I have to think hard before buying sharpening equipment. I have gotten most of the necessary power tools for working with wood, but now I want to slow down a little and wade into the hand tools world. I have an old Stanley #3 handyman plane, a Miller Falls #4 equivalent that I am cleaning up, and a Sjobergs Elite workbench. The Stanley didn’t come with an iron, so I bought one used. The Miller Falls has all its parts, including iron. Both of the blades aren’t sharp, so I think my first order of business is to get them sharpened.
I’ve read a lot of threads on SMC about sharpening. It seems challenging and confusing, so many choices as far as methods and equipment. As of now, I consider just buying Shapton stones; 1500, 5000, and 8000 to start with. These will allow me to sharpen plane blades and chisels.
But what if I want or need to sharpen knives, etc? Wouldn’t a Tormek be a better choice? These are the questions I ask myself. I’m not one to fret over equipment. I’d rather spend time wood working to create a piece. Tools are means to an end for me. However, in the world of sharpening, making a more informed decision at the start is important.
So, any word of wisdom for a novice?