I have a problem. Do you have a problem or do we have a problem she asked. A problem shared is a problem halved I offered.
So in effect you want me to share half of your problem she countered. My silence conveyed my inability to convince my wife she had a problem apart from what standing in front of her.
Yes and no I said. Let’s start with yes she responded. Well as you know I have lots of not so sharp tools in my workshop. Are you included she asked, with not a hint of sarcasm.
You know what I mean, of course dear, do go on. I wondered at this point whether I should indeed go on, however my in built perseverance overcame what little male common sense I had at my disposal.
Well sharpening chisels and planes on a stone takes forever, especially the amount of dings I seem to gather at the pointy end. And I thought why not automate the process.
At this point her hands had progressed to her hips, I knew she was waiting for the I need a machine thingy.
At this point she intervened. I thought you were retired and time was your friend. I don’t mind you spending hours or even days in your workshop. If fact I will treat you to a new set of chisels. You will I asked incredulously. Yes I would be delighted.
In my haste to accept her generous offer it never occurred to me they will also eventually require hours of honing over a wet stone. She is so devious.
I had to come clean. It’s not the time, I just can’t do it I confessed. What she enquired. I started to explain that I never get the angle correct. Every time I lift the blade to check I start at another angle and I can never get the chisel to a dead ninety degree cutting edge, no matter how much effort I put in or jigs I utilise.
Ok she half sympathized, what is it and how much. I wondered at this point if I should force out a tear or two.
What do you mean I feigned. How much she repeated. Oh you mean the chisel sharpener. There are lots of models out there all different prices. How much. Well it depends on the quality and manufacturer. God I was struggling.
Any of you guys know how to tell your better half that it costs £550 to sharpen a chisel. I certainly hadn’t a clue.
Go on she prodded, how much. It’s a Tormek I offered. How much. A broken record had nothing on this.
Just over £500. How..... that’s as far as I got. I stepped back as the seizure started. I decided best not interfere and let it run its course. Not surprisingly it ran quite some considerable time, well observing from a safe distance it lasted a couple of minutes, but seemed much longer.
Eventually she managed to raise her head and give me the stare. It’s not a pretty sight, and it does tend to set you back on your heels.
£500 to sharpen a chisel she spluttered. Well in truth it’s just not one chisel, I have quite a few. Wouldn’t it be better just to buy new ones when they get blunt she enquired. I blunt them quite quickly and it’s not cost effective. But a Torment is, she stated. A Tormek I corrected her before my brain caught up
A chisel is for life I offered. I thought that was a puppy she replied. I think you are about to buy a puppy she finished with.
I had clearly not thought this out, my first idea of a problem shared was definitely not a problem halved.
I had nothing left, apart from half a dozen blunt chisels.
As I turned to go with slumped shoulders, I thought about slitting my wrists, but had nothing sharp enough to do the job efficiently.
As you guys and gals know there are lots of reasonably priced wheels out there, but nothing compares to the Tormek, and you never see a second hand one for sale. They really are like a puppy, for life.
As far as tools are concerned I only have a couple of rules. Firstly never buy what you need. Always buy what you want, because you usually want a tool you can’t afford. Personally In my case I end up wanting something I usually can’t afford. Which leads me to my second rule. Always buy a tool you can’t afford. It pays in the long run.
Sounds somewhat complicated but it comes down to value for money, not in that very purchase moment, but instead, in the years to come as that tool contributes to your development as a craftsman.
So you may ask how good was my new Torment. Didn’t go exactly to plan.
Let’s explore the word Compatible. You know it’s when you go online to buy some printer ink and find out it’s more expensive than the equivalent high end Krug Champagne per litre. Next to your genuine ink is the fraction of the price compatible equivalent. It’s a no brainier. If you are lucky it works fine, if not a new printer is on your shopping list.
Now take that analogy and carry it over to chisel sharpeners and that’s where I ended up. A local company we’re selling them off at half price due to Mark 2 released.
Bought it for £25 with a 220 and 450 plate included. Had an old foam lined box which I cut up and purchased some lapping fluid and a 1200 and 100 diamond plate.
Results:
Does it make me feel any better. No
Does it work. Yes
Does it work fast. No
Does it work slow Yes
Does it hurt my hand. Yes
Am I a happy bunny. No
Do I still want a Tormek. Yes
So had it a week and the biggest drawback for me personally is that I found out none of my pointy things had near the 25 or 30 degree angle and subsequently the initial honing lasted forever and a day. However when you do achieve the required angle subsequent sharpening goes a lot quicker.
I have included a few photos of the grit plates I used.
And you can see from my last photo how sharp my chisel is now. One single blow from my toffee hammer sent that chisel flying through that batten. That batten looks like it might just be a lump of white wood. But it’s not, it’s called the Scottish Ebony, much like the Black Ebony, but ten times harder, a very rare species, and only found around my house. There may be a few sceptics reading this and scoffing, but hand on stomach it’s the truth, so help me Judas.
