Sharpening new tools

[Claude]

Originally Posted by AnimalCarver

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So could ya'll give me any pointers? I wish there was a carving pgroup here, but there isn't. Would be so much easier if there were.Thanks in advance for your help

Carolyn:
You didn't say where "here" is; if we knew general area, we might be able to help. In any case, if you look on the left side of the screen, under WCI Community is a link to Carving Clubs. Click that, enter your state/province, click the checkbox under wood carving, and you'll see the listed carving clubs. Contact the one closest to you to find out meeting times/places. Even if you had to drive 2 hours each way, it would be worth it to make the trip once, just to have some knowledgeable people show you the sharpening techniques.

"Sharpening" means using any of various methods, such as stropping, grinding, using a stone, using sandpaper, etc. "Stropping" means to use a piece of leather with some stropping compound on it to polish the blade/gouge. L.P. mentioned one way to tell if you blade is sharp. Another way is this. Get a desk lamp, hold your head as close to the bulb as you can without burning yourself. Hold the knife about a foot (30cm) below the light in a horizontal position so the light is reflected off the flat side of the blade into your eyes. Slowly rotate the blade around it's long axis until the edge is straight up. If your knife is truly sharp, you will see no light reflected from the edge. If you knife is dull, you'll see small reflections from the edge. Go get one of your kitchen knives and try this - kitchen knives are generally dull! You should see lots of light reflected from the edge as you rotate it upwards. Now check your carving blade. If you see any light reflected at all, it isn't sharp yet.

Another word about strops: One of the problems with leather is that it is often too thick and soft. When you pull your blade across the strop (away from the cutting edge), it depresses the leather just a bit. As the blade edge moves past, the leather springs up again. This will eventually round the edge to where it looks sharp but won't cut well. My leather strop is made from a very thin piece of scrap suede, so there is not much to spring back up. For my detail knife, I have a smooth flat piece of basswood that i've rubbed some stropping compound on. Works great and doesn't depress much at all. Others have used the thin grey cardboard on the back of a paper tablet.

When to strop? I strop every 15 to 30 minutes. My process is to pull my knife blade along the strop 5 times in one direction, flip it over and do 5 on the other side. Then flip again and do 4 times in the first direction, flip and 4 for the other side, etc., until I get down to 1 pass in each direction. My knives haven't touched a stone or sandpaper in several years - just my strops.

Hope this helps - send me PM if you want more info.

Claude

[AnimalCarver]

Claude, thanks so much for your info! Very helpful! I will look into getting some of the materials you listed. And it's very helpful to see exactly how you strop to. I am still puzzled how to sharpen the point of a V tool. Are there any videos on youtube that you know or better yet any here on this site on how to sharpen that tool?

Oh, your answer to where I am from, Tuscaloosa,AL. There is a carving group that goes to Tannehill once a month and I plan to go when I can, it's about an hr from here. But our town was hit badly by tornado April 27th and my car has some frame damage and busted glass. So until it is fixed, I can't go out of town. Was hoping there was somewhere here in town that people meet.There is another option I'm going to look into hopefully they'll have an answer. But until then, your info as well as the rest of the group have been great! It really is so very helpful being able to voice my questions and concerns knowing there will be help on the way here in this nice group.

My woodworking books arrive today, I'm very excited about. So I'd better go work on your tips at sharpening and stropping! Thanks again Claude.

[Claude]

Carolyn:
I just did a quick Google search and found several sites.

Here's one (no video, but lots of photos). How to Sharpen a V-Tool Chisel - Fine Woodworking Article and here's a YouTube video: ‪Sharpening V-tools‬‏ - YouTube

Also, you don't need an expensive stone for this. A piece of fine wet/dry sandpaper placed on a thick sheet of glass or a smooth tile will work. You buy a spray can of removable glue at the hobby store or craft store - it basically makes a sheet of sandpaper into a giant paste-it note. Then go to an auto parts store for the sandpaper. I'd start with 600 grit, then go to 1200, and finally 2000 (any thing close to these is ok). After the 2000, then you'd hone on a strop. The finally stropping will put a mirror finish on the beveled part of the gouge or blade.

I was on a train trip in June that went through Tuscaloosa. My wife and I were both shocked at the devastation we could see from the train.

Here's a link to a wood carving retreat happening soon in Jasper, AL: Alabama woodcarving retreat
Claude

[carver6]

Carolyn,
I can understand your frustration with sharpening your v-tool. It's undoubtably the most difficult tool you have to sharpen. The best explanation I've seen is to treat each side of the tool as a flat individual tool. After getting each side sharpened, sharpen the middle of the v just like a small half moon gouge. Be careful and don't go too far with this part, it won't take much. If you go too far, you'll have to start all again from the beginning.
Good luck,
Garon

[AnimalCarver]

Thanks Claude and Garon, I appreciate your help! Thanks for the links and the advice! I've been working on sharpening after my last post. I think I'm getting better. It will take time, just need some practice. I'm determined to get this thing down. lol Thanks again for ya'lls help. This is a very helpful group, and I'm very glad I joined. I've learned so much.

Claude I don't know how much you and your wife saw when you came through Tuscaloosa on train. It is a lot to take in. It's been a little over three months and it still un-nerves me to the bone when I see empty lots that used to be houses and business. And the lack of beautiful oaks and other beautiful trees that were in everyone's yard around here. But I thank God everyday that my mom as well as my birds and collie, and myself were spared.

Blessings,
Carolyn