I'm looking for reliable ways to sharpen the irons on my Veritas Skew Rabbet Plane. While I know the best method is likely hand sharpening, I really struggle with that, even when using honing guides. I don't want to risk ruining the blade while I learn, as I need it to stay straight. I have a Lie-Nielsen honing guide, but their jaws are designed for a 30-degree skew, while my Veritas plane is at 22 degrees. I could purchase the Veritas MKII honing guide with the skew registration jig as the manual suggests, but that would cost $125, which feels excessive since I'll still be using my Lie-Nielsen for other sharpening tasks. Are there any other effective and affordable methods for sharpening these blades, or is hand sharpening my only option? For now, I'm also keeping an eye out on eBay for affordable Veritas honing guides.
6 Answers
I use a Stanley #200 honing guide for my skewed iron since it's wide enough to accommodate the angle. General has a similar knockoff called the 810. I like these guides because their roller part stays off the stone, which makes things easier. Sometimes I add a metal piece to hold down the thumbscrews. It's an old-school method that works great without needing fancy and complicated jigs.
The new Katz Moses jig solves this issue pretty well, but it costs about the same as the Veritas setup. Just a heads up!
The Veritas rabbet plane comes with set screws to adjust the blade's tilt, so you don’t have to worry about being perfect. This makes it a bit more forgiving, just like hand sharpening a regular blade.
Eventually, you'll need to grind back a primary bevel. If you start doing a hollow grind, I promise that freehand sharpening will become a lot easier for you. It's worth considering!
Honestly, I think freehand sharpening is the best way to go for skewed blades. I’ve never used a guide myself, but being able to angle the blade just right in your hand makes a big difference. Even if you usually prefer guides, learning to sharpen freehand can be super beneficial in situations like this!
Have you seen this article? It might help: [Correct the Skew on a Plane Blade or Chisel](https://www.popularwoodworking.com/techniques/correct-the-skew-on-a-plane-blade-or-chisel/). I know you prefer not to freehand, but if you color the bevel with a Sharpie and move the blade back and forth gently, it's easier to see when you're going off course. Though, to be honest, my skew blades are kind of approximate!
It really does a great job, but maybe I'm a little biased! 😉