FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

SHARPENING CHISELS (you gotta see thi…

| Posted in General Discussion on June 8, 1999 01:44am

*
What’s the microbevel they keep referring to?

Reply
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Replies

  1. Guest_ | Jun 09, 1999 04:01pm | #10

    *
    If you have ever invested hours sharpening your chisels or plane irons with stones (like a certain knothead from THE GREAT NORTHWEST) you will appreciate this. Go to http://www.cabinetmag.com/cmhome.htm and find "Wood Explorer general forum" scroll down to "Just thought I'd pass this along". Give yourself 15 minutes, 'cause these guys enjoy writing, but I tried their technique and it works great. Man, I love this internet thing. - jb

    1. Guest_ | Jun 08, 1999 09:43am | #1

      *Jim,Have you tried it yet? I suppose it makes enough sense. Pete

      1. Guest_ | Jun 08, 1999 10:03am | #2

        *Hey Pete - Yeh, didn't even have a hard time findin' the paper. Works great, I started with a belt sander to get straight and nick free, then progressed through the paper. All together, maybe 15 minutes per blade. I highly recomend it, but I just today noticed that tomorrow afternoon they are changing their URL, so if you want it, go get it in the AM. Just got home from senior awards night at the H.S. That knucklehead kid of mine got the two top scholarships from the community and gets to go his first year at a 28,000/yr school for about 2,000. I am so impressed with his work ethic. He set a high goal for himself and achieved it. I really admire him. - jb

        1. Guest_ | Jun 08, 1999 11:00am | #3

          *JB, congratulations on your son's achievement. There is nothing better than to see your children doing well in their lives. Joe H

          1. Guest_ | Jun 08, 1999 12:36pm | #4

            *Jim,Interesting info, thanks for sharing that.My sharpening sucks.

          2. ml_ | Jun 08, 1999 01:44pm | #5

            *What's the microbevel they keep referring to?

          3. Guest_ | Jun 08, 1999 06:00pm | #6

            *ml - I asked Adrian Wilson that question, and he explained it very clearly. I'd rather give him the chance to explain if you don't mind. - jb

          4. Guest_ | Jun 08, 1999 07:08pm | #7

            *So, what you're saying is that you CAN resharpen chisels and stuff. I just keep buying new ones. Go figure. When I need a real good chisel I just rub my stanley flat-head screwdriver on the sidewalk for a while to give it that keen edge.Seriously though. Did you use one of the thingamajigs to hold your blade at the same angle while you sharpened or did you do it by eye?I will have to try it some day when I get around to it like I get around to everything else.Pete

          5. Guest_ | Jun 09, 1999 10:06am | #8

            *Pete - I use a Stanley 81-050 sharpening jig. Probably paid 5.00 (US...heh,heh) so long ago I can't remember. Has little wheels on the back and you insert the blade to whatever angle you want. - jb

          6. Guest_ | Jun 09, 1999 03:46pm | #9

            *I first learned to sharpen chisels from an old woodsman. He had fed himself through the depression cutting firewood to sell. Felled the trees with a double-bit axe. You used one bit for felling only and never let it near the ground (dirt and stones). You used the other bit for cutting the felled tree into sections for hauling to the bucking yard. It did hit the rocks and dirt and got dull. He had a round "axe" stone in a leather pouch on his belt. You cupped the round stone in your hand to sharpen the axe. He still had that axe and showed it to me, the non-felling side was about a third the size of the felling side from all that hand sharpening!Anyway he had obviously developed his technique with that round stone and used it to sharpen his chisels too. He produced a fine edge. The circular motion tended to produce an elliptical leading edge which was fine for the heavy wood removal he used his chisels for in tree surgery. Not so great for woodworking. The real point is that what I learned from him is that the new, store bought edge on a chisel is far from good. There was a tongue-in-cheek mesage in this thread about buying new chisels rather than sharpening. I've known people who really do that (though they seem to leave the rejects in the bottom of their tool box rather than giving them to me... or they have serrated edges from cutting nails and I wouldn't want them!). $10 for a hardware store chisel is probably cheaper than an hour of hand sharpening and honing. But if you learn to know the difference, there's no performance payback in work done.I try to keep a couple of chisels for utility work and abuse and the rest for finer work. Get by with hand stone touch-ups on the good ones and even a file on the rough work ones. When they all need real work I haul out the Delta Sharpening Station with the wet wheel.

          7. Guest_ | Jun 09, 1999 04:01pm | #11

            *Microbevel: say you grind your chisel at 25 degrees, a good general purpose angle. You then take the chisel to your stone or paper or whatever. If you start honing away at 25 deg, you are removing steel at the top and the bottom of the hollow grind (the shape that comes off the grinder), which takes a lot of time and work. But, if you raise the honing angle just a little, like 1-2 degrees, you are only working on the edge, getting done faster by removing less material. This second, slightly steeper angle is the microbevel. It doesn't take long to sharpen that little area (it should be just a sliver at the edge of the chisel or plane blade), so you tend to not put off sharpening so much. Lee Valley makes a guide with an automatic microbevel function, just turn a little knob and it raise the angle a couple of degrees. The other thing to remember is that a perfectly flat back is just as important or more so to getting a sharp edge.There is also a little problem with a 'wire edge' that gets turned up when you alternate honing with from the back and the angle; this needs to be polished off with a really really fine stone (like 8000 grit), or stropped off with leather or some soft pine. It's worth learning to do; amazing what you can do with a sharp chisel.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Fast, Accurate Wall Framing

A rear addition provides a small-scale example of how to frame efficiently.

Featured Video

Builder’s Advocate: An Interview With Viewrail

Learn more about affordable, modern floating stairs, from design to manufacturing to installation.

Related Stories

  • Podcast Episode 693: Old-House Hazards, Building Larsen Trusses, AI in Construction
  • FHB Podcast Segment: Finding Hazardous Materials in a Fixer-Upper
  • A Classic Paint Sprayer Gets a Thoughtful Refresh
  • Podcast Episode 692: Introduction to Trade Work, Embodied Carbon, and Envelope Improvements

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 332 - July 2025
    • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
    • Fight House Fires Through Design
    • Making the Move to Multifamily
  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work
  • Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2025
    • How a Pro Replaces Columns
    • Passive House 3.0
    • Tool Test: Compact Line Lasers

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data