Chris Knight
Established Member
I made this thing originally for stropping carving chisels but today decided it would do just as well for woodworking chisels and indeed it does.
I use the edge predominantly for carving chisels (hence the black rim) but the top is more suitable for woodworking chisels as one can keep a honing guide on the chisel as in the photo (it is not shown at the actual angle I use for sharpening/honing but to take the photo, I needed to tape the handle of the chisel to the lever of the drill press to stop the thing tipping backwards). In use one simply sharpens as usual, keeping the guide on all the time, then move to the top of the disk and just hone with the guide as you would use it to sharpen on a benchstone.
The disk is nothing more than a disk of MDF fixed on a simple arbor (mine was from an ancient B&D drill mounted grindstone). Plainly the disk could be made as large as you like - big enough to take any size of blade. I use a white (chromium) honing compound from Tilgear which seems to be the best of the various compounds ("soaps") that I have tried. I forget what I paid for it but it was rather cheap as I recall.
The edge I get doing it this way is superb.
I use the edge predominantly for carving chisels (hence the black rim) but the top is more suitable for woodworking chisels as one can keep a honing guide on the chisel as in the photo (it is not shown at the actual angle I use for sharpening/honing but to take the photo, I needed to tape the handle of the chisel to the lever of the drill press to stop the thing tipping backwards). In use one simply sharpens as usual, keeping the guide on all the time, then move to the top of the disk and just hone with the guide as you would use it to sharpen on a benchstone.
The disk is nothing more than a disk of MDF fixed on a simple arbor (mine was from an ancient B&D drill mounted grindstone). Plainly the disk could be made as large as you like - big enough to take any size of blade. I use a white (chromium) honing compound from Tilgear which seems to be the best of the various compounds ("soaps") that I have tried. I forget what I paid for it but it was rather cheap as I recall.
The edge I get doing it this way is superb.