Video: Sharpening on the Go
Building Skills video: Watch this durable, portable, and affordable sharpening method that’s ideal for remodelers.
I’ve invested a lot of money in tools and I have a pretty awesome shop. Not only is woodworking my livelihood, it’s a passion. But I take no pleasure in sharpening and on a recent job, one with no water and no heat, my water stones became useless for sharpening my chisels. As the name implies, water stones require water and they don’t like freezing temperatures. I sought and found a more job-site-friendly system that works so well, it’s now how I sharpen all of my hand tools, even when I’m working in my warm and cozy new shop.
For more about this method of sharpening chisels, check out Building Skills in issue #277.
More about Sharpening:
How to Sharpen a Block Plane with Sandpaper – A block plane is an essential tool that needs to be sharpened regularly to work properly. Here’s how to do it. (For this procedure, we made our own sharpening “stone” by gluing four different grits of sandpaper—220, 400, 800, and 2000—to a piece of MDF using spray adhesive.)
Site-Made Moldings in a Pinch – When all you need is a few feet of millwork to match existing trim, look to the tablesaw, a block plane, and some sanding blocks.
Tighten Up Your Trimwork – Though it doesn’t have a cord or battery, a block plane is a powerful finish-carpentry tool.
