[MelNM]

I have a flexsteel drawknife anyone have any tips on sharpening it. I have ceramic stones, and a strop, or will I need some sort of specialty stone to sharpen it with. :

Nope, you have everything you need.
Be very carefull and take your time.

[AlArchie]

Just like sharpening a plane blade......make sure you get the back mirror smooth and keep it perfectly flat. This can be done with the flat ceramic stone, but don't expect it to happen in one sitting as the ceramics actually remove very little material. The smoother the back the more effectively you can sharpen the bevel.

Al

[dart]

I Â*read an article on sharpening gouges. The person said to put a slight angle on the opposite side of the gouge. To sharpen both sides so they would be smooth. I'd think that by doing that, it would also change the angle of the gouge when it is used? I haven't done that. I just hone my gouges the traditional way and I wouldn't advocate doing it any other way. Just something I read. Jim

[nadcarves]

? Does the Flexi cut flex when you use it??? nad

Absolutly that why they call them Flexcut they are made out of spring steel and flex quite a lot.
Colin

[Ric]

Dart
I put a 5 degree bevel on the back side of all my gouges. Not only does it make the tools more useful by allowing you to use the tool upside down for specific curves, it relieves the stress on a thin bevel tip which reduces the likelihood of breaking the tips off. Many high end tolls come sharpened that way from the factory. It is specifically useful in relief carving.

Ric

[nadcarves]

Colin,flexibility in a draw knife? I have two Frost draw knives.You can push,pull,just by wrist action.In addition,it is possible to make curved cuts, and cut as a bevel for exceedingly fine wood removal,,under $20.oo...With a flexible blade are you not actually fighting the cut? You have to overcome the flexible nature of the blade,,ie compensate.. The only use I can see for a flexible draw knife would be in curving the blade to round items,however,the rounder you go, the larger than 18 inch bicepts will be needed.A concave shape,you must push in and draw.Again,compensation..I think the stiff blade has it all over the flexible blade in this instance,at half the price...Since there can be no judgement without comparison,you have a Flex, I'll loan you one of my Frosts and you play with them.. Decide if the 20 dollar toy will in fact be a better buy,,,,,cordially nad

[nadcarves]

Colin, The point is that in a chisel, knife, nail, there is a transmission of force. The less rigid the tool, the more the force is canceled. Do you realize how long I would stay alive if I put a flexible chisel on a jack hammer in NYC....I purchased a carving knife from a very famous knife maker, who never made a carving knife before.The blade flexes,almost worthless for carving/dry wall cutting ,for that matter, as well. Should you be doing a large carving in dry wood ,before you start,I would like to offer the use of a special cutter for your angle grinder. Not worth a hill of beans in wet wood, In dry, you should be able to beat a chain saw,or come close.The harder the wood,the better,cordially Nad

[quote author=nadcarves link=board=Beginner;num=1082088256;start=0#7 date=04/23/04 at 19:02:45]I think the stiff blade has it all over the flexible blade [/quote]

Since many of us who use draw knives are using them for sticks and a flexible blade can follow contours better than a stiff one the flexsteel blade has it's advantages. The flex allows me to follow the natural curves of a stick without removing all the 'personality' and ending up with a 'broomhandle straight' stick. It is a simple matter of a different tool for a different situation.