Some of the recent articles about sharpening without water on ceramic stones got me thinking about the Spyderco sharpening system for knives I have used for decades. I'm not sure it is accurate to call it a sharpening jig. The plastic base for the triangular stones simply mounts the stones at 25 degrees. All the user has to do is hold the knife being sharpened at a much easier to see 90 degrees and move it length wise against the stone. This system gives the user a more accurate system for maintaining a consistent bevel angle without having to mount the object being sharpened in some mechanical devise. Neither does the user have to run the jig over the stones. Basically the user is hand sharpening without having to feel and maintain the bevel against the stone.
I just bought two 2'x 8" Spyderco stones. It occurred to me that I could make a plywood base that would hold the stones at a given angles just like the Spyderco base that comes with the triangular Spyderco knife sharpening system. I was thinking about making two places in the base one for 25 degree sharpening and one for 30 degrees.
A simple block of wood cut at the proper angle on one end could hold the stones at the right angle. Two smaller blocks on either side of the stone, cut at the same angle could be clamped against the sides of the stone to hold it in place. One or two bolts, with wing nuts, through all three pieces of wood should hold the stone in the base. I think I could then sharpen chisels and plane blades by hand using this devise and not have to worry about holding on a bevel angle.
I tried sharpening a couple plane blades on my Spyderco knife sharpener. The small stone surface was not great and the two stones were not necessary, one was just in the way? The base was also too light for the larger, heavier plane blades. Even with the problems the results were good. I was wondering if anyone has tried this or knows some reason it want work?