Hook sharpening advice needed

[GILLY]

I have a Frost double bevelled carving hook that I have had for 15 years or so ans have hardly used it, I have another hook I was givien by a Kwakuitl carver that I use instead. The reason I don't use this hook is because it is a real pain to sharpen. What sort of method would turn this dust collector into a useable knife? I have sharpened the outside bevels, but the angle is too steep which makes it carve like a scaper. Would working the inside flat be my best option?

[AlArchie]

Check that Kwakiutle blade.....It probably is Flat on the BACK, no bevel there. The only bevel should be on the INSIDE.

I have two Frost hook knives (well they were farriers hooks to start with, but I modified them) and I just hit the outside back with a flat diamond stone and the inside with a round fish hook sharpening rod, then finish up with a flat ceramic on the back and a ceramic rod on the inside.

If you can't grind that double bevel off and start with a fresh inside bevel, you might try taking a good finishing file to the outside (back) bevel and cutting that back to about half the angle it is now.

If you can grind the whole beveled edge back to square, a good inside bevel can either be ground using a rotary tool (dremel or the like) with a medium stone, or cut by hand using a round or half round file, depending on the degree the hook will allow. Personally I like the absolutely flat back with NO bevel and the bevel cut only on the inside. The ceramic stones work great for keeping these razor sharp.

Just thought of something else.....a double bevel grind will probably allow you to roll your cuts up against the gran a little easier than the single inside bevel, but the single grind will cut a lot better cross grain. Maybe you should just cut the angle back on the outside and see if that works for you. Then youhave one of each type.

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I made one too and do pretty much as Al said (in fact got the whole idea from Al! lol) but I took a piece of 3/8 dowel and wrapped a piece of leather around it and made a strop which really helps on those odd shapes...imhoApple

[GILLY]

I've done the same thing now with the dowel, but to start I used a piece of emery cloth to both polish the interior flat and to true it a bit. Thanks folks.