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View Full Version : 6000 grit; where to now?


snafuspyramid
27th August 2011, 05:24 PM
Sharp at last!

After an enormous amount of time, effort and learning, I've finally managed to produce a chisel that I'd consider respectably sharp. Getting a bunch of fifty year old paint-tin openers to this condition, without using a powered grinder, has been an education.

However, that's only sharp to 6000 grit. I can still see very small scratches on my microbevel. And while I can shave with it, it's not something I'd recommend to my barber.

It must be sharper!

From here, my options are an 8000 waterstone, or MDF impregnated with Flexcut Gold, Veritas Green or something similar. (Hint: the MDF strop idea is about $100 cheaper). What do you recommend?
mic-d
27th August 2011, 05:55 PM
Where to now? Put them to some wood and bloody make something:q You use them to cut wood, not shave. 6000 is plenty.

Once you've worked them a while then decide if you need to go higher. Who knows, they might be crap chisels anyway.
snafuspyramid
27th August 2011, 06:55 PM
Where to now? Put them to some wood and bloody make something:q

What? And spoil my wonderful edge?!


You use them to cut wood, not shave.

Oh dear. I seem to have been badly misinformed.:wink:
eddie the eagle
28th August 2011, 09:05 AM
Eddie,

Strop them as the final step.

Wipe both sides on a piece of paper, old piece of wood, etc... to remove the wire edge.

Here's how to sharpen a chisel once you've ground the primary bevel. It includes stropping.

(Sorry, at the end, I was off camera and still talking. Didn't realise.)

Free Hand Sharpening of Chisels and Plane irons - YouTube

Cheers,

eddie
wachenga
29th August 2011, 12:53 AM
I work up to 6000 grit with my waterstones, then finish with flex cut gold on some 18mm mdf (sometimes 3mm mdf scrap on the bench top at work for a quick touch up), it does make a difference and takes all of 20 seconds, probably less.

Liam
tea lady
29th August 2011, 09:36 AM
Where to now? Put them to some wood and bloody make something:q You use them to cut wood, not shave. 6000 is plenty.

Once you've worked them a while then decide if you need to go higher. Who knows, they might be crap chisels anyway.:whs: :D