Official Luthiers Forum!

I use Japanese stones for sharpening and use the 12 buck guide from Rockler. The hone is not even and doesn't hold chisel well. Does anyone use a sharpening guide that they are happy with?

Bob

If you are using the gray one with the black set screw, it actually gets good reviews. However, I personally have found it difficult to use. Some things I have learned with it are, make sure that the chisel sits level in the guide slots. It holds plane blades pretty well, but I have had trouble with chisels. Also, I always tighten the screw with a screwdriver, mine never held by hand tightening only. After tightening, set it down on your stone and look very carefully at how the bevel is hitting the stone and adjust it till its right, might take a few times.

For a new one, I have never used it, but the Veritas guide from Lee Valley is supposed to be excellent. I know some friends that have thrown the one you have in trash after they moved to the Veritas one. I do believe it is more than 12 bucks though. I can probably even find a review on it somewhere.

i have several manufactured guides, and will use them on rare occasion, but my standard is a home built burns system. works fast, easy and well.

I personally don't like the guides. I quit using them years ago and do everything by hand, but this takes alot of patience and practice, but has sure paid off in the long run. I will on ocasion still use one if I get an old chisel in really bad shape.

If I need a guide I usually make my own by a dado in a block of wood with exact chisel slot I want and then I cut the block off to get the angle I want on the chisel. Then I run both the chisel and the block over 80 or 100 grit Aluminum Zircona paper glued onto glass and it doesn't take long to get the bevel cut.

Actually, that's the one I've been looking at!

I have the Veritas, and have used it for at least 10 years...I like it, but sometimes the hand and the eye are just as accurate and quicker unless your chisel is in really bad shape.

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

I have Brian Burns' system and the guides on that are good.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I have a Veritas guide and it works well. I don't use it as much since I got the Tormek though.

If I went back to hand sharpening the scary sharp way, I think the Veritas would be the one I would use.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Thanks to all