Sharpen This

Sharpen This

Sharpening is not a sport.

If you want to become a better woodworker, you need to learn how to sharpen your tools effectively. To improve your sharpening skills, focus less on secondary bevels and carbide formations in steel and more on the quality of the wood you're working with. Clean cuts in the wood indicate that your tools are sharp enough; however, if the wood is torn or covered in tiny scratches, it’s a sign that your tools need sharpening.

Keep sharpening your tools until you achieve the desired results.

"Sharpen This" is a 120-page pocket book that teaches how to create great edges, regardless of your sharpening system. Its primary focus is on achieving a sharp edge quickly with minimal equipment. The book is not about becoming a sharpening expert; rather, it aims to help you become proficient at sharpening.

Staying practical on this journey can be challenging. Every woodworking catalog and online forum is filled with new equipment and techniques to improve edges. As a beginner, it's tempting to try various sharpening methods or to experiment with exotic diamond-impregnated paper. But ask yourself: what can it hurt? And what if it helps?

"Sharpen This" encourages woodworkers to stay grounded. Consider what legacy you want to leave behind: a chest full of meticulously maintained tools alongside a few beautiful pieces of furniture, or a collection of furniture that demonstrates your growth in harnessing beauty through an iterative creative process, along with a set of serviceable tools.

The book covers the entire life cycle of an edge tool, including setting up new tools, repairing chipped edges, grinding, honing, and polishing. It simplifies the confusing world of sharpening media by focusing on particle size (measured in microns) rather than commercial jargon. Most importantly, it aims to get you back to work at your bench as quickly as possible, since dulling tools is often more enjoyable than sharpening them.

"Sharpen This" is a pocket-sized book (4" x 6-1/2") printed on heavy #80 coated paper. It is constructed from printed signatures, sewn together with thread, then glued and reinforced with fiber tape. The pages are covered with heavy cloth boards, making this a durable book. Like all Lost Art Press publications, "Sharpen This" is produced and printed entirely in the United States.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1
2. What is Sharp? 5
3. What Sharpens Tools? 17
4. Life Cycle of an Edge 31
5. Set Up a New Tool 37
6. When & How to Grind 47
7. Hone & Polish 67
8. Polish the Flat Side 85
9. Flatten Your Media 91
10. Sharpening is Not a Sport 97

Appendices
1. About Sharpening Media, Advantages & Disadvantages 101
2. Sharpening Complex Profiles 106
3. All You Need to Know About Steel 108
4. Sharpening Scrapers 110