Originally Posted by
Jim Koepke
Hand eye coordination develops from repetition. It needs to be used to get better.
Same with sharpening. As more of my blades get worked, I find it is taking less work to get them sharp. It isn't the medium used. It is the experience and not wasting time with unproductive motions.
jtk
LOML Bought a set of the cheap Chinese micro planes to let her students play around with when making models to cast. She sharpened the blade for 15 minutes on some decent stones. After I checked it out, I felt it was impossibly dull for even a tiny plane and easy wood (Basswood). It took me 10 minutes to flatten the back, Create a proper bevel, and hone polish to sharp. It still was lousy steel and far from a fine instrument. But our practice and our mistakes are what allow us to now quickly get things sharp. No knock on my wife as she is great with her silver smithing, but I can teach something about sharp. She can saw with a jeweler's saw like no one's business. Makes me look like a ham handed buffoon.
Shawn
"no trees were harmed in the creation of this message, however some electrons were temporarily inconvenienced."
"I resent having to use my brain to do your thinking"