Hey everyone, I'm really frustrated with my chisel sharpening process. I picked up a set of chisels and hand planes a couple of years back, and while I've become decent at using them, sharpening has been a nightmare. Initially, they came sharpened, but I've used them enough to dull them out. I've been following Paul Sellers' method with three plates and a leather strop, but it's not working for me. I recently bought a Veritas honing guide and a flat piece of granite. I set up the chisel at a 25° angle and started using sandpaper, which initially seemed good. However, I hit a wall when I noticed I wasn't grinding down the last 1/16" of the blade. I tried adding a microbevel at 30°, but still no burr on the back. I spent hours on this and am seriously considering abandoning ship! Am I missing something here?
2 Answers
It sounds like you're on the right track with the honing guide, but make sure you're checking the angle properly. If you're not getting that burr, it could be that the blade isn't making proper contact due to an incorrect angle. Try adding a stop block to your setup; it'll help keep your angle consistent. Also, remember to flatten the back of the chisel regularly on a higher grit plate to avoid those issues. A few firm passes should help to remove any burr too!
From what you’re describing, it definitely sounds like your angle might be slightly off. If there's no burr being formed, you're not really sharpening; you're just grinding down the metal. After using the guide, try resetting the angle again, or even go for a lower grit first if needed before honing. Additionally, ensuring the back of the chisel is flat can help make a huge difference—if it's not flat, the blade won't sharpen effectively. Good luck!