Beginner's Guide to Sharpening Carving Tools: Learn to Keep Your Knives, Gouges & V-Tools in Tip-Top Shape

By Lora S. Irish

Keep all your woodcarving tools and knives sharp and in tip top shape! This comprehensive guide by renowned artist Lora Irish offers clear, step-by-step guidance to walk beginners through the basics of sharpening knives, gouges, V-tools, and chisels. Also included are informative sections on safety, basic sharpening techniques, what to keep in y

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing
• Release date: Jun 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9781637411629

Lora S. Irish

Lora S. Irish is an internationally known artist and author, whose acclaimed books include Great Book of Carving Patterns, Great Book of Celtic Patterns, Great Book of Dragon Patterns, Great Book of Tattoo Designs, The Official Vampire Artist's Handbook, Relief Carving Wood Spirits, World Wildlife Patterns for the Scroll Saw, and many more. Fox Chapel Publishing has sold more than 500,000 copies of Irish's books. Lora is also a frequent contributor to Woodcarving Illustrated and to Scroll Saw Woodworking and Crafts magazines.

Book preview

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© 2022 by Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc.,

903 Square Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552.

Beginner’s Guide to Sharpening Carving Tools is an original work, first published in 2022 by Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc. The contents herein are copyrighted by the author. Readers may copy the contents for personal use. The patterns themselves, however, are not to be duplicated for resale or distribution under any circumstances. Any such copying is a violation of copyright law.

Print ISBN 978-1-4971-0330-6

ISBN 978-1-63741-162-9

To learn more about the other great books from Fox Chapel Publishing, or to find a retailer near you, call toll-free 800-457-9112 or visit us at foxchapelpublishing.com.

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Acknowledgements

I wish to extend my deepest thanks to Hannah Carroll, Jon Deck, Chris Morrison, Kaylee Schofield, and Kelly Umenhofer for their excellent work in the creation, development, and refinement of this manuscript. As an author, it is a wonderful experience to be working with such a well-skilled team.

About the Author

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Lora S. Irish is an author, artist, carver, and pattern designer residing in Mount Airy, Md. She has written Landscape Pyrography: Techniques and Projects, Crafting with Gourds, Finishing Techniques for Woodcrafters, and many other Fox Chapel Publishing books. For more of her work, visit lsirish.com.

Contents

Introduction

Why Sharpen Your Tools?

Building Your Kit

Types of Sharpening Stones

Stone Shapes

Lubricants

Sharpening: A Basic Overview

Sharpening a Knife

Sharpening a Gouge

Sharpening a V-Tool

Sharpening a Chisel

Storage & Cleanup

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Glossary

Bevel: The angled cutting surface that allows a tool to slice through wood.

Chisel: A flat-bladed tool with a single beveled edge.

Double-Edged Blades: These blades have a bevel on both sides; the bevels meet to form a sharp point in the center. Classic bench knives, chip carving knives, and some whittling knives are double-edged blades.

Emery Cloth: Extremely fine-grit metal sandpaper used for sharpening gouges and V-tools.

Gouge: A carving tool with a single-bevel, curved cutting edge. Gouges come in many sizes and sweeps; the lower the number, the flatter the blade (a #3 is flatter than a #7).

Honing: To refine the cutting edge after sharpening. Not to be confused with sharpening itself.

Knife: A carving tool