The Beginner Lesson is available to FREE Members. This one is a bit tricky. Continuing with learning to sharpen your tools, we will get better acquainted with the second most frequently used tool, the v-chisel or "parting tool".
- Lesson Contents: single episode, Guide to Beginner Lessons, Basic Tool List, Guide to Sharpening a V-chisel
- Skill Level: Beginner
= More Lessons at the Basic Skill Level =
What is the recommended hardness of Arkansas slipstone? Hard vs soft?
Thanks.
You can use soft Arkansas stones for more aggressive sharpening, but use hard Arkansas stones for final sharpening. Surgical black or translucent are the best and are the hardest, but they can get quite expensive. It is also best to use hard Arkansas stones for slip stones.
Mary
I cannot believe that I finally understand how to sharpen a V tool!!!!
I’ve watched at least 3 other videos and never could understand how to do the middle. Your method of teaching it is great something complex before became very easy to understand. Thanks so much Mary, I’m a very happy student of yours.
Really glad you are enjoying the lessons. Happy Carving!
I’m getting a rounded edge with a little tip on the bottom of my v tool when trying to sharpen. Grrr.
Keep rounding the outer corner as if it were a tiny, curved gouge and that little tip will slowly go away. The outside radius of the tool needs to match the inside radius. It’s very subtle, so be patient. Thing grasshopper… wax on, wax off…
Thanks for the great lesson! Looking at a tool with multiple cutting edge surfaces is a sharpening challenge, you have cleared process up for me. Thanks!
You’re welcome!
It can be tricky. Just take your time and just follow the step by step process.
You make this seem easy. But, I’ve succeeded in ruining my Vtool. I’m finding sharpening to be the most discouraging part of beginning carving. I want to go through your courses, but, if I can’t sharpen my tools, it gets too discouraging to spend the money. Any help? I bought a beginner set of Shaaf tools and need them sharp to work.
Hello Farris,
I do know that the Shaaf tools generally do not arrive very sharp, and you will need to put some good time into getting them to a working order. Please go through my video lesson on sharpening the v-chisel and make sure you go through each step to completion. Because it may take a long time, it is tempting to short-cut some of the steps. Make sure each flat side has a wire edge before going onto the step of working on the tiny outside radius. Then make sure you round that outside radius until it matches the inside radius of the v-chisel (hardly noticeable, but there definitely is a small radius). Sometimes what I have seen is that the Shaaf tools are a little more bulky in metal. You may want to purchase a Pfeil v-chisel so you can really feel the joy of using a sharp tool. Then take your time to match the Shaaf tool to the Pfeil. Good luck!