Sharpening Method Poll

[Ed Fasano]

SHARPENING PREFERENCE POLL (edited / corrected)

To satisfy my own curiosity, which of the following best describes your primary, go-to method of fine sharpening of chisels and plane irons? If there are sufficient responses, I will post the results.

1. Oil stones
2. Water Stones
3. Ceramic stones
4. Diamond plates
5. Sandpaper on a reliably flat surface
6. Tormek or Tormek clone system
7. Work Sharp system
8. Some combination of the above
9. I avoid the use of edge tools because effective sharpening is a black art
10. I outsource the sharpening on my hand tools
11. Other – Please specify

 

[Lowlander]

2, 3

 

[MarkE]

7 (5,3)

 

[Chris C]

Diamond plates and leather strop

 

[Mike Davis]

I have a couple different belt grinders I use along with DMT diamond plates.

 

[Danagawa]

2 but thinking of picking up the new tormek

 

[Bill Clemmons]

2....Diamond plates and leather strop

Ditto.

 

[nn4jw]

4, 3 and Japanese water stones.

 

[Joe Scharle]

6, 4

 

[sawman101]

1, 3, 4. I also have the Wolverine Jig and 8" grinder.

 

[Chris C]

It looks like the OP has tweaked the poll a bit and changed some for the numbers.....and it changed my response.

 

[Henry W]

4 Sandpaper (although not necessarily on a 'reliably' flat surface)
for both normal chisels and plane irons, as well as for lathe chisels (on my stationary disk sander with a homemade Ellsworth type gouge jig)

Henry W

 

[danmart77]

I use

4, 6, strop, buffing wheel and compound and diamond paste on maple strop when on the road.

After edit by OP
I use Diamond plates

 

[bbrown]

Leather strop for 95% of my sharpening (just frequently touch up with a few quick strokes).

Japanese water stones about once every 6 weeks.

I just bought an Extra-Extra Fine (8000 grit) DMT Diamond plate ($80)- that might enable me to only use my Japanese stones every 2-3 months. Grinding is almost never needed. I have to drop a chisel and get a big nick before I use my grinder.

--Bill

 

[pcooper]

I've tried several methods, and I need someone to show me how to use things like stones and grinders effectively, but my one way that works is scary-sharp...sandpaper on plate glass.

 

[Charlie Buchanan]

10. Synthetic Norton water stones and then strop finish with green compound on flat wood or on leather for curved gouges.

 

[Phil S]

8" grinder with wolverine guide for lathe tools
Workshop 3000 for chisels I have mistakingly taken to work and I get them back looking more like screwdrivers. Workshop does a good job of getting them back in service

For everything else I use a Richard Kell guide and diamond plates from DMT

I hone on a strop made from mdf with chromium oxide powder milled at .5 micron

 

[JohnnyR]

Diamond plates and leather strop

ditto

 

[Gofor]

7 (3 + 4) Diamond plates first to 1200gr, with finish on wet-dry paper (2000gr) on a granite block (scary sharp method). Prior to purchasing the diamond plates, I used mainly wet-dry paper.

Go

 

[redknife]

3 and 5

now 4 and 6 : diamond plates and tormek