Hand tool Sharpening class @ NC Furniture School

[Hand tool crafted]

Hello ladies and gentlemen,

I just wanted to take a second to tell everyone what an OUTSTANDING class I was able to attend today at the NC Furniture School in Farmville, NC.
The school is owned and run by Mr. Stewart Kent and a nicer or more experienced professional you would be hard pressed to find. His shop is top notch! And I truly mean that!! You should definitely check out the course catalog because whatever your interest, skill level or passion to learn is Stewart can definitely get you there and beyond!
The guest instructor for today was Mike Davis. To say Mike knows what he’s talking about is an understatement! A very practical, hands on, easy going approach to sharpening all manner of woodworking hand tools. To name a few things that were covered and sharpened by us, the students, were to start a plan old pocket knife! Let’s say NO ONE left with a dull knife! The theory of inclusive angle, single angle and that all inclusive burr!! From there chisels, plane blades, a complete rusty Stanley No. 7 from rust to shaving heavily figured and multidirectional grain mahogany in curls of wispy thin ribbons was about 12 minutes! Huge and I mean huge slicks, compass planes, card scrapers, cabinet scrapers, carving chisels, and probably more I forgot!
But the hospitality, professionalism, scope of the school and the quality of the machines available are SECOND TO NONE! And the learning that came from Mike Davis will last a lifetime!
Check out the NC Furniture School and if you ever get a chance to take a class with Mike do it, you will not regret it!

Donnie Willis

 

[joec]

I was there and learned a lot. Now will use my Tormek to keep the door propped open.

 

[Hand tool crafted]

I was there and learned a lot. Now will use my Tormek to keep the door propped open.

Yep, my Buck brothers wet sharpener and diamond wheels are going to be a “bench warmer”!

 

[Mike Davis]

I enjoyed working with you and the other guys in Stuart’s great shop space. Farmville is a breath of fresh air. Only a few small restaurants and all are great. The little Mexican quick mart next door was a complete surprise. The grill in the rear of the store makes some of the best food I ever had outside Mexico. And you can shop for all the authentic ingredients.

I plan to go again when I’m able.

 

[Stuart Kent]

Many thanks to @Mike Davis and all who attended. It was a real pleasure to host you. Now I can't wait to spend time working on the new skills I picked up. For me, the real takeaways were his techniques for sharpening knives, the really fast method for transforming a rusty plane to a beautifully cutting tool, and a much better method (than what I have been using) for sharpening a slick.

Mike, I look forward to you coming back sooner than later. I thought you would enjoy that little Mexican kitchen - it is a favorite of many that visit the Furniture School!