So I wanted to thank you for all your guys advice on the last 2 threads about sharpening and my Japanese chisels, it has lead
to a pretty cool break through for me, and Dr. Weaver I think your going to love this...
first off I used a honing guide and sandpaper to regrind the chisels to 30degrees, worked very fast as said, and they work much better now.
I'm still not sure what to do with the 3mm chisel.... it came ground at 40degress?
Then I went on to sharpening.... the bevel on the chisels is longer so it's easier to balance, but it still didn't feel right...
since you guys mentioned sharpening techniques and stuff I had this in the back of my head, I thought "why not give Paul Sellers method
a shot?" I did, and WOW.
It took me maybe 30 minutes to get the basic hang of it, so easy! of course I gouged the stones a little at first trying to figure out what it feels like when I'm
'on the edge'. but that turns out to be a non-issue, I didn't over think, just did it. then.....
I remembered David Weaver mentioning sharpening with a single Washita stone and a strop, and that he tried it with a king 1k (or was it a 800.?) and the results were not the same. make sense, the strop can only go so far. so what stone do I have that fits the bill..... ?
the Sigma 1.2k !!!! very hard... leaves a bright almost shiny finish, much finer than you'd expect. hated it as a 1k... but for this method..
(for comparison I have a 2k Bester than leaves a coarser dull gray finish.)
I tried it and then went to the strop... the edge I got is as good as anything I've ever got before, the sigma 13k is the only stone I feel matched the loaded strop in sharpness. and I did this with only 1 stone ! much faster... and it's much easier for me to hold the blade this way.. and finally I don't need to hesitate sharpening a chisel
somehow I also get a burr just as quickly this way.
I always thought the strop was too sensitive, too easy to ruin the edge, but with a rounded edge that danger dosen't seem so much there, you can be quite aggressive with it, just watch Paul Sellers.
I only thing I wonder now... what kind of edge would I get out of a very fine oil stone or the new dual-stones.. interesting hard to quite the stone game but I have to say... I'm much closer now then ever.
I still haven't decided if this is how I'll work or not, only time will tell, but I think it's great and Its good to share it.