03/10/2028, 03:22 Sharpen Your Chisel | WAWGOA | wwa.wwgoa.com Get That Chisel Sharp! By Anybody who shaves knows that a dull cutting tool is more likely to do damage than a sharp one. Same goes for woodworking chisels. You've got to get those chisels sharp if you want to them to work well, and be safe to use. It might surprise you to learn that brand new chisels aren't ready to go to work. Most chisels are ground, not honed, by the manufacturer. Grinding is, well, grinding, Ashaping process. Honing is what it takes to get the chisel REALLY sharp so it cuts effectively. The grinding marks near the tip of the chisel in the picture tell me this one needs some work. Our goal is to remove the marks left behind by the grinder. STAY IN THE KNOW Breage an ay sna) x. SPECIAL OFFER for PREMIUM MEMBERS: first month IP ntipsutwsew.wwrgoa.com/ariclelgetthat-chisel-sharpy2utm_source=newsletter&utm_mediumsemail8um_campaign=a6134&vsoid-a6134 19‘03/10/2028, 03:22 Sharpen Your Chisel | WAGOA | wwa.wwgoa.com You'll need a whetstone and some lubricating oil. Notice the two different colors in the stone. The stone has a coarse side and a fine side. For honing, use the fine side. If you manage to chip a chisel, or otherwise damage it, and really need to remove some metal to make it right, start on the coarse side. Saturate the stone with oil. This prevents the metal flings, called swarf, from clogging up the stone. Anew stone is thirsty and will soak up a lot of oil. Make sure there's always oil on the surface of the stone when you're sharpening. A paper towel will help soak up excess oil so it doesn’t end up all over your bench. Find the sharpening angle by holding the chisel on the stone with the handle parallel to the bench. Lift the handle until you feel the bevel of the cutting tip go flat on the stone. Just as it goes flat you'll see a puddle of oll pushed out from under this chisel. This is a good sign you've got the angle right. hitpsilwwwawgoa.comfatcle/getthat-chiset-sharp/?ulm_source=newsleterButm_mediu smallautm_campaign=a61348vsold=a6134 29‘03/10/2028, 03:22 Sharpen Your Chisel | WWGOA | wwa.wwgoa.com Holding the chisel atthe correct angle, slide your index finger down so you can feel the whetstone. Maintaining consistent contact between your finger and the stone will help you keep the angle correct as you sharpen. Stroke the chisel up and down the length of the stone. Be sure to use the entire surface of the stone or you can wear it unevenly, and it won't be flat. Ifthe Chat stone is slipping and sliding on your bench, put a piece of shelf iner under it to help it stay put. smallautm_campaign=a61348vsold=a6134 39 hitpsilwwwawgoa.comfatcle/getthat-chiset-sharp/?ulm_source=newsleterButm_mediu‘03/10/2028, 03:22 Sharpen Your Chisel | WWGOA | wwa.wwgoa.com Not sure you're keeping the angle right? Try this trick. Color in the bevel of the chisel with a felt tip, then. take a few strokes on the stone. Then have a look at the bevel. Chat hitpsilwwwawgoa.comfatcle/getthat-chiset-sharp/?ulm_source=newsleterButm_mediu mallautm_campaign=a61348vsold=a6134 49‘03/10/2029, 03:22 Sharpen Your Chisel | WWGOA | www.wwgoa.com If you're holding the bevel perfectly flat, you'll be removing color uniformly. In this case it’s being taken off the tip, but not the rest of the bevel, so the chisel handle is too high. Correct the angle and keep going, Chat 3 ss Remember that your goalis to eliminate all the grinding marks. This chisel is nearly done, but there’s one more step. hitpsiwwwawgoa.comfatcle/getthat-chisel-sharp/?utm_source=newsleter&utm_medium=emalléutm_campaign=a61348vsoid=a6134 5903/10/2029, 03:22 Sharpen Your Chisel | WAGOA | wwa.wwgoa.com After you've honed the bevel of the chisel to perfection, you need to flatten the back. This is called