[Mischief]

Thanks Dan,Ash,Claude,Chris,,Christopher.

Christopher - your popsicle sticks suddenly got me thinking about women's nail filing sets with the 3 types of sandpaper and a buffer. I was almost tempted to be lazy and use that!! I notice that you are carving along the grain. My micro v-gouge does ok with that but sucks when i am cutting across the grain. Is that normal or a sign of something else? The u-gouge cuts fine across the grain so i figure it must be sometime wrong with the v-gouge.

I have to start figuring this out soon. My 2 inch sheep has gone to 1 3/4 and soon its going to get even smaller as i keep shaving away my mistakes

[bbeery]

I find it almost impossible to sharpen ANY V tool! But, have no problem with any other gouge or knife. I like Colin's idea when it comes to V tools

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

grain. My micro v-gouge does ok with that but sucks when i am cutting across the grain. Is that normal or a sign of something else? The u-gouge cuts fine across the grain so i figure it must be sometime wrong with the v-gouge.

Chances are it has not been totally sharpened. It's possible you've got a punky piece of wood, but if the other tools work well on the same piece, the v tool still needs some work. Don't get carried away though. Start by stropping the inside of the v first, paying particular attention to the bottom.

V tools and simply two chisels and in some cases a small gouge. Sharpen the two chisels first, then the small gouge. Give it a good stropping. Patience, and in my case, magnification are the key. Just can't see like I used to.

[Nancy_G]

I'm another one who agrees with Colin (again) but I start before he does .

I buy my precious Dockyards from Rick at Little Shavers and they arrive in very sharp, perfect condition and stay that way for a long time. Rick sharpens Dockyard before he sends them out.

[doris]

christopher, you do wonderful explanations, i also saw your "carving an eye", i would suggest you put them in a separate thread in the tutorial section, with a descriptive title, or where you like, so people can easyli find them. your clear explanations, with great pictures deserve that. thanks from me for the work you did with those. i was very interested reading them, and picking out info good for me...

[GardenGnome]

Originally Posted by Mischief

Christopher - your popsicle sticks suddenly got me thinking about women's nail filing sets with the 3 types of sandpaper and a buffer. I was almost tempted to be lazy and use that!! I notice that you are carving along the grain. My micro v-gouge does ok with that but sucks when i am cutting across the grain. Is that normal or a sign of something else? The u-gouge cuts fine across the grain so i figure it must be sometime wrong with the v-gouge.

Hi there, I think it would be foolish to use nail files because they are not designed for metal shaping and are bound to be unreliable. I have some of those myself, but I only use them when I am modeling with wood or plastic.

The wet-dry sandpaper is commercial grade specifically designed to shape metal and glass. The grits are also much finer. I have a collection and use nothing else to sharpen my tools. I just put a piece on a scrap of glass to give it a solid smooth backing and it works as good as most fine stones. Wrap it around a dowel to clean up big gouges.

My little gouge cuts across the grain as sweet as with it, although the wood fails to curl up due to the direction of the grain.

Your "V" gouge is dull. Beware dull tools as they will cut you before a sharp one will.

Mischief, I encourage you to try the method I described. Assemble the few things I listed and you will be able to sharpen all your tools whenever you need to.

Grow as an artist and tackle the challenge.

Christopher

[Ashbys]

I agree with Christopher ,

Nail file sandpaper is normally 400 - 600 grit. it will not get the job done , your tool will be gone before you get an edge.

Christopher great job in explaining , and showing .


Ash

[Marci MN]

Am I doing a bad thing with mine then? I used that one article Lora Irish had in WCI and ran my V tool in basswood to make a gulley. I did this the day I got the tool from Rick. I then put some compound in there and drag my tool through that gulley made by that tool when it starts draggin on my cuts. I just do three or four drags through that..and then back to hair making...

Am I damaging my v tool this way?

[GardenGnome]

No, Marci. I don't think your damaging your tool. as a matter of fact that's just how you should work it. Although I would urge you to make a shape on the block that will fit the flute of your gouge so you can strop the inside edge to remove any burs there as well. Then you will really be tuning up your edge.

Properly stropped, a tool will last for years and the only thing that will make you want to resharpen it is if you get micro nicks in the blade that leave traces on your cuts, or if your angle of attach becomes compromised due to the angle being changed because incorrect stropping over time has removed too much of the leading edge, a common problem with power stoppers.

This problem is more prevalent with micro tools because there is less surface and proportionally more force involved.

The ideal thing to do is strop the whole surface and not just the edge. This is why a through strop the shape of the tool is the best. Works just as well with "U" gouges and fish tail gouges.

This information was gained by me through experience.

Christopher

[Marci MN]

Thank you GardenGnome.. I didnt think about the inside needing a strop too. I'll do that , thanks.