Need some input

[Marci MN]

In the Wood Carvers Supply Inc. Catalog there is a set of gouges I'm interested in. But I know next to nil on them and what to use to sharpen them.

The set I'm looking at is on page 74. A mini hand tool set.

Now on page 70.. I would like to know if that (A) slick stick is what I'd order at the same time to do the sharpening on that set of tools.

Being these are mini tools I'm not sure on what to look for for sharpening.

I'm open to any and all suggestion. It will take me awhile to save enough for this 'dream'. LOL

And if all else fails.. Rick do you sharpen mini's?

[Lightningbolt]

Marci:
I just took a look at that set and it looks really nice. First off, it has been my experience that buying these "mega-everything" sets can be a good deal if that's really what you need. Usually the smaller sets including about 5 or 6 such tools more than suffice my greatest carving needs, but that's a personal decision that we all have to make based upon our own needs. I recall the time that I was getting serious about chip carving and purchased a huge set of such knives and I've only used about a third of them after 15 years. Anyhow, I'm sure you probably know what you need so I'll move on to my 2 cents on your question...

Everyone develops what sharpening methods work for them and this is what seems to work well for me on sharpening my smaller micro type carving tools:

Basic (after about every 20 minutes of use.) I'd say that about 95% of the time a simple stropping using only my leather strop that I made by super glueing a piece of an old leather belt to a strip of wood is all that's necessary. I do occasionally apply some strop compound to the leather (see "C" on page 70 of your Woodcarver's Supply catalog. For the small gouges and parting tools I will also run the "inside" of the cutting edges over the sharp corners of my leather strop.

Intermediate: For an edge that needs a bit more than a basic touch-up polishing on the strop I will run both the inside and outer edges of my blades over a pine wood tool something like the one that you pointed out on page 70 "A" of the catalog. Mine came free as part of purchasing my Carvin' Jack by Flexcutt and I'd have a hard time paying the twenty dollars for that one in the catalog. It is something that just about anyone should be able to make with a table saw and possibly a router. I'd carve one by hand before I'd pay $20 for such a simple tool, but that's me.

Dull: After a LOT of use I will use my 900 grit Arkansas stone followed by the methods mentioned above. I have been using the stone on page 68 listed under "E" and that is one fine stone! With delicate handling I can achieve the original razor sharp edge and the sharp edge on one side of the stone will touch up the inside of most of my smaller gouges and parting tools. For the ones that it can't reach I just touch them up on my "V-Powerstrop wheel"...see "A" on page 71 of your catalog.

These or a combination of these sharpening methods seem to work well for me on my smaller tools.

And like you said, if all else fails I hear that Rick is the best of the best!

[Claude]

Marci:
I don't have my catalog here with me, but it they're similar to the little set of micro chisels I picked up at Woodcraft (1.5mm chisel, 1.5. V, 1.5, 2, 3mm U gouges), I don't use my leather strop on them. The leather is soft, and when putting pressure on the tool, it "dents" the leather and leads to quickly rounding the edge. I took a small scrap of basswood, maybe 3 in. by 1.5 in., sanded it well on one side, and then just rubbed some of my green compound on it. The wood becomes my strop, and doesn't dent nearly as much as the leather. All it takes are 3 or 4 strokes on the wood and I can immediately feel the difference when using it. If I need to actually sharpen it, I have a small very very fine grit arkansas stone that works well, then follow with the honing on the wood.

Claude

[Marci MN]

Thank you for your input!

It is hard to know what tools I'll end up using and which ones I wont. I do agree there are a few there I'm not sure on how to use right now. Maybe I'll just pick them up one by one as I 'earn' them. LOL

Most everything I carve is on the small scale so I was hoping these micro tools would fit the bill for me.

I just got a new wood carvers catalog, MDI I think its called.. I need to go window shopping in there too.

Thanks again. Marci.