Using sandpapers to sharpen

[Cherryville Chuck]

I happened to come across this video last night about using sandpapers to sharpen chisels and plane irons. He's using specialty sandpapers that have a self adhesive back and the grit is bonded to sheets of mylar. These are for sure the best quality papers to sharpen with but cost about $5-6 per sheet. Wet or dry automotive paper also works well and is a dollar something a sheet. I bought some recently at one of our woodworking stores that also sells some automotive supplies. They were made by Klingspor and they had them to 2500 grit which is fine enough to give a very sharp edge. If you want finer than that you have to buy the specialty papers but as the maker of the video pointed out you really don't need 0.3 micron. One micron is plenty fine enough.

The honing guide he's using sells for about $15 Canadian up here and is cheaper in the US. It's also easily found on ebay. It's not a Veritas but if it will do an acceptable job. For plane irons you need to keep the edge square to the blade but in chisels I don't get too concerned about that since I'm usually using my chisels a with a shear angle cut anyway. As for setting the angle, if you have one of the digital angle cubes you can use it to set the angle. For anyone who wants sharp edges but can't afford an expensive set of water or diamond stones this may be the method for you.

[Stick486]

Wet or dry automotive paper also works well

wholesale auto body shop supply houses sell the Klingspor/3M/Norton/Preferred PSA W/D to 5,000 grit paper here for about 40/45¢ a sheet...

[Sominus]

Wet or dry automotive paper also works well

wholesale auto body shop supply houses sell the Klingspor/3M/Norton/Preferred PSA W/D to 5,000 grit paper here for about 40/45¢ a sheet...

3M 77 spray adhesive and a 12x12 marble tile make a great surface...

[Cherryville Chuck]

At 5000 grit you're finer than all but the finest, and most expensive, water stones. Also not many diamond stones that fine. And for under a buck down there. That's a pretty hard deal to beat.

I've glued paper to scraps of mdf at times too Mike. It is extremely smooth, it just doesn't like you adding water onto the wet dry paper.

[Stick486]

12x12 marble tile make a great surface...

granite counter top also...
often had for the asking at a countertop outfit...
use temp adhesive...
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/ ... 087&rt=rud

[Cherryville Chuck]

12x12 marble tile make a great surface...

granite counter top also...
often had for the asking at a countertop outfit...
use temp adhesive...
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/ ... 087&rt=rud

They must have sink cut outs just like the outfits who install laminate ones do.

[Stick486]

They must have sink cut outs just like the outfits who install laminate ones do.

mostly drops...
and tons of them in all sizes and thicknesses......

[KellyCraig]

I kind of crack up at the whole "Scary Sharp" stuff, when it was promoted as being invented years after those of us who couldn't afford fancy stones had been doing it for years. It worked damn well, even though there were those who mocked us. Sharp is sharp and polished is polished. A piece of glass, a bit of water to glue the wet-or-dry to it and some various grits took care of things just fine.

[KellyCraig]

Oh, and I have a literal ton of granite from fabricator's scrap piles. Yes, some of it makes a great base for sandpaper.

Other pieces replaced the top of a cheap, bent wood planter stand and made it into a high end stand.

You can use a common angle grinder and diamond pads (cooled with a dribble of water) to cut shapes (like circles) and to polish edges using diamond pads and blades.

[Stick486]

A piece of glass,

Stop at a Granite counter mfg. and pick up a piece of scrap..
Flat, heavy, stays put and little risk of braking it...
The give the stuff away...

[Cherryville Chuck]

Oh, and I have a literal ton of granite from fabricator's scrap piles. Yes, some of it makes a great base for sandpaper.

Other pieces replaced the top of a cheap, bent wood planter stand and made it into a high end stand.

You can use a common angle grinder and diamond pads (cooled with a dribble of water) to cut shapes (like circles) and to polish edges using diamond pads and blades.

Those who scoff at putting the effort in to get a scary, sharp edge have probably never used one. I've used my chisels a few times to remove runs on paint jobs without needing to repaint after I carve off the drip.Wood just peels away like it's being planed. Plane irons make a sound similar to a hiss.

[smitty10101]

Plane irons make a sound similar to a hiss.

So---you met my wife??

[Cherryville Chuck]

Plane irons make a sound similar to a hiss.

So---you met my wife??

Not yet and now I know to stay clear.