[BobD]

I tried my hand at power sharpening again during my lunch hour. This time I tried the Burke sharpener we have upstairs. I love it! I got a great edge a set of Record carving chisels I got two years ago from xmas (they were so dull I could see the blunt edges) and never took the time to sharpen. I can see why Rick uses the Burke system. The only tools I burned (because I got cocky) were my little dental chisels. One sharpened nicely and I think I ruined another one. I was hesitant to try to sharpen then on a stone--because they are stainless steel, but they are small and I think its safe.


A few (slightly humerous) observations

1. If you have ADD, keep several chisels next to the sharpener--so when you burn your fingers on one, you can switch it out for another.

2. The coarse grit wheel is there because you need to use it. Don't skip the coarse wheel because you think you can just go to the fine wheel--otherwise you'll be on the fine wheel for 2x as long.

3. Apply a stropping compound to the leather wheel. It polishes the edge much quicker with a little abrasive.

4. Use a light touch on the buffing wheel--unless you don't mind your tool being ripped out of your hand and flung into a brick wall.

5. Make sure your chisels are sharp before trying to test them in the endgrain of the piece of wood you are clutching between your arm and chest--unless you don't like your male chest anatomy.

6. A buffing wheel works great to remove the scratches you put into the inside of a shallow sweep trying to use a knife slipstone to remove a wire edge.

7. A shallow gouge cuts better if you remove the scratches on the inside where you tried to remove the wire edge wiht the knife edge of a knife slipstone.

8. It is very hard to keep a forward sweep on gouges and v-tools when sharpening on a power sharpener for the first time. While the tools will be great for relief carving, I need to watch that I don't cut too deeply in the meantime

9. If you treat a v-tool like two chisels combined into a gouge--and take your time sharpening it, you can actually get it sharp! I got mine so it will cut smoothly across Basswood endgrain--much to my amazement!

10. It doesn't do you any good to forget your straight chisel at home when you plan on carving a love spoon...

11. Sharpening is easier than I thought!

Bob