The first Saturday, March 4th, monthly meeting was held in person at Bain Center (info link) and virtual using Zoom technology.
The presentation was Sharpen-O-Rama – by Fred Schock, Paul Mermelstein, Joel LaFerriere, Mark Fradkin, David Hickson, and Brian Graham.
Zoom attendees will see and hear a “TikTok like streaming experience” where the host will move through all six stations. Use the Zoom chat feature to pose your questions to the moderator. If possible, we’ll get your questions answered during the meeting.
In-person Attendees:
At the beginning of the meeting, members will be asked to sign up for four of the six sharpening demonstrations. Members will rotate between the demonstration tables in groups of up to 10 . Each demonstration will last 15 minutes. Members will have the opportunity to observe tools being sharpened using varied edge tools and methods.
Stations:
Chisels, Fred Schock
Plane blades (diamond plate, water stones, leather strop, honing jig) – Paul Mermelstein
Spokeshave (diamond plates and water stones, leather strop) – Joel LaFerriere
Card Scrapers, Mark Fradkin
Hand Saws (mill file, triangular file, saw vise) – David Hickson
Knives (paper wheel) – Brian Graham
Last month Mark and Joel showed us how hand planes could improve a woodworker’s results and enjoyment. This month, March, we will see how to get them really sharp, and up next in April, Paul Mermelstein will teach us the intricacies of hand plane rebuilding and maintenance.
Meeting details:
9am – Social, Raffle & Door Prize Ticket sales
0905 – Sign up for your top four stations… at the door prize ticket table
0945 – Call to Order
1000 – Presentations – Sharpen-O-Rama
1155 – Raffle
1200 – Adjourn
1200 – 1225 – restore room to pre-meeting condition
Opening – Mike
New Members and Guests Welcome – Mike
Treasurer’s Report – Mark
Membership Report – Gene
204 Active Members (Who’s Who) (+6 joined in Feb)
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Announcements
Workshop – Ron (shop schedule) New extended hours, Monday evening and some Saturdays
Show-N-Tell
Presentation – Kathy
Sharpen-O-Rama – 6 stations, 15 minutes each, 5 minutes to rotate to the next. Q&A at the end (10 minutes). In-person attendees will have time for four stations.
By Fred Schock, Paul Mermelstein, Joel LaFerriere, Mark Fradkin, David Hickson and Brian Graham.
Scroll down to view the Comments for individual presenter details and digital handouts.
Comments
2023-03-04 March Monthly Meeting & Minutes — 6 Comments
Sturdy workbench with a vice attached.
8” mill file; 1000 grit diamond or water sharpening stone, water spray bottle & rag
Burnishing tool
Procedure-
Place the scraper to be sharpened in the vice long side parallel to the bench top with 1-2 inches projecting up from the top of the vice.
Level and carefully square the top and sides edges that are face up.
Take the scraper to the stone to refine the edge. Be sure you have produced a smooth and square edge. Work all 3 edges on the stone.
Put the scraper back into the vice as before.
Draw the burnishing tool along the top edge of the scraper 4-6 times with the shaft of the tool parallel to the bench top. Do this step by pressing firmly downward on the thin edge to compress the metal edge.
Next, firmly draw the burnisher at a 2-3 degree angle along the top corners lengthwise of the scraper again about 4-6 times each side. You will be pressing downward, but this time at a slight angle.
The goal of this process is to create a small sharp but sturdy burr that will produce very thin shavings when used on a flat piece of hardwood.
Test. Using a piece of hardwood that has been planed, hold the scraper at such an angle to engage the burr in the wood surface and push the tool forward to produce shavings.
If your card scraper only produces dust, you will need to burnish the edges again as described above. In some cases, you may need to start from the beginning with the file.
Several Online Sources for Quality Tools-
Lee Valley/Veritas- very good quality tools at a good value
Tools for Working Wood – quality tools at a range of prices
Highland Woodworking– quality tools at a range of prices
Lie-Nielson Toolworks– excellent tools and a bit pricey
Sharpening knives and gouges with paper wheel can be done in 15 minutes and will work fine for me as well. I will talk about the grinder needed, the wheels themself, how to approach the wheel, and how to recoat and dress the wheel. I will be self-contained with a grinder on a stand and a small work table and all the proper props.
2. Hutsuls Brown Leather Strop with Compound – Get Razor-Sharp Edges with Stropping Kit, Green Honing Compound & Vegetable Tanned Two Sided Leather Strop Knife Sharpener Step-by-Step Guide Included
Visit the Hutsuls Store
I use strait water for the water stones . For the diamond plates you could also use crud cutter or simple green mixed 50/50 with water
Card Scrapers – Mark Fradkin
PDF Copy of Mark's Specifications
Equipment and Tools Required-
Sturdy workbench with a vice attached.
8” mill file; 1000 grit diamond or water sharpening stone, water spray bottle & rag
Burnishing tool
Procedure-
Several Online Sources for Quality Tools-
Handsaws – David Hickson
Read David’s step by step guide HERE.
Plane blades, diamond plate, water stones, leather strop, honing jig – Paul Mermelstein
1. Plane blades
2. Diamond plate, water stones, leather strop. Will show use of honing jig (Veritas).
Mermelstein – Sharpening Plane Blades – Handout
Knives – Brian Graham
Sharpening knives and gouges with paper wheel can be done in 15 minutes and will work fine for me as well. I will talk about the grinder needed, the wheels themself, how to approach the wheel, and how to recoat and dress the wheel. I will be self-contained with a grinder on a stand and a small work table and all the proper props.
Info about Brian’s sharpening supplies, here Razor Sharp Edgemaking Systems.
Razor Sharp Edgemaking System Instructions PDF
Chisels – Fred Schock
Supplies and links: (most on table)
Online Reading:
Lee Valley “Care and Maintenance of Ceramic and Water Stones”
Spokeshave, diamond plates and water stones, leather strop – Joel LaFerriere
Norton Water Stone Kit
Item # 87943
8” by 3”
The diamond plates are three thin diamond plates from Amazon
1. Thin Diamond Plate Polishing Tool Diamond Square Grinding Knife Tool Sharpening Stones Whetstone Knife Tool (240, 600 , 3000 Grit)
Brand: Oumefar https://www.amazon.com/Oumefar/b/ref=bl_dp_s_web_23438532011?ie=UTF8&node=23438532011&field-lbr_brands_browse-bin=Oumefar
2. Hutsuls Brown Leather Strop with Compound – Get Razor-Sharp Edges with Stropping Kit, Green Honing Compound & Vegetable Tanned Two Sided Leather Strop Knife Sharpener Step-by-Step Guide Included
Visit the Hutsuls Store
I use strait water for the water stones . For the diamond plates you could also use crud cutter or simple green mixed 50/50 with water
Visit the Hutsuls Store https://www.amazon.com/stores/Hutsuls/page/87BD44FB-6782-4574-AC95-99736A45C2AF?ref_=ast_bln