Colin
Some where in Scotland standing under an Ebony tree with eventually not so blunt tools
So in effect you want me to share half of your problem she countered. My silence conveyed my inability to convince my wife she had a problem apart from what standing in front of her.
Yes and no I said. Let’s start with yes she responded. Well as you know I have lots of not so sharp tools in my workshop. Are you included she asked, with not a hint of sarcasm.
You know what I mean, of course dear, do go on. I wondered at this point whether I should indeed go on, however my in built perseverance overcame what little male common sense I had at my disposal.
Well sharpening chisels and planes on a stone takes forever, especially the amount of dings I seem to gather at the pointy end. And I thought why not automate the process.
At this point her hands had progressed to her hips, I knew she was waiting for the I need a machine thingy.
At this point she intervened. I thought you were retired and time was your friend. I don’t mind you spending hours or even days in your workshop. If fact I will treat you to a new set of chisels. You will I asked incredulously. Yes I would be delighted.
In my haste to accept her generous offer it never occurred to me they will also eventually require hours of honing over a wet stone. She is so devious.
I had to come clean. It’s not the time, I just can’t do it I confessed. What she enquired. I started to explain that I never get the angle correct. Every time I lift the blade to check I start at another angle and I can never get the chisel to a dead ninety degree cutting edge, no matter how much effort I put in or jigs I utilise.
Ok she half sympathized, what is it and how much. I wondered at this point if I should force out a tear or two.
What do you mean I feigned. How much she repeated. Oh you mean the chisel sharpener. There are lots of models out there all different prices. How much. Well it depends on the quality and manufacturer. God I was struggling.
Any of you guys know how to tell your better half that it costs £550 to sharpen a chisel. I certainly hadn’t a clue.
Go on she prodded, how much. It’s a Tormek I offered. How much. A broken record had nothing on this.
Just over £500. How..... that’s as far as I got. I stepped back as the seizure started. I decided best not interfere and let it run its course. Not surprisingly it ran quite some considerable time, well observing from a safe distance it lasted a couple of minutes, but seemed much longer.
Eventually she managed to raise her head and give me the stare. It’s not a pretty sight, and it does tend to set you back on your heels.
£500 to sharpen a chisel she spluttered. Well in truth it’s just not one chisel, I have quite a few. Wouldn’t it be better just to buy new ones when they get blunt she enquired. I blunt them quite quickly and it’s not cost effective. But a Torment is, she stated. A Tormek I corrected her before my brain caught up
A chisel is for life I offered. I thought that was a puppy she replied. I think you are about to buy a puppy she finished with.
I had clearly not thought this out, my first idea of a problem shared was definitely not a problem halved.
I had nothing left, apart from half a dozen blunt chisels.
As I turned to go with slumped shoulders, I thought about slitting my wrists, but had nothing sharp enough to do the job efficiently.
As you guys and gals know there are lots of reasonably priced wheels out there, but nothing compares to the Tormek, and you never see a second hand one for sale. They really are like a puppy, for life.
As far as tools are concerned I only have a couple of rules. Firstly never buy what you need. Always buy what you want, because you usually want a tool you can’t afford. Personally In my case I end up wanting something I usually can’t afford. Which leads me to my second rule. Always buy a tool you can’t afford. It pays in the long run.
Sounds somewhat complicated but it comes down to value for money, not in that very purchase moment, but instead, in the years to come as that tool contributes to your development as a craftsman.
So you may ask how good was my new Torment. Didn’t go exactly to plan.
Let’s explore the word Compatible. You know it’s when you go online to buy some printer ink and find out it’s more expensive than the equivalent high end Krug Champagne per litre. Next to your genuine ink is the fraction of the price compatible equivalent. It’s a no brainier. If you are lucky it works fine, if not a new printer is on your shopping list.
Now take that analogy and carry it over to chisel sharpeners and that’s where I ended up. A local company we’re selling them off at half price due to Mark 2 released.
Bought it for £25 with a 220 and 450 plate included. Had an old foam lined box which I cut up and purchased some lapping fluid and a 1200 and 100 diamond plate.
Results:
Does it make me feel any better. No
Does it work. Yes
Does it work fast. No
Does it work slow Yes
Does it hurt my hand. Yes
Am I a happy bunny. No
Do I still want a Tormek. Yes
So had it a week and the biggest drawback for me personally is that I found out none of my pointy things had near the 25 or 30 degree angle and subsequently the initial honing lasted forever and a day. However when you do achieve the required angle subsequent sharpening goes a lot quicker.
I have included a few photos of the grit plates I used.
And you can see from my last photo how sharp my chisel is now. One single blow from my toffee hammer sent that chisel flying through that batten. That batten looks like it might just be a lump of white wood. But it’s not, it’s called the Scottish Ebony, much like the Black Ebony, but ten times harder, a very rare species, and only found around my house. There may be a few sceptics reading this and scoffing, but hand on stomach it’s the truth, so help me Judas.
Colin
Some where in Scotland standing under an Ebony tree with eventually not so blunt tools
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