Just realized I've been sharpening my chisels wrong for like a decade

I was watching a video from a guy in Vancouver who does restoration work, and he was showing how he hones his chisels. He kept talking about the 'wire edge' and how you have to get rid of it completely. I always just did a few passes on my 8000 grit stone and called it good. So I took one of my bench chisels and really focused on feeling for that tiny burr, stropping it off on a piece of leather. The next cut into some maple was completely silent and the shaving was like a ribbon. I mean, I've been getting by, but the difference was insane. It's one of those things you don't know you're missing until you see it done right. Has anyone else had a basic sharpening step they were totally skipping?

3 comments

3 Comments

robertcarr13d ago

Oh man, I did the exact same thing with my plane irons.

blake79213d agoMost Upvoted

Same thing? Honestly, is it that big a deal?

the_terry13d ago

I read that a 25-degree bevel is pretty standard for smoothing planes.