How To Sharpen Chip Carving Knives
Youre trying to minimize the compression of the wood fibers when you chip carve so you want a very light angle and no rounding of the cutting edge.
How to sharpen chip carving knives. 3 Methods to Sharpen Wood Carving Knives Here are three different ways that you can sharpen your wood carving knives. Lay the blade close to flat but at a slight angle on the stone and push the knife away from you as if you were trying to slice off a very thin layer of the stone. The ceramic stones will get you where you need to be.
Method One Push Away For this method you will want to lay the blade of your carving knife almost flat on a sharpening stone and push it away from you. The sides of the blade should be polished to a mirror finish to reduce friction as the knife cuts and to lightly burnish the facets left behind as chips are carved away. Ill show you how to sharpen a chip carving knife or any knife for that matterYour knife will be Scary Sharp when youre done guaranteedhttpsmychipcar.
Many chip carving knives are beveled from edge to spine. You need a sharp knife to chip carve properly. When working either stone lay your knife low against the stones surface pull the knifes edge across the stone life turn then pull along the opposite side of the knife.
The motion should feel as though you are trying to slice a thin layer of the stone clean off. If so they should be worked flat on the stone on both sides to maintain the original bevel. The blades point should be needle-sharp to allow all the incisions to meet precisely at crisp corners.
The V-tool and Carving gouge are easier to sharpen than they look if you understand a few basic Hand Tool t. The ceramic stones that Dennis Moor sells are very well ssuited for chip carving knives. Raise the back of the blade until it aims eight degrees to ten degrees.
Ill start with a knife straight out of the factory packaging and tune it up for regular use. Then you will work your way up to an 800 to 1000 grit stone or sandpaper to remove the rough scratches. What good is a carving chisel if it is not sharp.