[mavycc]

Any advice on how to sharpen small tools-like the Dockyards? They are getting dull, but I don't know the best/easiest way to get them sharp again, do I need something special, or would just using sandpaper work? And if so, what grit of sandpaper?

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

have you tried stropping it yet? If its dinged, the grit depends on how bad, just a light touch up I would use 2000 grit...I only use 400, 800, 1200 and 2000 anyway for my scary sharp , sharpening

[mavycc]

I only have 1 strop that I use for all my tools. How do I strop something so small on a regular size strop? Especially the v tools and the u shaped ones?

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

you just need to strop the outside...you can always get a flexcut strop if you want a profile strop

[Scott]

I glue !/2 sheet of sandpaper to the same size of smooth, level ply. A series like already mentioned 400, 600, 800, 1000 and 2000. 5 boards. I have a 6th that I have leather on. With that board I rub a little rouge into the leather.
I learned this off an old native carver. Some of his sharpening boards were 25 yrs. old. The old ones were fine and they were emery thats why they lasted so long.

His tools touched stones when he first made them and then never again unless somebody else used them. Sharpest knives I've ever held.

http://www.caribooblades.com

[rick-in-seattle]

All tools, even Dockyards will require sharpening eventually.

Being so small, they are harder than other tools without effecting their performance.
This extra hardness allows them to remain sharp longer by simply stropping.

They are more likely to break than become dull, but eventually they will dull.
The dulling is so slow, it is almost imperceptible.

The best way to sharpen a small number of tiny tools is using abrasive paper.
Maintaining the correct angle is critical due to the small size of the individual tools.

[mikeg]

As far as stropping your small tools, Ev Ellenwood, who has a great DVD out called "Sharpening Simplified" suggests using a piece of cardboard, like from the back of a pad of paper as a strop. Just rub some stropping compound on it and go to town. I like flexcut's gold compound, it goes on like a crayon. There are other good ones out there too though. When you've used up the cardboard, throw it away and grab another piece! I find that works better for me with my small tools than a leather strop.

If stropping doesn't bring it back to sharpness, he also suggests that you use the finest grit possible to get the job done, something small like a dockyard tool can be ruined very easily if you use a grit that's too coarse.

mikeg

btw, He recommends for the gouges (u-shaped tools) that you use a rocking motion as you strop. For the v-tools, he suggests you treat it as 3 tools, two flat planes and a gouge joining them together.

[mavycc]

So does this mean, I really don't need to strop the inside on the v tools and gouges, just the outside? Or when do I need to strop the profile(inside) of the tool?

Also, thanks for all your answers...

[Tom H]

After stroping the outside of the small V tool, I use a 2000 abrasive paper to remove any wire edge left on the inside. Am I wrong? Tom H

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

if you carefully run your fingernail thru the inside of the v or gouge, if its smooth do nothing, if you feel a slight wire edge, pull it across the end of your leather on your gouge once or twice, or until the wire edge is gone....at least thats the way I do it. most times you will feel nothing if you don't damage the tool and are merely stropping it. I rarely "sharpen" my tools and knives, once in awhile, but 90 % is just reach over and strop it!