The Universal
Tool Sharpening Jig
From Michael Morningstar, Mount Shasta, CA
I want to give you some feedback on my experience with the Sharp-Skate. A few months back, I borrowed one from a friend to steepen bevel angles on two of my planes. It preformed this task perfectly, and it was especially nice to "grind"on the 500grit Glass series stone, which do to it's hardness, stayed flat, unlike most courser grit stones.
If accurately changing bevel angles was all I used this jig for it would be worth purchasing just for that! But soon after changing bevel angles with it, I had a real breakthrough. I had a considerable amount of kiln dried, flatsawn Western Red Cedar to plane, that I was about to give up on. Normally, with air dried FS WRC I get good results planing if everything is dialed in and I'm as sharp as I can possibly get. This kiln dried material was nearly impossible. What was happening, I think, is that I had to spend such a very long time on my finish stone that I inevitably rounded the edge over. I would get close to a good finish, but there was always a little "blush" if you know what I mean. Also, my edges wouldn't hold as long as I would like, so consequently, I was sharpening allot, which became fatiguing enough that my sharpening was suffering.
I decided to try the Sharp Skate because my wrists, and fingers were starting to revolt and let me tell you, the edge I got not only eliminated the blush, but stayed sharper for almost twice as many passes. By using the Dock,I was able to find the optimal angle for that material which turned out to be exactly twenty three degrees. Once I discovered that magic angle, I was able to freehand for three or four sharpenings, and then accurately re-establish it with the SS and Dock. I had allot of resistance towards using a jig, mainly ego, I suppose.
I'm always growing in my sharpening experience, and having a tool like this, I think is a great aid in that process. Kudos!
From David Duncan, Profession carpenter in Concord MA for 35 years
"When I'm loading up, I worry about leaving home without my Sharp Skate. I use it all the time."
From Steve Goodrich, Woodworker in Vt
"Just a follow up note. This is one of the best tools I have purchased in a long time and have been doing woodworking as a hobby for thirty (30) years. Great tool. Thank you very much".