[hydguy1]

I am new to carving, but have worked with wood for years. My question is: Which sharpening method should I learn? Water stones, ceramic,oil stones etc.
I am a power tool guy so is there a GOOD machine for sharpening small tools?
Thanls.
Jim

[wade clark]

Whew! There are dozens of ways and systems that work great, from the very simple...paper or glass with sharpening rouge applied, sand paper, ...all the way to the very elaborate systems like the Tormek and many others. It wasn't an easy lesson for me to learn, but this is it: try any system and learn it well. Get a book or two on it. There are as many books as there are trains of thought on it. Study whichever way you choose and it will work for you! Power systems are faster, but probably not much compared to non-power with someone who really knows the approach they choose.
Don't chase several aproaches at once. Learn one.
I ended up with the Tormek system and I like it a lot. After I got done trying to straiten out a chip in a v-tool, I sent it to Rick at Little Shavers to get it straitened out! I threw any others in the box that could use a really good tune-up/sharpening. He understands sharp and builds great tools as well. He charges so little, I'll let him straiten out my sharpening mistakes as long as he'll do it!
The leather power strop on the Tormek is 95% of what I use. I can get such a great edge on a non-damaged gouge with it, in just seconds! I come away whistling and smiling!
Good luck!
Wade

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

My 2 cents - Unless you plan on doing a lot of sharpening, maybe as a business, a machine is not really the way to go. As to which of the manual systems is "best," I don't really think one is any better than the other. It just depends on what you are comfortable with. After all, the object is to put an edge on a tool. I've got about every method know to man available, but use what I started with about 60 years ago. The key is to pick a method and stick with it until you get it perfected. If you can sharpen a knife, you can sharpen carving tools. Same principal, different bevels and angles is all. Strop often and sharpen when necessary. Alternative: buy extra tools and send the dull ones to Rick.