need basic sharpening info

[Francie]

I am new to carving and working on carving a bowl. Which tools should be carved on both sides, which benefit from a micro-bevel and how do I go about putting one on tools using only hand (no power) techniques?

[Eddy-Smiles]

Francie.... You've asked for a trememdous amount of information in a very little space. Your best bet would be to get to a woodcarving store and buy yourself a DVD or even a book on sharpening. A picture is worth a thousand words! Better yet, find a woodcarving club and get some one on one time in the art of sharpening. If those are not options then try visiting the following URL's and see if there is anything on them that help.

http://www.chrispye-woodcarving.com/slipstones/v1.html

http://www.woodcarvers.com/sharpening.htm

[Butch_Speer]

Francie,
Try this site. http://www.woodbutcher.net/scary.htm This systems works. While it may not be as good as hones, it will do the job. Because of the low price, it will allow you to experiment with sharpening. Later on maybe you can make a choice on the hones you need.
I keep a piece of 2400 grit attached (with double face tape, glue makes the paper have air bubbles) to the underside of my strop for touch ups.

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Here's as close to a one stop shop for carvers as you will find. Many tutorials and lots of general info. Well worth browsing around the site.

http://www.littleshavers.com/

[Butch_Speer]

Plain Ol Ed,
Forgot about Rick's site. Here's a few more links for sharpening. Maybe we could keep some addresses as a sticky so people could add to them & the people who need them could find them easier.


http://www.woodcarvers.com/sharpening.htm
http://www.carvingpatterns.com/sharpening.htm
http://www.woodcarvers.org/sharpening.htm
http://www.whittlingandcarving.com/sharpening.php
http://www.deepwoodsventures.com/sharpeningtips.html
http://carverscompanion.com/Ezine/He...gMessages.html

[JIM QUILICI]

Francie,
I have had nothing but good experience"s with little shavers http://www.littleshavers.com
I do not believe that there is any one around that can sharpen a knife any sharper. he has a saying ( in fact he has a lot of sayings ) ......"there is only one sharp the rest ar degrees of dullness" .....he has about a zillion dollars worth of sharping things and stuff that he uses . he knows and he knows he knows how to sharpen a knife.,,,,,,,,, cut the chase and ask him...rick from "little shavers".....for his day job..which he works at night...I think is a brain surgeon or a rocket scientist ...lol ...if you don't know and you can ask someone who knows I would do that ......
Jim

[Francie]

Thanks Jim. I did send him a question.
Funny you mentioned rocket science. I just had the thought the other day that perhaps rocket science has been overestimated and those of us who are not rocket scientists (or brain surgeons) just THINK it is hard (ha) So then with sharpening or anything else; once you know how to do it it ain't hard. I know a guy who is an eye surgeon and he plays classical guitar like I do. He says playing classical guitar is harder than eye surgery.



Francie