Grinding Challenged...Help!!

[Dave Parkis]

For some reason I can no longer grind plane irons square freehanding them on my grinder. Does anyone know of a jig that I can build/buy to square the edges. I'm okay with the sharpening aspect, but grinding the edge square to the side is driving me nuts. I can't afford a Tormek, so that is not an option. Thanks!!

[pat warner]

Edge/radius or edge or disk sander.

[Dave Parkis]

Thanks Pat!! It doesn't get much simpler than that.

[Don Jarvie]

Use a square as you go along to make sure your staying square

[Bruce Wrenn]

Ian Kirby's book "Sharpening with Water Stones" has a very simple, but effective tool rest and holder for both plane irons and chisels.

[frank shic]

don't feel bad, i suck at grinding and sharpening blades which is why i've gone back to power machinery lol

[Terry Beadle]

I use Wolverine's plane blade jig. It cost a little over $100 and does a great job. I tried to google up an image of this jig but I couldn't find it. Maybe it's not sold any more. Derick's got one but it looks different than mine.

What ever method you use, the advice about frequently using a machinist square to check progress is your best bet. If you are checking your work, working slowly, and have a smoothed true side to check square from, you should be getting good results no matter what method you use.

Final square-ing is completed on the stones Arkansas's or water. I prefer water and the new 400 grit power stone Stu sold me does the job really well. Since getting the 400, I almost never have to use the slow speed grinder Woverine jig setup unless there's a chip in the blade.

Good Luck and enjoy the process !

[Jeff Heath]

Another very inexpensive option is to get yourself some Dykem layout fluid......red is what I prefer. You can paint an inch of the back of the iron by the bevel, and with a trued square, scratch a straight line. Grind to that line. It's how I make moulding plane irons fit their profiles.

Less than $10 for the fluid and a scratch-all.

Jeff