems to bring many moments of "Of course, it's so obvious. Why didn't I think of that?"

That's one of the great things about this forum - some of the homemade jigs and contraptions show an amazing level of ingenious "bush engineering", i.e. looking at all the junk in your shed, and thinking, "Now, what can I make out of THIS?"

Derek, I've been reading your site. Right now all I will say is that anyone who hasn't read Steve LaMantia (I"m talking about my oilstones)'s post on scary sharp must do so. If not you risk becoming the still living body of an enemy warrior.

Warning - it's a good story but may not be to everyone's taste. I loved it but I enjoy writing.