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We’ve all been there: You reach for your saw in the middle of a project, and before you start the cut, you drag your finger along the teeth and say to yourself, “Meh…they’re sharp enough.” [...]

Understanding the Why is just as important as the How. Hand tools are a pleasure to use-if they’re sharp. Once you have a sharp tool in your hands, you’ll begin to realize why some [...]

When stropping my plane and chisel blades for that final honing, I always want to be sure that there is little to no chance that a freshly sharpened blade will slide off of the strop and [...]

Sharpening the bevel of a drawknife can be a challenge. Lap the flat side then use this method to do the bevel side. Using 3⁄8” or 1⁄2” or 3⁄4” PEX …

If you are relying on your kitchen sink and countertop as your sharpening station then you know how messy things can get. Stones, even those with rubber feet move on you, water migrates all [...]

Tool: Sink Bridge Manufacturer: Naniwa MSRP: $65 Editor’s note: This review first appeared in the August 2016 issue of Popular Woodworking. The stainless steel sink bridge from Naniwa is [...]

With this inviting and accessible setup, there’s no excuse for dull blades. The ability to keep tools sharp is a most important woodworking skill – that’s why I have a dedicated sharpening [...]

Tool: T4 Water Cooled Precision Sharpening System Manufacturer: Tormek MSRP: $415 I’m not usually a wet grinder kind of woman, because a dry grinder does the same work faster, then I move to [...]

Tool: Fasttrack MK2 Bundle Manufacturer: MPower MSRP: $140 First released more than 15 years ago, the newest iteration of M.Power’s Fasttrack Sharpening system adds a few user-friendly upgrades [...]

In my job as a woodworking teacher I do not only have command over the pedagogical content of our program, but also on the daily maintenance tasks of tool sharpening and general shop upkeep. Some [...]

If you like to rely on a honing guide during sharpening, you will benefit from using an angle setting (or indexing) jig. An indexing jig will allow you to accurately set the right amount of blade [...]

Tool: Diamond Sharpening Plates Manufacturer: Atoma Price: $63 Diamond sharpening stones have enjoyed a steady increase in popularity because they cut fast, never need flattening and last a long [...]