One of the most important skills to obtain in woodworking is the ability to obtain a "sharp" edge on your hand tools. Once you understand and experience a sharp hand tool, your woodworking will improve. A sharp hand tool allows you to be more accurate and is safer to use as less force is required to use the tool. Having a sharp edge on your hand tool will allow you to use an edge tool that you may have had poor results with previously.

 

Join Wiggy of WIGWOOD for one on one, personal tutorial conducted online. Wiggy will lead you through the entire process of achieving a sharp edge on your tools using your equipment. The tutorial will be conducted over a 3 hour session providing personalised guidance with your bench chisel or bench plane and your sharpening equipment. This is important, as you can repeat what you have learnt with your resources. You will be introduced to a range of concepts and processes. Beginners through to experienced woodworkers will learn new skills!

 

Equipment required to complete the tutorial. 

Please discuss with me if you have any questions.

 

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Bench chisel and/or bench plane blade* Must be in good working order with no rust pitting, just not sharp! This tutorial is not designed for tool restoration. This tutorial is limited to Western bench plane or bench chisel or Japanese equivalent (Kanna or Nomi). 

 

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Diamond plate/sheet* 300/600 (range) minimum of 180 mm long (DMT corse/fine). Diamond sheet must be affixed to a flat glass plate or similar  hard flat surface.

 

Water stone* Minimum 180 mm long. Shapton (Professional or Glass) and Cerax are good examples of sharpening water stones. You will require at least two grits, 800-1200 and 5000-8000. Three is best, 1000, 5000 and 8000.

 

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Wet and Dry sandpaper sheet 2 x 80, 120, 180, 240 girt and a glass plate that will hold a 1/3 of the sheet ( approx. 220 x 100 mm). Polished marble or slate can be used instead of glass.

 

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Honing guide or jig  A jig that is designed to hold your hand tool blade that you will be using on the tutorial. Examples are the Veritas MKII honing guide or the side clamping honing guide sold by most tool supplies including Bunnings. If your honing guide or jig does not hold your blade correctly/securely the tutorial will not proceed. Please note that some Japanese Chisels and Plane blades need a specific style of guide, if in doubt, contact me and I can provide guidance before we start.

 

Water spray bottle 

Permeant marker 

Small engineers/precision square* (50-100 mm)

 

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Lapping plate* (optional) An additional step in polishing the back of a blade.

 

Items marked with a star* can be purchased through Japanese Tools Australia

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IT - Online participant requirements (hardware/software)

 

• Good/reliable internet connection that maintains webcam connectivity. Poor connectivity will impact amount of tutorial content that is delivered.

• Laptop with inbuilt webcam (this webcam for face to face interaction)

• Seperate webcam (this camera will focus on the project)

• Microsoft teams application (free online)

 

 

Steps to prepare for tutorial

 

On purchasing a tutorial, WIGWOOD will be in contact with you to discuss the following:

 

• Set mutually acceptable date/time for the 1 x 3 hour session. Tutorials are available Monday - Friday after 4 pm and Saturday/Sunday anytime.

• Arrange a pre tutorial test of IT (webcam/Microsoft Teams) a few days before tutorial starting.

• Conduct the 1 x 3 hours tutorial session.