lapping, A perfectly flat back will make the chisel cut much better Once you've got the chisel sharp, take good care of it and the cutting edge will last a long time. It's easier to maintain the cutting edge if you keep it sharp. So don’t wait for the chisel to get dull before you head back to the whetstone, Give the chisel a few strokes on the stone every time you use it, and itl always be ready to work. Photos By Author Tags:Chisel, How-to Sharpening 60e Make acomment Name (required) Your Name* Mail (required) Your E-Mail” {wil notbe pubishee Website Got a website? Chat Share a tip or simply leave a comment. OTs 16 Responses to “Get That Chisel Shar] ntipsutwaew.wwigoa.com/ariclelgetthat-chisel-sharpy2utm_source=newsletter&utm_mediumsemail8ulm_campaign=a6134&vsoid-a613403/10/2028, 03:22 Sharpen Your Chisel | WAWGOA | wwa.wwgoa.com Charles Lacey September 24th, 2023 Now | know that | can do it right, thank you. Tony Murnane December 28th, 2022 Hi and thanks for your tips. | am wondering what your thoughts are on’ honing guides for helping with sharpening . Thanks again . Tony Customer Service December 30th, 2022 Hi Tony, V?m a huge fan ofthis type of guide for my plane irons and chisels. It gives me great results every time, and setup is simple. This s similar ‘to the one that | use: https://amzn.to/3CalccY Paul neil March 13th, 2018 Thank you! Going down to shop to try this out. ‘ARMAND CATENARO January 25th, 2017 how does one go about sharpening/keeping sharp “Wood! sculpting tools? Customer Service February 1st, 2017 There are a number of ways that this can be done. The article that you are referring to is one good way to sharpen them. Ifyou search for chat the word “sharpen” on the wwe0a site, you will find a number of helpful resources on this topic. Ken Kolarcik January 23rd, 2017 tips:twaew.wwrgoa.com/ariclelgetthat-chisel-sharpy2utm_source=newsletter&utm_mediumsemail8um_campaign=a6134&vsoid-a6134 7903/10/2028, 03:22 ‘Sharpen Your Chisel | WWGOA | wiew.wwgoa.com Is there a special kind of oil to use? Will 3in1 household oil be adequate? Customer Service February 1st, 2017 Hi, Ken. You want to use a product called “honing oil” for this. https://www.amazon.com/Smiths-HON1-40Z-Honing-Solution-4- Ounce/tlp/B0013AXUOY/ref=sr_1_12s-home- garden&ie=UTF8&qid=14855464028sr=1-1&keywords-honingtoil, JUSTIN June 8th, 2020 | found out that canola oil works well too though honing oil will be the best oll to use since it is designed for sharpening Coa Ranchhand January 23rd, 2017 Thank you | needed that!!! cea ‘Aandrew artemchuk January 22nd, 2017 Great piece of information !! Co Kermit January 22nd, 2017 The tips for sharpening and maintaining the chiselsis very helpful Co Howard October 29th, 2010 Chat The series of films that You have here are all great. | come back, and try to find them to play again. | learn new things when | do this. Howard October 29th, 2010 ntpsitvaew.wigoa.com/aricleigt-that-chisel-sharpy2utm_source=newsletter&ulm_medium=email8utm_campaign=a6134&vsoid-a613403/10/2028, 03:22 Sharpen Your Chisel | WWGOA | www.wwgoa.com The series of films that You have here are all great. | come back, and try to find them to play again. | learn new things when | do this. Jack October 21st, 2010 For those of us who have trouble maintaining the proper angle,there is a jig that the chisel clamps into making the job much more precise. Jack October 21st, 2010 For those of us who have trouble maintaining the proper angle,there is ajig that the chisel clamps into making the job much more prec ‘Search For: suanrcnm arenes nero 2 |TOOL STORAGE IDEAS » cpecsreneaesrncnas | <|rowrowmaaacowano «|oeerwooornaanwe Chat ntipsutwaew.wwigoa.com/ariclelgetthat-chisel-sharpy2utm_source=newsletter&utm_mediumsemail8ulm_campaign=a6134&vsoid-a6134