[Woodcarver] Sharpening V-tools

Bill Judt bjudt at sasktel.net
Thu Oct 28 12:19:45 EDT 2004


Gentle Subscribers:

I feel a little guilty, having said earlier that the best way to get 
over V-tool sharpening is to "let someone else sharpen them for you 
<grin>"
The comment would be less than helpful to a person struggling with the 
V-tool.

Perhaps this will add to some of the more helpful comments in this 
thread.

I treat the V-tool as TWO flat chisels, connected on one side.
My approach is to sharpen each of the sides, one at a time, BEFORE I 
sharpen the small connecting bridge between them. I NEVER attempt to 
sharpen the bridge on a grinding wheel. I always leave that for the 
bench stone and the slip stone. Even then, there is so little metal in 
that connecting bridge that it is easy to remove too much. A light 
touch is important. Also, be sure to sharpen in the BEST of light.

Joe D. Shares my view that the best compromise shape for the V-tool is 
the squared end. If one has the luxury of three V-tools, then one can 
shape them "wings forward", "Wings back", and "wings at 90°", 
respectively.

It will help if you examine a properly shaped V-tool with a large 
magnifying glass, to observe the angles and shape of the tool, 
especially at the leading edge. A good digital camera, with MACRO 
capability will take a picture that will easily reveal, in larger 
format, what the V-tool looks like.

Please note that SWISS tools and Henry Taylor tools come pre-sharpened, 
BUT none of them are PROPERLY sharpened, especially the V-tools. All 
will have to be modified by hand. This is because at the factory, large 
wheels are used to shape, hone and polish the tools to a razor edge. 
But these wheels leave the tools hollow-ground. Carving tools are meant 
to be convex, not concave on the cutting edges.

Hope this help-s,

Bill
List Owner

W.F. Judt,
46 Harvard Cres,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
S7H3R1
PH: 306-373-6649
Email: bjudt at sasktel.net
Website: http://www.wwwoodcarver.com

Bill

W.F. Judt,
46 Harvard Cres,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
S7H3R1
PH: 306-373-6649
Email: bjudt at sasktel.net
Website: http://www.wwwoodcarver.com
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: text/enriched
Size: 2100 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/woodcarver/attachments/20041028/b1fb5f18/attachment.bin


More information about the Woodcarver mailing list