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micro bevels

Started by Ken S, June 19, 2020, 02:33:39 PM

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Ken S

For many years I followed the standard practice of adding a micro bevel during initial sharpening of my bench chisels. The concept was logical; creating a micro bevel means only having to sharpen a small fraction of the bevel during subsequent sharpening, a definite labor saver when using oil or water stones.

When I purchased my Tormek in 2009, I switched to the recommended Tormek practice of sharpening the entire bevel with no micro or secondary bevel. I still do this. In the back of my mind, I thought I might add a micro bevel if I ever sharpened chisels for other people who might have to resharpen with bench stones. I now think that if someone prefers to resharpen (without having a Tormek), the first resharpening can serve as adding the initial micro bevel. I would discuss this beforehand with the customer.

What about the "two step" approach of having an initial bevel with a secondary bevel ground to the desired bevel angle? For my own chisels, I would use my Tormek to create my desired single bevel. The Tormek does the heavy lifting. I would discuss this beforehand if I was sharpening for another woodworker.

Thoughts?

Ken

RichColvin

Ken,

I use micro bevels for sharpening certain tools, but not for all.  The places I find it most useful are:

  • Chisels and planes (as you noted),
  • Knives, especially pocket knives,
  • Tools with carbide inserts (for both wood and metal lathes), and
  • Fly cutters, especially as the metal is so hard!
With certain lathe tools, especially the bowl gouge, I find that a relief grind is needed to prevent bruising the wood as I traverse the concave curve.  This works like a micro bevel in that it is also faster to resharpen.

I documented my findings here, including outlining the angle delta I use for the micro- / secondary bevel.  http://sharpeninghandbook.info/MicroBevels.html

Where I find it does not work well is for tools that need to use the full surface.  One example of that is the wood lathe skew.

Kind regards,
Rich
---------------------------
Rich Colvin
www.SharpeningHandbook.info - a reference guide for sharpening

You are born weak & frail, and you die weak & frail.  What you do between those is up to you.

Ken S

#2
Rich,

To quote CB's wise comment (in knife sharpening today), "There are many paths".

Ken