Thread: A journey starts with the first step

I have been thinking about getting a Veritas MK2 honing guide for quite a while, and finall purchased one a couple of days before Christmas. At this point, I have sharpened 1 chishel, and 1 plane blade. I have to say that I am totally enthralled with this tool. The accuracy, and above all repeatability of it, is supurb. This has to rank as one of my best buys ever.

I started by sharpening a plane blade from a partly restord Record 4, on an oil stone, and was delighted to get a flat, and square, bevel, in a relatively short tiime. It was pretty sharp too. But I thought bugga it, lets do it properly, and set up a scary-sharp setup using a glass door from an old entertainment cabinet. I have flattened the back of the blade, and honed the bevel, and back, to 2000 grit. Well, to cut a longish story short, the plane now hisses when used. and is cutting a .05mm (.002") shaving. That has to be one of the nicest sounds ever. Now it's time to complete the restoration, and finish the other semi-done planes.

I've been trying to make an octagonal box, and have made 3 carcasses so far, but have been un-happy with the fit of the joints. The last attempt, was done on the triton router table using a 22.5 deg bit. This was a big improvement, but still not good enough. Seems to indicate that the router bit isn't perpendicular to the table. This box is for my daughter, as a wedding gift, and I want it as good as I can get it. But it has been looking like being far beyond what I can achieve.

As a last resort, I decided to (attempt) to make a shooting board, with a donkey ear(?) attachment to cut the bevels. Made up a template from 1/4" ply, and planed the 2 side pieces to correct angle (I hoped). I don't think I have ever had so much pleasure in the shed, as when planing those 2 pieces.......pure heaven.

I mounted the bevel attachment to the shooting board, and re-planed the bevels I had done with the router. Better joints, but still not good enough. But finessing the angle of the Donkey's Ear a couple of times, by using veneer as shims, got me almost perfect mitres. To say I'm stoked, would be a huge understatement. I would never have believed that I could achieve a fit like this, and it now gives me great hope that I can get a
box that I will be proud to give. Mind you, I've only got to first base, and in this box there will an lot of things for me to master, and a lot of potential to stuff up. But I now believe I can do it.

Thank you to Mr Veritas, I have taken the first step on a journey of learning.

Pic1. The shooting board with Donkey Ear fitted.

Pic2. The box sides held in place with tape.

Pic3. All the mitres look like this.