What Carpentry Tools Need To Be Sharpened Frequently?
Having sharp carpentry tools ensures that your project has a much more precise finish and your tools will be safer to use. But if you know anything about woodworking, you will understand that not all tools can be sharpened. It’s worth getting to grips with tool sharpening but what carpentry tools need to be sharpened frequently?
Certain types of saw may need to be sharpened regularly to keep them in good working order. However, chisels are among some of the most important tools to keep sharp.
If you’re new to using these types of tools, the maintenance can seem a little intimidating. But never fear, we have got you covered and in this guide, we will be teaching you all you need to know.
How Do You Sharpen A Plane Blade?
Keeping your plane sharp will ensure that it glides across material smoothly and without catching. The best way to approach this task is with some diamond sharpening plates which must be sprayed with auto glass cleaner. Many people will opt for water but this can cause the plates to rust, rendering them useless. You’ll need to remove the blade from the plane.
Now take the coarse plate and place the beveled plane edge onto it. You’ll need to apply a good amount of pressure as you push it lengthwise along the plate a few times. To start with, you’ll need to hold the blade at about 30º, moving to between 20º and 25º over the length of the plate. Doing this will make sure that the bevel has a slight camber.
Once you have removed all of the dullness from the blade, you will need to repeat the process but this time, using the fine plate and then the super fine plate. After doing this, you’ll need to use a strop in a vice with the leather side upwards. You can then use this to buff the place edge. Just be sure not to rub the cutting edge on the strop to avoid damaging it.
Now, you will need to put your plane back together and test it. If you notice that wood shavings are not equally produced from both sides of the blade, you may need to go back and readjust the wheel for more equilibrium.
Can A Hand Saw Be Sharpened?
Yes. Various types of handsaws can be sharpened and it is important to do this to ensure the best quality cut.
How Do You Sharpen A Crosscut Hand Saw?
When looking after a crosscut saw, it isn’t merely a case of sharpening the blade. You will also need to regularly reset the teeth. These saws have teeth whose angle alternate but over time, they may move and this will affect how well the saw performs. So, as part of your maintenance routine, you will need to make sure that you set the teeth back to their original position.
Sharpening a crosscut saw is a little different as you will need to sharpen the insides of the teeth from two different angles. This is achieved by sharpening the back of one tooth and the front of the adjacent one. This is typically done using a file. Once you have completed all the teeth, you will need to turn the saw around, repeating the process on the other side.
Is it Worth Sharpening A Hand Saw?
With repeated use, a hand saw will begin to get dull. This is the case even if you take very good care of the tool. If you continue to use it while it is dull, it will not cut as effectively and the tool will lose durability.
Think about how much stress your saw goes through and it isn’t difficult to see why regular sharpening is needed. You might think that this is unnecessary maintenance but it is worth doing if you want your saws to stand the test of time and perform to the best of their ability.
Can All Saws Be Sharpened?
There are a lot of saws out there that can be sharpened, but this isn’t the case for every saw. Provided that the saw does not have special hardened teeth then you should be able to sharpen it. There are also some saws whose blades cannot be removed which means they cannot be replaced and the entire tool will need to be replaced once it becomes too dull to use.
How Do You Sharpen Your Chisel?
To sharpen your chisel, you will first need a strip of glass with some sandpaper glued to it. Glass provides a very flat surface for sharpening so it is ideal. Make sure that you use a good quality sandpaper and choose a pack that has varying grit levels. It’s best to have three different pieces of glass; one with 80 grit sandpaper, and two others with 150 grit and 220 grit respectively.
You will run the chisel blade along the sandpaper but keep in mind that you’ll need to cover all angles. The back part of the chisel must remain flat and this can take some practice to get right. Moreover, you will need to dip the chisel into cold water every few passes to avoid allowing it to heat up.
When it comes to sharpening the edge of your chisel, you will need to use a honing guide to ensure that the angles remain spot on. You’ll need to keep honing until you can feel a ridge across the back of the chisel, this tells you that the end is sharp and that the bevel is at a point. A wire edge will be produced as a result of this and you can use your sandpaper to remove this. Once done, you’ll need to repeat the process using your 150 and 220 sandpapers.
When you’re done, you could buff the edge of the chisel if you want a really sharp result but this step isn’t essential.
Related Article: What Types Of Jobs Do Carpenters Do
Conclusion
You have likely spent a lot of money on your carpentry tools so it is imperative that you take good care of them. While not all tools need to be sharpened regularly, there are some whose performance will be affected if they aren’t well-maintained.