I've been noticing that when I watch others carve, their tools seem to be much sharper than mine. I put in a lot of effort to sharpen my tools, but when it comes time to actually carve, I often feel disappointed with the results. One issue I face is maintaining a steady angle while sharpening. By the time I'm done with a gouge, it's sharp but ends up with a hump in the middle of the bevel. I'm also struggling with sharpening my v-tools. I've been treating them like two flat chisels positioned perpendicularly, but they tend to chip before I'm finished sharpening. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks a bunch!
2 Answers
Hey! I’m not an expert either, but a helpful trick I learned is to wrap some sandpaper (at least 1000 grit) around a stick. This creates a rounded surface that makes it easier to get a better edge. It's not as good as my sharpening stones, but it has definitely helped me!
For your v-tools, you're on the right track treating them like flat chisels, but keep in mind the angle might not be perfectly straight. Focus on honing the corners where the two sides meet, and try wedging some sandpaper into the nook for that burr! I've been sharpening without guides for a couple of years now. Switching to diamond stones was a game changer for me. I set the edge using a 400 grit, then finish with 1k and 2k grits. After that, I just have to touch them up occasionally. Before carving, I like to strop with green wax multiple times. The key is to keep practicing your technique! When I first started, I was too afraid of grinding too much off, but you really won't damage your blade with grits over 1k.
This technique sounds great—thanks for sharing!