Sharpening very narrow chisel

[Dave M]

I have acquired a 2 mm chisel second hand, which should be useful for small mitres.

I am normally a honing guide user but this obviously won't go in a guide. I can manage the bevel by hand. However the back is puzzling me. How to flatten it without rounding it over? It is pretty hard to keep it flat on the stone being so small.

Wondering what your experiences are...

[kiwigeo]

I have the Veritas joining guides which have an attachment for small (down to 2mm wide) chisels. For flattening the backs of the blade I work the blade across the water stone along its long axis making sure a majority of the blade is resting on the stone. You need to work carefully so as not to dig the blade into the stone.

[nkforster]

If you have two narrow chisels, you can sharpen them together in a jig like this one:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQfl3kSju3y/

Just place them a couple of inches apart and they will stabilise one another.

[Dave M]

Thanks both. I like the trick Nigel.

I managed to get it into my Veritas honing guide - I tend to forget it as I rarely use it - so clunky. With some more work I found it was not my poor technique but the back is in an awful state. Radiused across the width and a pronounced curve lengthways. We've probably all seen this horrible sharpening on old tools.

Anyway nearly got it right. It's surprising how much work goes into such a small tool!

Cheers Dave

[Mark McLean]

Nigel - did you build that jig or is it a bought one?

[nkforster]

Nigel - did you build that jig or is it a bought one?

I made it.

[Steve.Toscano]

Just free hand it.