wrote in message
oups.com...
I figure most folks here have seen how them thar' high-falootin
Japanese chisels have a concave bottom so that, when lapping the
bottom, the only material you have to remove is on the perimeter... not
in the middle. (If not, here's a pic:
http://www.benchworks.com.au/images/...isel%20Set.JPG)
Supposing that I wanted to have this nice feature on my existing,
non-stratospherically-priced chisels, does anybody know any relatively
easy way to achieve this? Perhaps with a conical grinding stone mounted
in a drill-press?
Alternatively, does anybody have any tricks for automating the laping
process? I've lapped a few of my chisels but, with the larger ones like
the 1.25"... that's a lot of material to remove. It sure would be nice
if there was some contraption that I could clamp my chisel and stone to
and it would just grind them against each other for an hour while I
went to get a sandwich. Anybody seen something like this, or shall I
design one myself?
- Joe
Joe,
I think you're being a bit "anal retentive" here about sharpening. A flat
surface (glass, your tablesaw, a piece of MDF) and a few sheets of sandpaper
makes a ScarySharp sharpening system that is tough to beat. Yes - then next
20 following posts will be from the purists that own the Tormeks or the
latest quality hones or other stones that cost a fortune. I have some
ceramic stones but they haven't been used in several years.
I use a 12" square of 1/4" plate glass I got from a glass dealer ($2) and
some wet/dry papers from the auto store ($1/sheet). I have some coarse
sheets 400-600 grit on up to 2000 grit as I recall and it takes all of about
10 minutes to touch up my whole set of chisels. You do not need to have the
backs so they look like a mirror - just flat. The primary bevel needs to be
nick free but doesn't have to be razor sharp. it's the micro-bevel that you
put on last that does all the work.
Not sure your free-hand style is good enough, then look at the Lee Valley
site (
www.leevalley.com ) and find the sharpening, roller guide for chisels
and plane blades. There are others but Lee Valley makes a great guide and
it has the adjustment you turn to do the micro-bevel.
This should get you there
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...072,43078&ap=1
Bob S.