George Vondriska

Must-Have Sharpening Techniques

George Vondriska
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  • In-depth Instruction; over 108 mins
  • On-demand video access anytime
  • Bonus downloadable PDF resources
  • Access to class Q&A
  • Available for purchase: $39.99
A good sharpening class has to start with helping you determine if your tools need to be sharpened. It can be difficult, especially for new woodworkers, to know if the problem lies in technique or tool. There are some very simple tests you can do on your tools to see if they need to be sharpened.
One of the fun things about woodworking is that there are so many ways to do a given task. The same is true of sharpening. You can sharpen tools completely by hand, or you can take advantage of power sharpening techniques. We’ll show you a number of different products that allow you to choose the sharpening approach that’s best for you.
It’s easy to quickly dress the carbide wings of a router bit to optimize its performance. Even if a router bit isn’t, technically, dull, it’s not a bad idea to give the cutters a little attention before using it on chip-prone material. This can be the difference between a great cut, and a marginal cut.
One challenge in sharpening bench chisels is getting the angle just right. You’ll learn a handful of approaches to help you hit the right angle every time. Whether you want to stay low tech and sharpen freehand on a plate of glass, or mechanize your sharpening, we’ve got you covered. Micro bevel? Yep, we cover that too.
Sharpening plane irons is very similar to sharpening bench chisels. You’ll be able to transfer a lot of what you learn about chisels to irons. Once you’ve mastered these techniques you’ll have your planes peeling off paper thin shavings in no time.
It isn’t uncommon, on a given turning project, to sharpen your chisels a number of times. The better you get at sharpening lathe chisels the more time you can spend turning. And you’ll get better results off the chisel, which means less sanding. You’ll see how to sharpen lathe chisels on whetstones, the WorkSharp, and how to freehand sharpen on a low-rpm grinder.
These tools baffle some woodworkers, primarily because they never learned how to properly sharpen them. Sharpening scrapers is completely different from sharpening other cutting tools. Your goal is not to create a sharp edge, it’s to create a cutting burr. A good burr starts with good prep work. We’ll show you how to achieve both.
Don’t try to overcome a dull forstner bit by pushing harder. Instead, spend a little time with a rotary tool or file to bring those cutting edges back to life. Your forstner bits should be giving you shavings, not dust. These sharpening techniques will help you bring your bits back to life.
Learn more about the critical importance of using sharp tools.
Learn more about your instructor, George Vondriska.
 
 
10 Lessons
1  hrs 48  mins

If you’re using tools in your shop, you need to know how to sharpen them. It’s an old adage, but true, that dull tools are more dangerous than sharp tools. You’re likely to force a dull tool, and that leads to accidents. Your woodworking will just be easier and more pleasant when you’re working with sharp tools.

We cover sharpening techniques for a broad array of tools in this class. In addition to covering a lot of tools, the class offers a variety of techniques, from hand sharpening to power sharpening, whetstones to low rpm grinders. You’re sure to find a sharpening approach here that works with your shop, your budget, and your skills. You’ll learn about different sharpening systems and how to sharpen:

  • Router bits

  • Bench chisels

  • Plane irons

  • Lathe chisels

  • Card scrapers and cabinet scrapers

  • Forstner bits

We realize that different woodworkers place different demands on their tools and have different setups in their shops. As a result, we show you a variety of approaches to sharpening, including:

  • Whetstones, including silicone carbide, water stones, and diamond stones

  • Sharpening on a glass plate

  • Freehand sharpening

  • The use of sharpening jigs

  • Low rpm grinder

  • WorkSharp

  • Rotary tools

On top of the sharpening techniques, we provide you with great tips and tricks to make your sharpening easier, such as:

  • How to determine when a tool is dull

  • Cleaning your cutting tools, which can help you avoid sharpening

  • How to prevent whetstones from clogging

With the broad array of tips, tricks and techniques offered in this class, you’re sure to be able to keep the cutting edges in your shop at their best.

George Vondriska

Formally trained in technology education, George Vondriska has been teaching woodworking since 1986. He has been the managing editor of Woodworkers Guild of America since 2007. In addition to classes at his own Vondriska Woodworks School, George teaches at woodworking shows across the country and has taught woodworking for the Peace Corps, Andersen Window, Northwest Airlines and the Pentagon.

George Vondriska

Bonus materials available after purchase

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