I finally took an older carpenter's advice about sharpening chisels

Old timer named Bob in Pittsburgh saw me struggling with a plane last fall and said "your edge is rounded, not sharp. You're just rubbing the wood." He showed me how to use a strop and compound instead of just a stone, and my cuts went from choppy to clean in about 20 minutes. Anyone else get a tip like that that totally changed their finish work?

3 comments

3 Comments

mark_fisher4811d ago

Bob's tip is SPOT ON. Stropping made a WAY bigger difference than I ever expected. That one trick turned my junk chisels into silky smooth cutters.

lily_sullivan8211d ago

Honestly I bet Bobs trick works so well because its actually making the edge finer instead of just flattening it. Most people dont realize stones leave micro scratches that tear fibers.

rose_murray11d ago

Tried stropping once and spent an hour looking for my chisel in the sawdust pile, not my finest moment.