Replies

1. 
   fingers | Sep 29, 2010 03:40pm | #1

   The Makita horizontal stone works well.  It's been around forever.  I have been sending my planer blades out though.  They do a better job than I do on the Makita.

2. 
   bd | Sep 29, 2010 08:05pm | #2

   the makita works

   I have the Makita also. It does work well, but it's not easy to set up in my opinion, esp. if you want to change between different tasks. If you can set the tool guide up for your planer knives then do your chisels by hand, it will work well. One thing I don't think it's good for is the initial flattening of the backs of chisels, etc. Very difficult to hold a narrow chisel steady. 

   I've always thought it'd be nice to hook up one of those external variable speed controls to it because there are times that I'd like for the wheel to turn slower. Never have gotten around to it, tho', because I've essentially quit using it. Like fingers, I find it easier to send them out, esp. since I have 2 planers and a jointer that all have slightly different settings. Just a real pain to deal with the adjustment screws on the tool rest.

   I have also spend a fair amount of time using a friends Tormek (T7). Really didn't care much for it.

3. 
   Scott | Sep 29, 2010 08:07pm | #3

   There is a big difference in the sharpening needs of chisels versus jointer knives. I doubt you'll find a reasonably priced machine that accomodates both.

   For chisels and plane irons I use this:

   http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=51868&cat=1,43072,43078&ap=1

   ...with a hefty dose of advice from this guy:

   http://www3.telus.net/BrentBeach/Sharpen/index.html

   Spend some time in his site and I guarantee you'll emerge a changed person. You may want to allow yourself a few lengthy visits. It's the best reference for hand tool sharpening that I know of.

   As for jointer knives, I use this:

   http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=33002&cat=1,43072,43078&ap=1

   ...again with lots of influence from Brent's methodology. It works well, but isn't particularly fast. You may prefer to send your knives to a sharpening service.

1. 
   peteduffy | Nov 06, 2010 11:34am | #5

   What Scott said

   The chisel/plane iron jigs work really well.  But if you use them on a stone you will likely wear grooves into it, especially with a 1/4" chisel. Besides, most stones aren't completely flat anyway.

   For chisels & planes, I use a series of wet-or-dry silicon carbide sandpaper on a piece of plate glass (scrap I found somewhere).  You can get the sandpaper at an auto parts store if your hardware store doesn't have it.  I start with 320 grit, then 400, 600, 800, 1200, and then 1500.  It polishes it to a mirror finish and I could probably do surgery. Just use water or mineral oil or something to lube it and keep the shavings suspended.

4. 
   Piffin | Oct 16, 2010 05:22pm | #4

   The makita wet wheel is my choice too. Everything from kitcehn knives, to chisles to 12" planer blades.

5. 
   marv | Jan 27, 2011 05:51pm | #6

   I've tried the Makita, sold it on Ebay - too much time to sharpen a chisel

   I've tried the WorkSharp - same thing.

   Tried the Scary Sharp method and liked it but too slow.

   Then I watched this sexy girl demonstrate the JoolTool at a woodworking show in Chicago.  She will sharpen anything right before your eyes in a matter of minutes.  She takes a chisel and hammers it on a nail then proceeds through the grits until it is "mirror" sharp in less than 10 minutes.  Its a wonderful sight ;).  If you've seen her, you know what I mean.

   I bought one and it's fast, fast, fast.  Remember when you bought a drill doctor and you sharpened every bit in the workshop on the first day?  Same with this tool.

   http://www.jooltool.com/Company.html

1. 
   Piffin | Feb 23, 2011 10:01pm | #7

   Marv, Marv, Marv....

   Don't let the pretty gurls blind you.

   You never took any time to learn how to use the Makita if you think it was too slow for chisles