Stan,
I fully agree with your advice about never using the rular trick, but would carry it one step further: NEVER, EVER use it.
Originally Posted by
Stanley Covington
David:
Let me add one comment. This "ruler trick" has been debated ad nauseam, ab absurdo. I don't want to start up the debate again. But since you are relatively new at this, and since you are asking for advice, let me give you some more. it will be worth every penny you pay for it.
I urge you to not blindly follow my advice just because I tell you to, or because I make a convincing argument, but because you thoroughly understand what sharpening is, and have really thought through the long-term benefits of using the ruler trick or not.
The ruler trick works. Please figure out why it works. Make some drawings and analyze the long-term effects of using the ruler trick.
It is not a good long-term methodology for a couple of reasons. The first is that it is a crutch that will prevent you from learning how to sharpen freehand. The same goes for sharpening jigs. This is not a good way to develop the most basic woodworking skill.
The second reason is that, while sharpening jigs reliably produce a nice, flat, very useful bevel that can then be worked freehand with no problems, the ruler trick creates a bevel on the back/flat of the blade that can only be properly re-sharpened using the ruler trick. Therefore, you must rely on the ruler trick always. Not tragic, but less than ideal.
So, when you use the ruler trick, the blade's back is messed up, and you do not develop the skills necessary to sharpen the blade's back without using the ruler trick.
Of course, the ruler trick is not a good idea for chisels.
Learn how to sharpen like a craftsman.
Stan
Marty Schlosser
Kingston, ON, Canada
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apexwoodworks/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ApexWoodworksFurniture/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkmbvXb44CJ9t17SbHEWxJg/videos