Thread: Stones

Originally Posted by ErrolFlynn

Because it comes up so often in the forum. I'm a curious type. Nothing more.

You see, up until recently, and that was when I went to Bunnings to buy one a few weeks ago I discovered that there was a choice of three different types. Wow. Confusion. I had thought there was only one type of stone. The thing that comes from some factory. And I was of the view that any old stone will do. I bought a middle-of-the-road stone

If you had read the stuff that comes up so often in the forum you would be better informed so I doubt you even tried to read it.

To mellow out a little what Chris said (he's not wrong, though), it's something to ponder this stuff.

It's another to draw conclusions too early. if you get far enough into hand work, you will find out what matters and what doesn't. Unless you're one of the unfortunate individuals who reads finewoodworking and relies on youtube and other blog stuff for advice on what the "ultimate best way" is. If so, you'll be stuck buying your 9th honing guide in year 17 of hand work and still believing that you can't sharpen accurately without a jig.

And then it won't matter, either!

Originally Posted by D.W.

To mellow out a little what Chris said (he's not wrong, though), it's something to ponder this stuff.

He seems to jump to conclusions. I must have touched a nerve.

Actually, I didn’t know the woodwork forum existed until recently. Consequently, I haven’t read past threads. But since being here I’ve been surprised by the amount of discussion devoted to the topic. I couldn't understand why. Hence, my question.

Originally Posted by ErrolFlynn

He seems to jump to conclusions. I must have touched a nerve.

Actually, I didn’t know the woodwork forum existed until recently. Consequently, I haven’t read past threads. But since being here I’ve been surprised by the amount of discussion devoted to the topic. I couldn't understand why. Hence, my question.

well, if you started with a single stone (presumably a combination stone) and you get a hold of a much sharper tool when you're planing or cutting joints, you'll figure it out.

Except that much of what's discussed is thinking that it's a lack of the right equipment but it's a lack of the right use of the equipment.

And I'm sure it's profitable to sell the sharpening kit, so the influence of distributors and influencers will keep it in front of you, regardless.

which goes back to my original statement - if you find no need for something sharper, then there's probably no need. If you find the need for something sharper, then you'll get the need. How that's achieved, not being trapped into the failings of others ("you can't do that!" is common, but it usually means "I can't do that" when someone says it), and avoiding people who went to trade school 50 years ago and thinking they learned everything about hand tools and sharpening because it was the "golden age". An absolute plague on the English forums, for example - I suppose for the want of not finding out that the "old chippie" who worked in the 1940s really didn't work in remotely the same environment as someone who worked in the 1840s as far as hand tool competence goes).

A good friend of mine grew up as a kid in the early 50s and was gaga over making guitars. He knew he needed something sharper, but all he had was a block plane (he still made guitars with it, though) and a combination stone. He said he would sit at the kitchen table at night and rub the edge of the block plane on a paper bag - basically abrading it slowly - until it was sharp enough above and beyond the level of the combination stone.

He went on to grow up and do absolutely world class work, but was intolerant of "sort of" sharpened tools done on coarse stones.

There is nobody on here who can describe sharpening better to you than the passages in holtzapffel and nicholson. The challenge in reading those is that you'll never find a good full sized fine turkish stone. Fortunately, you don't need to.