|
Sharp Tools are a Woodworking Necessity
If you enjoy woodworking, you know how important it is to have
sharp power and hand tools. With enough use, even the best tools
eventually get dull. So, if you're serious about woodworking,
you'll need to develop some sharpening skills to keep your tools
in good, safe woodworking order.
Three Methods to Keep Tools Sharp
Rockler recommends these three methods to keep your tools sharp:
|
METHOD |
COST |
1. Hand Sharpening
(Least expensive) |
Starting around $30 |
2. The Makita Blade Sharpener
(A good time-saving value) |
Around $260 |
3. Tormek Sharpening System
(A top-line sharpening system) |
Starting around $400 |
1.
Hand Sharpening
Cost: Starting around $30
When done correctly, hand sharpening produces very sharp edges.
When done incorrectly, it will produce dull, unsafe cutting
edges and frustration. If you are committed to developing
old-fashioned hand sharpening skills — and have the patience to
complete it properly — this system will serve you well. Rockler
has a complete line of hand sharpening supplies that will keep
your tools in great shape and last a lifetime:
Recommended Hand-Sharpening Tools Cost
The Hand Sharpening Method
Unless your tool is in good shape, you'll want to start with the
Grinder. Grinding will give your tool edges a hollow grind,
or a concave shape, that will allow you to hone only the back
and front length of the tool edge — a faster way to sharpen. It
is very important to use an
aluminum oxide wheel on your grinder to prevent your tool
from overheating.
Aluminum oxide wheels run cooler than the wheels that come
with most grinders. (Tool steel loses its hardness and its
ability to keep a fine edge when it is overheated.)
The angle of the bevel is produced on the grinder (generally,
chisels and plane irons are 30 degrees) using the aluminum oxide
wheel to prevent overheating. Next, hone your tool using either
the
Rockler Plate Glass Sharpening System or a series of
Water stones, working up through course, medium and fine
grits.
Oilstones
cut much slower with similar results, so we do not recommend them.
You can also use
Diamond stones. They're not required unless you're
sharpening carbide cutting edges, and they are more expensive.
You'll also want to invest in a good
Honing Guide to keep your tool steady and at a consistent
angle while honing.
 2.
Makita Blade Sharpener
Cost: Around $260
The
Makita Blade Sharpener is a 560-RPM, motorized grinding
station. It will reduce the time and skill needed to produce
sharp edges on a wide range of tools, including jointer and
planer blades up to 15" long. The large, slow turning,
precision-made aluminum oxide wheel offers a peaceful and quiet
alternative for precise sharpening. The continuous water feed
keeps your blades cool to prevent them from overheating. The
Makita Blade Sharpener is a good value for a motorized
sharpening system.
The Makita Sharpening Method
The Makita system uses a horizontal, aluminum oxide water stone
wheel. Using the blade holder (included as standard equipment),
you hold your tool firmly against the rotating face of the
wheel, mounted horizontally in the grinding station. This
produces a perfectly flat edge rather than a “hollow grind”
produced with a typical 6" grinder. With a few additional
accessories, you can sharpen a wide range of tools, including
jointer knives and planer knives. The water stone wheel will
eventually wear, but it can be easily re-flattened.
 3.
Tormek Sharpening System
Cost: Starting around $400
This is the Cadillac of sharpening systems — it's our favorite way
to sharpen tools! A vertically mounted, slow turning wet
grinding stone gives you absolute control over every phase of
your edge grinding and honing. The quiet and vibration-free
motor is well built and rated for continuous operation. Included
with each system are a straight-edge jig for sharpening chisels
and plane irons, a genuine leather honing wheel for producing
razor-sharp edges, the 6th Edition Handbook, and a tube of
honing compound. With additional honing guides and accessories
you can make the
Tormek system a virtually goof-proof method for producing
razor-sharp edges every time.
Tormek sharpening is a significant advance in the process of
edge tool sharpening. With the Tormek system, anybody can
quickly and consistently sharpen edge tools to almost surgical
sharpness. With the right accessory, all of your tools — even
your radiused edge tools like your fingernail turning gouges,
spoon-carving gouges, and oval skew chisels — can be sharpened
to your exact, individual needs. Previously sharpened edges can
be replicated in less than 60 seconds. For serious woodworkers,
that means a lot less time sharpening, and more time
woodworking!
Tormek Accessories included with the Tormek Sharpening
System
Straight edge jig for plane irons
Universal support with micro adjust
Handbook
Honing Compound 70 Grit (Tube)
Horizontal Base for Universal Support
Video on the Tormek Sharpening System
Pro Angle Master
Grinding stone
Additional Tormek Accessories (Sold Separately)
Planer/Joiner Blade Jig
Multi Jig
Long Knife Jig
Short Knife Jig
Stone Turning Tool
Short Tool Jig
Scissors Jig
Universal Gouge Jig
Turning Tool Jig
Stone Grader
Axe Grinding Jig
The Tormek Sharpening Method
With the Tormek system, a precision-made water stone rotates
slowly and safely through a water reservoir to keep your tool cool
as you sharpen and hone. The patented Angle Master enables you to
set a precise edge angle. You simply steady the tool in a
corresponding guide and let the Tormek do all the work. Because a
very small amount of steel is removed, a sharp edge is produced
quickly. Once you have ground your tool to the desired shape and
edge angle, you can reproduce it exactly in future sharpening. This
is even possible for “difficult” tools with unusual shapes. There is
a guide or accessory available for virtually any type of tool
(including knives and other household cutters), which makes Tormek
one of the most versatile sharpening systems on the market. The
grinding stone is precision balanced to retain perfect stability and
water-cooled to ensure that your tool steel does not overheat and
lose its hardness. After grinding an almost perfect edge, you can
finish by honing it on the leather-honing wheel for a surgically
polished edge. No need for messy, unsafe bench grinders or flying
sparks. The Tormek method is a low speed and safe grinding and
honing method that allows you to complete your initial grinding and
final sharpening on the same stone.
For more information on sharpening techniques, click here for
Tormek's Sharpening Basics (pdf).
If
you want to download this file, you will need Adobe Acrobat
Reader installed on your computer. If you want to get a free
copy, you can get it at:
Acrobat Reader.
Having trouble downloading the file?
-
If you're using Microsoft Internet Explorer, right click
on the download link and select "Save Target As" to download to
your local drive.
-
If you're using Netscape, right click on the download
link and select "Save Link As" to download to your local drive.
|
