chisel sharpening?

[caliber45]

Gents -- Finally getting around to trying some stock carving. Ordered a half-dozen chisels from TOTW (German-made); know they're not top-dollar, but gotta start somewhere. Find that the cutting angle is steeper than is comfortable for me, so I'm trying to work that down. Works fine on the flat chisels, but not on the "V"-shaped ones (whatever they're called). When I try to sharpen both sides of the "V" I end up with a smooth edge from the top of the "V" to within a fraction of the apex(? -- where they come together), but just  the hone is cutting a small rounded "notch" into the edge, and then leaving a small point at the apex that extends beyond(!) the edge. I assume I have either too shallow an angle or too steep an angle, but adjusting one way or the other doesn't seem to solve the problem. Suggestions? -- paulallen, greencastle, in

[alyce-james]

Sir; Good morning. To remove the hook of excess metal and create the center outer bevel, roll the tool slightly as you move right to left, the base of the "V" across a medium stone. Hope this helps. I had to attempt this method a lots of times before I mastered this method. I try to keep the center outer bevel, approx. 10 to 20 degrees. AJ.

[bama]

The V-tool is the hardest for me to sharpen and it must be done correctly or it will not cut well.

It will take some time to develope the outer bevel angle that works for you. Reguardless of the angle it has to be consistant for both sides. The inside V has to be consistant also and polished fine. For the outside bevel I use a shrpening fixture that I also use for grinding my gravers, this gives me a consistant bevel on both sides. I use a diamond wheel down to 1200 grit and the polish on a ceramic wheel. For the inside of the V in use a shaped stone and then a leather strop that is shaped to the correct angle with a fine rouge to bring it to a mirror polish. I don't know that you will ever get a perfect inside V but the U at the bottom of the V will be very small and most important sharp.

If you inspect many of the old guns and you look at the incise carving under magnification you will see that most if not all of the cuts will show evidense of having a U shaped cut at the bottom of the cut. The cuts that do not have this I think were cut with a knife from two different directions. These type of cuts eliminat tearing of the wood in the cut that goes across the grain as happens a lot when using a V tool. But again a very sharp V tool helps in that matter.

[caliber45]

Thanks for the advice, guys. AJ, you didn't say which direction to roll the tool -- toward the center (bottom of the "V") or the other direction? Tks! -- paul

[alyce-james]

C-45. Sir; I modified the first post, inserted "right to left". AJ

[caliber45]

Hey, AJ -- Thanks much for the clarification. I'll give it a try. -- paul