[Woodcarver] Re: Tool sharpening - was "tool condition"

[Steve Nordhauser]

M&P,
The flexcuts that I have are all wings forward, with the amount of 
forward depending on the sweep - shallower sweeps are almost flat.  One 
of the flexcut advantages is that they always come honed - good for new 
carvers since poorly sharpened tools will kill any amount of 
enthusiasm.  You definitely need to learn to sharpen.  Your first tool 
purchase should include a strop or make one.  Even honed tools need to 
hit the strop often to avoid more serious resharpening.

If you can, go to a carving show.  The vendors will sometimes let you 
try a few different types of tools.  You may find handles a poor fit for 
your hand or not like the finish.  I love my Helvie knives but others 
think they are too smooth for a good grip.  At $30+ per knife you want 
to be sure.  They are worth it - I spend hours communing with them so 
only pennies per hour difference from a knife I don't like.  Or, if 
there is a club nearby, you will find a pile of encouragement for 
newbies.  Books and videos are nice, but a hands-on demo and critque of 
the results for sharpening is important.  I thought my first attempts at 
sharpening were 'good enough'.  Now I can do much better with a leather 
power strop in my belt sander in 5 seconds or less.
Steve


>

> Subject:

> Re: [Woodcarver] Re: Tool sharpening - was "tool condition"

> From:

> "Mike and Patty" <MikeandPatty at wavezcom.com>

> Date:

> Mon, 5 Dec 2005 12:10:31 -0600

> To:

> "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>

>

> To:

> "[Woodcarver]" <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>

>

>

> Thank you for the advice but what I was wanting to know was the 

> condition of the tools when you get them  but thanks

>

>     ----- Original Message -----

>     From: Matt Kelley <mailto:celtcarver at comcast.net>

>     To: [Woodcarver] <mailto:woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>

>     Sent: Monday, December 05, 2005 10:39 AM

>     Subject: [Woodcarver] Re: Tool sharpening - was "tool condition"

>

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>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

>>     Mike & Patty wrote in part:

>

>     I am very inexsperienced in the purchessing of new tools.

>     When order  tools pre sharpened - Should the u shaped ones be even

>     across the edge or doesn't it matter?

>     >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>

>     To learn a lot about sharpening,  you may want to consider a copy

>     of Ev Ellenwood's "Sharpening Simplified."   You can find a review

>     in the Sept/Oct '04 issue of Woodcarver Online Magazine at

>     http://carverscompanion.com/Ezine/Vol8Issue5/Vol8Issue5FrameSet.html

>

>     There also links to other sharpening info in the New Carver

>     section of the Resource Files at http://carverscompanion.com - 

>     Click the Resource Files link once you arrive,  then the New

>     Carver link.

>

>     Carve On!

>

>     Matt

>


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