spokeshave sharpening

[Joel Goodman]

I just picked up a #53 spokeshave (stealth gloat). Is the LV small blade holder useful for holding the blade to sharpen? What's the best way to sharpen this blade? I need to do some work on the bevel and then hone it. I don't have a grinder and will just use a coarse DMT or sandpaper on glass to regrind the bevel and then hone on waterstones. I have a LV honing guide. Thanks!

[Dave Matson]

I saw a tip once in a magazine (may have been FWW) that suggested clamping small blades between a normal iron and chipbreaker, and then mounting the assembly into the honing guide. Might work.

[PADDY HEALEY]

Joel, the LV small blade thing works for me. Paddy

[Chuck Nickerson]

The small blade holder works perfectly in the Veritas Mk I. In the Mk II it works fine in carriage positions 1 and 2. But in position #3, the steepest, it rubs against the wheel. Position #3 is the only one that will let you refresh the 45* angle on a short blade, like their new small scraper. I've tried sending word back to LV with their tradeshow crew that a thinner small blade holder is needed. We'll see what happens.

[Larry Marshall]

It's not THAT hard to sharpen spokeshave blades without jigs. That's how I do mine.

Cheers --- Larry

[Josh Bowman]

I took a couple of pieces of scrap metal to clamp my 1st try at it. It worked ok. Then I took piece of metal and drilled/tapped for a small piece to clamp it so my veritas jig could work. It still needs some refinement, but I'm on the right track.

[Matt Rogers]

I used the "Josh Bowman Method" too. I had a scrap piece of metal, I think it was a garage door track bracket. It fit perfectly into my honing guide, and I bolted the spokeshave blade to it, set the angle and away I went....

--Matt Rogers

[Joel Goodman]

Thanks for all the help. I think I'll try the home brew method mentioned with a piece of scrap metal and a machine screw and wing nut. I'm assuming 25 or 30 degrees for the bevel -- any advice on that?