Sharpening Jig From Verysupercooltools

[Mark W Pugh]

What do you guys think about this? Just need something to sharpen chisels and planes. Looks like a caveman could do it. That's my level of expertise.

Thanks,

http://vsctools.com/shop/product-cat...harpening-jig/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbbHqLRez28

[Nelson Howe]

Mark, I don't know anything about that product. It doesn't look fantastic to me or really even very super cool. This one works great, seems to be an accepted standard of tool with a good reputation, is a tool I have and like a lot, and costs half:

http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/pag...072,43078&ap=1

This one is even a lot less money and also works well, I think, though I don't have one.
http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/pag...072,43078&ap=1

For tips on how to use it, look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F7q5WGb4ZA

good luck,

Nelson

[David Weaver]

Buy one of the side clamping jigs that go for $10. Anything that doesn't work in it should be freehand sharpened, anyway.

[Denny Rice]

Mark, I don't know anything about that product. It doesn't look fantastic to me or really even very super cool. This one works great, seems to be an accepted standard of tool with a good reputation, is a tool I have and like a lot, and costs half:

http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/pag...072,43078&ap=1

This one is even a lot less money and also works well, I think, though I don't have one. For tips on how to use it, look here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1F7q5WGb4ZA

good luck,

Nelson

+1 Nelson. I have the same jig. It works great, and the price is right.

[Jim Falsetti]

The eclipse sharpener works well.

Brent Beach's sharpening jig looks better than the OP's referenced jig and costs less.

[Tony Zaffuto]

If you're going to use a jig, that is not the style to use. The length of it will require the wheel to be off the stone (unless you have a stone that's a foot long, or so). In lieu of a long stone, you would have to make a holder for the stone, with the top of the holder the same height of the stone.

Also, the price of that thing at $129.00 is highway robbery! Get a side clamping, Eclipse style, for about $10 to $15.00. Better yet, learn to sharpen without a jig.

[John Coloccia]

Good grief.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

That thing looks a bit overcomplicated. Sharpening isn't complicated, things like that are made to make you think you are missing something IMHO.

[Myk Rian]

I tried the Scary Sharp method. Bought a Worksharp 3000 and put the sand paper, and Veritas jig away.

[Metod Alif]

Nelson,
There are many satisfied users of the Veritas and side clamping guides. If you want to give a try to free handing, here is one of several ways to practice: Use a 1/4' thick, 2" wide strip of wood (fake iron ) on some 100 grit sandpaper. Darken the bevel (plane one with a block plane to get started) with a pencil. You will get a good feedback of how you hold your 'iron'. Experiment with a grip till you find something comfortable. Once satisfied, switch to a thinner stock. Maybe half an hour. Convex or flat bevel? Both have their proponents. You decide for yourself.
Good luck and best wishes,
Metod

[Phil Thien]

Good grief.

Care to elaborate on that?

[Nelson Howe]

Thanks Method,
I freehand all my thick irons and often my chisels. But I find the jig useful for thinner irons. I also think the jig is helpful for people new to sharpening (I.e. the op).

Nelson

[michael osadchuk]

What do you guys think about this? Just need something to sharpen chisels and planes. Looks like a caveman could do it. That's my level of expertise.

Thanks,

http://vsctools.com/shop/product-cat...harpening-jig/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbbHqLRez28

I didn't hear anything in the demo video about how to register to the blade/chisel,etc. to specific bevel angles so I assume no angle registration feature is built into a jig with an intro price of $130..... even the generic vise/eclipse type honing guide you can buy for typically $10 has an angle registration feature at coarse 5degree intervals while the Lee Valley honing guides mk 1 or 2 has a finer gradient of angle registration built in (more cost than the vise/eclipse but still significantly less than the vsctool offering......

good luck

michael

[John Coloccia]

Care to elaborate on that?

It's 100lb solution to a 1oz problem. It's not that good of a solution, anyhow. You will need to reset it for every height stone you have, or you will have to make yet another jig to hold all of the stones at exactly the correct angle. Half the point of a jig is holding the blade at precisely the same angle as you progress through the stones. How will that ever happen here?

It's $130 and that's apparently the "introductory" pricing, so I guess it's going to cost even more later on. IMHO, it's a poor solution, and very overpriced.

[Stephen Cherry]

I was at the hand tool show a few years ago, and they were using the el cheapo 10 dollar jig. I also had been using that one. Had a more complex jig that did not work half as well.

If you want to spend money, I would recommend some good stones.