[Woodcarver] Re: The Ultimate Sharpening Machine

[TWWOODWORK at aol.com]

I have owned one of these ultimate sharpening machines for 6+  years. I 
bought the machine from Lee Valley. They were the only one selling it  at that 
time. Fortunately, my neighbor was in the business of repairing electric  motors 
and got me a 1/4 hp used one very cheap.
    Anyway, it is great with a 400 grit belt for  sharpening all the wife's 
kitchen knives in about 10 minutes. I have sharpened a  few chisels ect., but 
have not tried to sharpen a carving gouge with it. I don't  know how you would 
handle the inside edge and you had best be careful and  practice a while on an 
old chisel before doing your good ones. I have reground a  carving gouge 
where it was chipped and it does work well since you  don't generate as much heat 
with it as with a stone.
     Oh yes, I do my lawn mower blades on there  with a 80 or 100 grit belt 
if not in too bad a shape.
     I guess it is to each his own. I prefer  sharpening by hand for my 
carving gouges, carving knives,  etc. I feel that I just don't have the control on 
any mechanical sharpening  device that I have sharpening by hand. 
    Oh yes, I use water stones or   monocrystaline diamond stones plus honing 
with white gold (from Everett  Ellenwood) on a poplar board or the back of a 
tablet. I use  the monocrystaline diamond stones for initial shaping and 
sharpening of  carving knives and gouges and generally water stones after a good 
initial  setting up.
     Have the sharpest carving tools I have  ever had including my carpenter 
chisels following Everett's  sharpening DVD.
For my wood planes, I have started using David Charleworth's approach and  
system. He has a VHS tape available from Lie-Nielsen Toolworks,Inc. Man,  what a 
difference. His sharpening and set up system added a lot to my knowledge  
about working with hand planes and made them a joy to use.
    And, that's all folks!
    Tom
    Thomas W. Horton
    Glen Mills, PA     
    
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