Anyone who is serious about sharpening, and does not just do it when it has to be done will always learn more. I don't feel bumed out that part of my whole sharpening philosophy got debunked in the last few months and humbled me, I am excited because I learned.
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Zen was mentioned again. The funny thing about that is it often seems to uphold two opposite ideas as being equally true. Like everything is different; and it's all the same.
Yet the goal of shaving is unique in that you are hopefully not cutting into substrate.
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Am I handicapped by that understanding? Would anyone use the same techniques(strokes, pressure, #laps etc) on a extra hollow as on thick wedge. do you sharpen your carving knives exactly the same as chefs knife. Or, even among kitchen knives are they all done the same-even a cleaver?
Some do, some don't. Each tool user according to their skill, in time knows what edge he like the best, and knows where to bring the tool when needed or learn to sharpen.
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I have tried to enjoy sharpening because the things I enjoy require it. I suppose if it were possible to have a perfectly sharp tool that never dulled I might be tempted to get some. luckily,perhaps, that is money I don't need to save. Sharpening is part of the connection to those came before. when we choose do do something by hand powered, low tech methods the process can become more important than the result. shaving can teach you that quite well. that doesn't mean to accept a bad shave; but, after that great shave you will need to do it again. So the experience is not just 15 minutes at the mirror. It is the whole process.
For sure!!!!!!!! With great enthusiasm!!!!
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I haven't seen many Jpn tool users that sharpen microbevels. There are not many sharpening jigs that will hold the plane blades. I think most of us sharpen everything freehand. I think it's important to have that direct contact. the fingers are vastly more intelligent than any jig.
They pride themselves on a flat bevel, done freehand. Half of my tools are from japan. The other half, America(and Can) and Europe. East meets west. You must agree, that the great skill in sharpening Jpn tools is enhanced by the thick layer of soft metal sitting behind the thin layer of blue or white steel(which do you prefer?). No microbevel needed it is accomplished through laminating. Freehand sharpening is what Jpn tools were designed for.i.e. jigs are redundant here and micros are too.
Also, micro on the Jpn would loose the support of the soft iron and chip because it is so hard. Soft metal cusions shock. You probably know this but some people might not.
Their is nothing to be ashammed of if you sharpen with a jig on western tools. If you are applying microbevels to the generous thickness of tool steel fro Lie Nielsen, or Veritas plane blades, Make a docking jig for you honing jig to repeat the microbevels. You would waste a lot of precious time and stone trying to repeat what you do on jpn steel to the very thick tool steel of your Low angle Jack Plane.
could be too much rambling there on my part so a little more wont hurt. I understand how the pros feel if someone comes along after some luck sharpening knives and tries to reinvent razor honing. You have to learn the basics from those who came before and practice a new skill-this should be obvious to anyone who actually does the work they claim, but saying one does not inform the other makes no sense to me. :borg::gl: