having a plane sharpened

**robertleewilliams** · 10-10-2003, 11:21 AM

I don't have the wherewithall to sharpen a plane myself. I have one that belonged to my father and would like to make use of it. It's a Stanley... sooo are there places I can take it and have it sharpened professionally?

**Keystone** · 10-10-2003, 11:39 AM

Skip

Sharpening a plane iron, and chisels, is something that you really need to learn to do yourself.

I suggest that you invest the less than $20 required and learn the scary sharp method. Honing guide suck as this one from Rockler: http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/showdet...d=441&catid=54

and some wet/dry sanpaper glued down to a flat hard surface (1/4" glass) makes a cheap yet highly effective sharpening system.

**Kendemp** · 10-10-2003, 12:10 PM

Skip,

It's not too hard to do -- If I can do it I bet you can too. Just to add a little to Keystone's reply, do a google search on "scary sharp". There is a pretty good description of it on another forum, The Pond maybe? I saved the web page on my computer at home, if you haven't come up with it through Google, or if someone else doesn't post the link, I'll see if I can find it when I get home.

Also, do a forum search for Dano's plane primers (the Plane truth? or Plane basics?)

Good Luck.

EDIT: Try this link. http://www.shavings.net/SCARY.HTM#original

**Sawduster** · 10-10-2003, 01:10 PM

Yep, that is something you will want to learn to do, and like said above, a minimal investment will get you quickly on the way. Sharpening a plane is not a once in a while thing, it is an oft repeated one.

Along with the guide and other stuff, this is something I picked up to get the angle of the bezel just right. You can use it with the guide by the same company, or the one recommended above.

http://shop.woodcraft.com/Woodcraft/...ages/03b41.jpg

The setting guide in the front is what I'm talking about. The instructions give information as to the proper bevel angle for plane irons and chisels and such.

Here is a link to the Woodcraft site and the setup.

http://shop.woodcraft.com/Woodcraft/...E2C6FE896EF749

**ecklesweb** · 10-10-2003, 09:03 PM

Honing guide suc[em]k[/em] as this one

Freudian slip there? ;-)

**robertleewilliams** · 10-11-2003, 09:33 AM

Thanks for all the encouragement. This is a DIY forum afterall. Plus the notion that sharpening one's plane isn't something you do every two or three years (whether it needs it or not).

I'm gonna look into this. thanks again.
cheers
skip

**TDHofstetter** · 10-11-2003, 11:59 PM

I'll definitely toss my hat into the "LIY - DIY" ring. You WILL want to do this yourself, with any of the many aftermarket or shopbuilt jigs. Ain't something you wanna do freehand unless you're a darn sight better'n me at it. Come to think of it, there's even one school of practice that uses the plane itself as a jig.

But yeah... no. Don't let somebody else sharpen 'em. They'll never be as good as your own.

EDIT: Unless you let Limey sharpen 'em. Then you can shave the hairs off the hairs off your arm with 'em. :) :) :)

-- Tim --

Lesson: An aptitude adjustment.