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Hard Felt Sharpening Devices

After much experimentation with all kinds of sharpening methods, I have finally settled on the following.

A used 1/3 horsepower 1725 RPM motor with an shaft arbor attached. I have learned that 3450 RPM is too fast. At that speed the wheel will throw off most of the compound as you try to apply it. It is also very easy to blue your tool at that speed.

I made a wheel out of pieces of leather which I cut into 6” diameter discs, then glued them together in the center to make a leather wheel. They need to be loose on the outside, not glued, because all sizes of gouges can be honed on the incannel. The wheel on the outside is a 1” wide hard felt wheel. I put about an inch of spacer between the 2 wheels so there would be room to maneuver a wide chisel on the felt wheel.  I should mention that I use the green chromium oxide compound on these wheels. None shows here because I was preoccupied with the photography.

The piece of wood in front of the wheels is simply a piece of 2” X 6” which I formed to fit within a half inch of the wheels. This piece is not a tool rest, it is a knuckle rest. Resting my hand against the rest gives stability.

Because the leather discs can flex and move, it is possible to hone the inside of every gouge I own, even very small veiners. I even touch up the vee tools on it. Notice that the wheel turns AWAY from the tool. This is VERY important. If the wheel turns toward the tool, you are going to get a nasty surprise.

The bevel of the gouge is polished against the hard felt wheel. Notice that my knuckles are resting on the “knuckle rest”.

With a minimum of time, effort, and expense, I manage to keep all my gouges sharp enough to shave hair off my arm at all times. No picking up a gouge and finding it dull!

I have less than $50 invested in this little device. It is portable, so I can take it along to carving meetings. I am often asked to hone one of the other member’s tools. Nothing to it!

January, 2006