Thread: Sharpening, that hoary old chestnut

The wire edge.

Flip the chisel over and polish the back, that will remove it. If it's a plane blade, you can give it a back bevel to the same end.

If you want to strop it off, make sure you only draw the blade backwards over the strop, handle towards you, bevel side up. You can do this with a leather strop or a bit of MDF charged with that green crayon stuff (forget it's name).

Originally Posted by Bodgy

I have one enduring problem.

I also have a problem when sharpening - my left arm has less hair on it than the right one after i've finished leading to comments about "girly boy" etc ....

I'll bet your left arm has less muscle than the right one too Zed!


P

Bodgy - usually the wire edge goes as you get down to the finest grit, by alternately honing back and bevel, as Silent C says. But I have found with some tools that the wire edge just won't leave you. These have invariably been older tools of doubtful provenence, whose metal seemed quite soft. You can tell by the way it catches on the stone that they aren't as hard as 'usual'. They always turn out to be not worth the effort of sharpening. Not only do they not hold an edge, but as you say, where the 'wire' breaks away, the edge is already duller than desired.

Now before you scorch me, I'm not accusing you of having crap tools. :eek: There are probably several reasons why prominent wire-edges form, but that's been the cause of very noticeable ones in my experience (all other things being equal, like moving through the grits as soon as the scratches from the previous size have gone, and not over-doing each stage). I often get a small wire during the first honing after grinding, and it's tempting to strop it off on the palm of my hand (ok for ex cane-cutters, but be careful if you have soft skin!) however, all the gurus advise agin it. It always comes off on the second-finest grit I use (soft white Arkansas) which is a nuisance, cos if I don't notice, the edge I'm trying to hone rolls over it, which can cause irritating little flaws...

My 2c....

Originally Posted by IanW

Now before you scorch me, I'm not accusing you of having crap tools. :eek: ..

Apart from the sub-continental POS.

IanW is pretty well on the money I reckon. At the finish of honing on the finest stone, just do one stroke on either side of the blade. That may help.

Ian

As Alex says, I think you are absolutely correct. The problem you describe exactly approximates what I'm experiencing, ie the wire (which you need a magnifying glass to see) just flip flops from one edge to another as you alternate the chisel on the stone.

Your thesis regarding the tools also seems on the money. I have two sets of chisels, one (the more expensive) never dispays these symptoms, the other, of indeterminate provinance, invariably does and constantly needs sharpening.

I was misled by the age of the crap set, but I guess they even made cheap crap 20 years ago.

Thanks for everyone's input. Don't bid on an old chisel set on Epay for a while, boys.

[QUOTE=Bodgy]
I was misled by the age of the crap set, but I guess they even made cheap crap 20 years ago.
QUOTE]

Oh yez, and for many years before that! Age (present company excluded) is certainly no gaurantee of quality!
Even well-known names can produce crap at times, or else a couple of things I've got have been through a house-fire. Since one appears to have its original (wooden) handle, this seems unlikely.

Avagooday,

Is it possible that you need to increase the angle of the bevel so as not to have that ultra thin bit hanging out the front.

Magnifying glasses??????

Come on !!!!!

Just sharpen it!

Originally Posted by dazzler

Magnifying glasses??????

Come on !!!!!

Just sharpen it!

Well I do...........but then I'm a bloke who likes a close shave.

Well, 10 replies and not one answer to Bodgy's original question.

So come on people, get with the game here. I want to know too.

How do you sharpen a hoary old chestnut ? I have a blunt one here, waiting for your enlightened answers.

Originally Posted by Gumby

How do you sharpen a hoary old chestnut ? I

Give him a stiff scotch and find him a comfy chair.

Shack him up with a chesty old hoare

Originally Posted by scooter

Shack him up with a chesty old hoare

Well done Scoot! I'd pay that.