I am another one that uses Stu's Sigma (Power something or another) three stone set - 1,000#, 6,000# and 13,000#. They replaced an older King three stone set that I used many years ago and the xdetails escape me.
I am another one that uses Stu's Sigma (Power something or another) three stone set - 1,000#, 6,000# and 13,000#. They replaced an older King three stone set that I used many years ago and the xdetails escape me.
David
Great sharpening thread. Not the usual sharp-sickness. It has dulled the feeling of inadequacy to find that I am in the middle of normal.
Who here can argue with Tage? Sadly I'm sure most know more about abrasive grits than he did, but where has that gotten them?
We have to remember that practical doesn't sell product. Of course we're going to see demos with 6 stones of varying grit and the flattening gear and all of that. It SELLS and makes the vendor money. Disagree with Paul Sellers all you want, but the man makes some sensible points on sharpening and the flavor of the day as it relates to sharpening media.
Also, if you've read Chris Pye's books on carving he talks about some guys getting caught up in getting ready to carve, but never really carving. I think the same thing happens to some in wood working. Sharpening is a good activity to lose a bunch of time in. Fettling old tools is another.
Using a belt sander, grinder and buffing wheel isn't sexy, doesn't seem old worldly or have the same hand crafted nostalgia feeling about it. If you want to sharpen traditionally, if you are European, it's a sandstone water wheel followed by some oil stones, of if you are Japanese, then you use Jnats. If the Shaptons are an acceptable improvement, well then so are belt sanders, grinders and buffers.
Waterstones never harmed nobody! (furtively looks around).
All joking aside, at least it's not drugs.
(sigh)
Believe you me, I have plenty of other woodworking vices, gratuitous sharpening just happens not to be one. I used to have a little problem with braces, bits, and Yankee screw drivers that I am mostly over. And I still can't pass up a $5 plane at a garage sale if it has any salvageable parts. I have a foot of shelf space dedicated to #5s awaiting restoration to visually remind myself that I should get over this habit.
Same here, my efforts to curtail my accumulation has had some success. What bothers me is cleaning the shop and coming across a couple of planes with no memory from whence they came:
Coffin Smoothers.jpg
They are both in usable condition. The blades could use a bit more work. To me they are not comfortable to use due to the grip.
The blades were sharpened on my waterstones.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
I have shaptons 1000, 5000, 8000. I like that they only require a spritz not a soak.
Is it worse to spend a little too much time sharpening or to wax superior that you don’t?
I rely on a Shapton Pro set like Prashun's - 1000, 5000, 8000. I have added a 120-grit when I need to re-grind an edge (no power grinder...), and a homemade strop for finishing.
Even though Shapton Pros are "splash and go" stones, you still need to flatten them periodically. I do mine about twice a year with a DiaFlat diamond plate. Takes about 5 min per stone...
TedP
I am a sharpening guru- or at least I teach a sharpening class at the local woodcraft. I try to keep it as simple as possible, but I get students bring in a bit of everything, over time. Partly so that I can instruct them effectively without speaking strictly from theory gleaned from the forums, and partly to appease my stone Jones I have accumulated a bunch of sharpening stuff. It's not just stones, also jigs, machines and associated paraphernalia. In my own work I use mostly 4 or 5 stones. For instance, right now on the bench is a coarse diamond stone because i did a bit of reshaping on a chisel, a 1200 diamond stone and a translucent white Arkansas stone. Most quick touch ups just see the ark.
Picked up the package(s) in the post office.
Stu wrapped each stone individually, and shipped them in separate boxes! Wow!
I don't think I paid him enough to cover shipping.
Haven't unwrapped them yet. Bracing myself for afternoon patients.
Mine is saws, God help me!!!!!
The surgical black are such a nice stone to use, you won't regret having one. Or a nice translucent, that's next on my list for treating myself. I sharpened a pocket knife on a buddy's very nice translucent. Finer than the black, very different feel. The black felt almost like a waterstone does, the slippery feeling but just a little feedback that I'm used to from oilstones. The translucent seemed less smooth and slippery, felt alot harder I guess, very little feedback. I think that's one that if I get one like it will take some getting used to, to really get the most out of it. But even not used to it you could see a nicer polish on the edge. The black anyway are a joy to use.
Jon