Originally Posted by
Edward Weber
It's called science, not yada yada
If you're good with sharpening to that high of a degree, good for you.
You just can't escape the scientific fact that when you use a tool it dulls. the sharper it starts out, the more quickly it begins the process.
Also every alloy creates a different cutting edge, you can't just lump everything into the same box. There are just too many variables
YMMV
Originally Posted by
Warren Mickley
When making half blind carcass dovetails, I usually sharpen after each corner (about 10 sockets) because I like the tool in nice shape. However one time I kept going and chopped out 40 sockets without sharpening. After that the chisel still cut end grain pine very nicely. So it would have been judged by many as still sharp.
Part of the art of sharpening is producing an edge that is durable, not just one that passes some sharpness test before doing any work.
In my sharpening the edge is sharpened for the purpose for which the edge will be used. My paring chisels are seldom used for chopping though my chopping chisels might be used for paring if a paring chisel isn't close at hand.
Most of the time my paring chisels may need a little touch up during use, no big deal.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)