15 Nov 2007
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| Flattening Traditional Oilstones | |
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I have been watching Larry Williams excellent new dvd on the making of traditional side escapement wooden planes, which has just been published by Lie-Nielsen
The working example is a matched pair, a round and a hollow. He makes all the blades for his planes and has an interesting sharpening technique which I intend to try. He dresses and flattens the surface of his oilstones, both man made and Arkansas, with a diamond stone. The slurry is left on the stone. I like to rub two 800grit stones together after flattening to ensure that they cut agressively from the beginning. (800 and 1200 work as well). If abrasive paper is used to flatten waterstones, they become glazed as the paper blunts. This means that they do not cut quickly in the beginning. After a few minutes of use the surface breaks down and fast cutting commences. It seems likely that the slurry left on an Arkansas stone will overcome one of their main drawbacks, i.e. that they cut rather slowly. Garrett Hack uses another cunning technique to combat this problem, he soups up the cutting action with a small blob of diamond paste. Larry is in the business of making plane blades from scratch, and therefore does a great deal of back flattening and sharpening. He made a most significant comment about the speed with which Arkansas stones loose their flatness. Best wishes, David |
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| Sharpening | |
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| posted by davidcharl at 07:58 | comments [9] | |
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| posted by Mike Lingenfelter | 15 Nov 2007 at 14:45 |
I just ordered his DVD the other day. I'm looking forward to its arrival. When is your DVD #6 going to be coming out? Mike |
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| posted by davidcharl | 15 Nov 2007 at 20:31 |
Mike, I'm sure you will enjoy Larry's dvd. It is great to watch an expert at work. The answer to your question is that I don't exactly know, but editing has started. The material shot this spring in Maine should be published early in 08. It covers the smoothing of difficult grain, without tearout, by three distinctly different methods; Raised effective pitch either with a back bevel in a conventional bench plane, or by increased honing angles in bevel up planes. Preparation and use of scraper planes. Plus some other useful techniques in action. Larry's dvd was shot just before mine as was one on the use of hollows and rounds to produce complex mouldings by Don McConnell. Another valuable resource. Number 7 is making progress at last. This will be everything I know about tuning up (or should that be rebuilding?) a Bailey plane for maximum performance. I am excited about this one as it was shot in my workshop in Devon. The excruciating delay is due to being let down by my first editor, but I am confident that the new one is doing an excellent job. Maybe September 08....... best wishes, David |
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| posted by Mike Lingenfelter | 17 Nov 2007 at 02:53 |
Wow your #7 sounds like it will be very interesting too! I can't wait. Mike |
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| posted by Michael Rogen | 3 Jan 2008 at 16:08 |
David, I too have watched Larry's DVD and found his comments about oilstones going flat interesting. It goes against everything else I have heard pertaining to these stones. That being said, yesterday I was begining the process of honing a scraper plane blade and much to my surprise my Arkansas Hard Black was indeed ever so hollowed in the center. I never doubted what Larry said I just never expected it to happen to my not so old stone. My routine when using oil stones now includes flatening them first with a coarse diamond stone. I am looking forward to your next DVD especially given the topics covered. I mention honing a scraper plane blade earlier, and it was the first one that I have ever done, so I have a real interest in seeing you in action again. Thank you, Michael |
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| posted by David Charlesworth | 5 Jan 2008 at 09:05 |
Michael, Thank you for those comments. I think Larry's statement of this fact, is, in its own way, as radical as the ruler trick............... ~;-)# Slow cutting and hollowing of oilstones, were two of the reasons why I adopted Japanese Waterstones with such enthusiasm. Finer polish was the other. Larry's technique seems to overcome two of these problems, and the precise degree of polish needed to get the work done, is a highly debateable issue. I have just been watching Jim Kingshott's excellent carving tool sharpening video again, and it is clear that he relies on two grades of stropping compound for his final polish and touch up while working. I do not chose to use strops for cabinetmaking chisels or plane blades, (due to the subtle rounding of the back) but they are ideal for carving tools. Shapton produce stones down to 30,000 grit, but I can't bring myself to go beyond 8 or 10 thousand grit, even though logic suggests this should be "better". I do hope my Cranky Grain dvd will be available before Easter, but you will have noticed that the L-N dvd production department have been very busy in the last year. best wishes, David |
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| posted by Michael Rogen | 13 Jan 2008 at 01:29 |
David, Do you remember when I told you about the problem i was having with my Shapton glass stones? They were sticking and jumping all over the place and you recommended that i try using nagura stone on it. I did with little or no sucess. I spoke with Rob Cosman about this issue a bit as well and he swears by the Diamond Lapping Plate. He says it absolutely makes a difference and is the key to keeping the stones flat and clean. He also advocates the use of the 16K stone and says that in his opinion, and I do respect his opinion, that it is the make or break for the Shapton system. What is your feeling about this? Back to the oil stones, I think that you are correct when you say; Larry's technique seems to overcome two of these problems, and the precise degree of polish needed to get the work done, is a highly debateable issue. It is a highly debatable issue and I have a blade that Larry's partner Don McConnell (who uses the same technique as Larry) has sharpened for me and it is the sharpest blade that I have ever used. It has that beautiful whooosh sound that is so intoxicating. But, I don't believe that it is the most polished blade that I have ever had or used. So on my plane blades and a couple of oil stones and your ruler trick, I'm quite happy about using the oil stones. I cann't afford the Diamond plate or the 16K stone at the moment, so for now I'm satisfied. I hope that you get a chance to try Larry's method because I happen to think that you will like it. Maybe not enough to switch, but enough to have a new opinion of them. Thank you and I'll be waiting for the DVD to come out. Michael |
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| posted by davidcharl | 16 Jan 2008 at 18:55 |
Michael, I have not used Shapton stones that much yet, being more than satisfied with the edge I get from three simple King stones. 800, 1200 & 8,000 or 10,000 grit. I think there comes a point where the law of diminishing returns kicks in. I wrote about experiments with diamond lapping down to 0.5 micron paste, but have no wish to do this as a daily routine, despite the ability to produce the most incredible polish which looked like liquid mercury, under magnification. The 8,000 waterstone edge is far superior to anything I got at the start of my career. best wishes, David |
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| posted by Michael Rogen | 17 Jan 2008 at 05:42 |
David, Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and comment on my technical malapropisms. I certainly agree with the concept, no the reality of the laws of diminishing returns. In simle layman's terms it should read"Stop while your ahead." But here in the states and across all ponds we are all guilty of it to a degree. You know the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I think it is safe to say that these statements are not always true. I'd venture to say that they aren't true all that much when you come right down to it. That's why I respect you and your work, you roll up your sleeves and get dirty. Bravo! Two more quick questions; 1. i would like to subscribe to the magazine that you write for.do you know off hand if the deliver to the states? 2. When are you coming back to teach in the US because I'd sign up without question Thank you, Michael |
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| posted by davidcharl | 18 Jan 2008 at 08:06 |
Michael, Overseas subscriptions are available at Furniture & Cabinetmaking Magazine I'm afraid 2008 does not look likely at the moment, I will miss my trip to Indiana and Maine. David |
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