Preparing a Chip Breaker

[MartinC]

Can the Tormek be use to prepare a chip breaker?

I am very new to hand planners and while have have several Lei-Nelson planes, I have never felt I got great results with them. I just watched the video on preparing a chip breaker and was wondering if I could use the Tormek or should I do it by hand.

If the Tormek is an option, how would I approach doing it, fine only, fine and leather?

Thanks

[Ken S]

Welcome to the forum, Martin.

As much as I like the Tormek, I would use (and have used) my flat bench stones to prepare chip breakers. And, I would only work on the chip breakers IF NEEDED. Attached is the link to Lie-Nielsen's chip breakers.

https://www.lie-nielsen.com/nodes/4201/lie-nielsen-chipbreakers

Part of the high cost of Lie-Nielsen products is the very high level of precision machining. Their chip breakers are no exception. I would be surprised if your L-N chip breakers actually needed any preparation. I would email L-N support before touching them with a stone. The lip is purposefully designed to be very thin, and could be easily ground away.
L-N was the first to introduce this high level of manufacturing. The chip breaker preparation advice is more suited to Stanley level planes, good tools after a bit of tweaking.

Keep us posted.

Ken

[RichColvin]

Martin,


I've found a few videos on that, & have cataloged them at https://sharpeninghandbook.info/WW-Plane.html.  But I've not tried those techniques on the Tormek. 


Rich

[MartinC]

I will look through the videos, however my thought was the Lei-Nelson did not need to be touched.

I will try to do a better job at sharpening the main blade and see if I can get good results.

Does anyone know what a good BESS number would be for a plane blade?

Also, it the protocol the same for sharpening a plane blade as a knife?

My thought was:
Sharpen on fine blade until burr is raised
Hone on Japanese wheel for (4) passes (same angle as sharpening)
Hone on leather wheel for (4) passes (different angle, maybe plus 1.5)
Hone the flat side on 1000 grit stone, then polish on 5000 stone and maybe polish on 8000 stone.

I am making this up, so any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[RichColvin]

Martin,

I recommend a different process, and it is outlined at this link:  https://sharpeninghandbook.info/Info-WoodBenchTools.html, along with all the recommended grinding media.  Essentially, you don't need to hone (in my opinion) when using the SJ grindstone.

But, I also recommend you read the document I've compiled regarding micro/secondary bevels (https://sharpeninghandbook.info/MicroBevels.html).  You may also find that of use for what you are trying to do.

Kind regards,
Rich