[TreeWizard]

I just went to a carving show today and since I have been carving a number of faces with hair and beards I thought I should get some micro tools. I picked up a small vainer and a 5/64" 60 degree v tool. I brought them home, honed them a bit and tried them, They don't cut well at all, I guess my question is, do these tools come sharpened or should I expect to have to take stone to them before they will work?

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

More than likely, unless the person you bought them from stated otherwise, they were NOT sharpened.

It's been a long time since I've bought a tool from anybody but Rick, so I don't really remember how much work it was to sharpen those particular tools, but seems to me it was not a big effort. Do NOT forget the inside bevels on them. Give them a really good stropping at least. In fact you may want to try that before you take a stone to them. Strop the snot out of both inside and outside bevels. I mean really work them over on the strop.

[TreeWizard]

Well, the fellow who makes the knifes I use from sold me a felt wheel and some compound to dress it with. He also spent about 20 minutes showing me how to use it to finish off my tools. Wow!! The Ramelson tools now cut like I can't believe. I think I'll have to work on my set of Flexcuts.

[lorax]

Just yesterday I bought a micro v-tool. I had a ramelso for a long time, and ahve trouble sharpening it and keeping it sharp, so it tears the wood. I was at woodcraft and found a micro V from Pfeil (palm tool) and I can't believe the difference! I went there to buy a set of Dockyards just to get the v-tool, so i saved myself $30. Just my two cents

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

The key is keeping them sharp. I've got both plus several other brands. Six of one half dozen of the other. Sharp they're all good. Dull, they're all bad. I like the handle shapes on some of them better than the others, but with the exception of the Flexcuts that's easy changed. Flexcuts can be changed too, just more work. I like the Stubai shape best, followed closely by the Denny shape, but not enough to make me change the rest of them.

[wacky1]

Hey what the best sharpening compound. I have a V tool Ramelson and I just can't seem to get the burr off. As I'm new to this. thanks

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Getting the burr off the inside of a V tool can be a challenge. The easiest way (non power) is to whittle the corner of a board to the correct profile, apply the stropping compound to it, and strop away. Wood make a good strop. For the outside, look at it as two chisels and a gouge. Strop the two chisels, then the gouge.

As to what compound is best, that is pretty much going to depend on who you ask. I like Herb Dunkels Yellowstone (that is Salmon colored, don't ask me, I don't know). Regular buffing compound works good, as does the yellow stuff from flexcut, and almost any mild abrassive.