Official Luthiers Forum!

Scratching my head...

Suggestions as to how to sharpen this lovely tool using 'scary sharp' process. I don't own, and am not about to own, sharpening stones whose cost could feed me for a month. SS works wonderfully on my flat chisels, but I'm at a loss over how to sharpen this one properly.

Thanks, folks.

_________________
Peter Havriluk

Not sure about Three Cherries, but my curved chisels from LV are flat for the last 1/2", and I'm able to lap the bottom as normal, and use a cheap holder with a roller to do the bevel...

Peter, here is what I do I know , brian burns , very nice guy ,but I do not like using sandpaper . as it tends to create a burr and a belly. and roll over
the edge .For sharpening my many carving chisels . I use a 1750 rpm grinder cheap one check HF , then I took off the wheels and put in 2 buffs on either side , one has red rouge and the other green rouge. The grinder is mounted with the front side facing backwards, and bolted to a plywood benchtop, For initial grinding I use a tapered cone from woodcraft 1000 to 6000 grit . or a jet slow speed wet grinder. I also modified this chisel by taking off the handle and replacing it with a locust one. Keep in mind the bevel angle is important for whether you are cutting hdwd or softwood . I like 20 deg . But for softish woods 17 is better IMHO

To be clear you mean the shank of the chisel is curved right? Not that it is a gouge like the actual cutting surface is cupped?

I have the LMI glue chisel and have found that if I push on it with my finger right on the tip while taking back strokes on the stone it will hone the 'flat' side without coming out of true. I basically push the whole thing with a finger barely pulling on the handle, then flip it over and work the bur to the other side and repeat. Pushing on it this way keeps the very tip as flat as possible.

I think he's talking about a gouge. If it was just a curved shank then it would be just like sharpening any other flat chisel.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Thanks, everybody.

Ed, your advice comes close to what I do with my flat chisels. I'll try not to overthink the topic and try that and see if I can make it work. I have some back braces to scallop, and the chisel, and decided it's time to learn to use the nice tools when the opportunity shows up, and it did.

_________________
Peter Havriluk

FWIW, I don't use a curved chisels for carving braces, but a 1" regular flat bottom with the corners rounded over ala Gore, used upsidedown, sharpened about once a year...I had thought the curved chisels were needed but they're not...

I used to use a flat chisel, then went to a curved one, now I use Boone planes, best of the 3. In combination with the plane I like the LMI 'glue' chisel. But if you are talking abut a gouge then you need a conical stone.