Hand plane sharpening session. The Veritas Mk.II honing guide makes this almost foolproof.
Dedicated the afternoon to getting my plane irons back in fighting shape. Nothing kills the joy of hand planing faster than a dull blade.
The Lineup
Sharpened irons from my #4 smoother, #5 jack, and low-angle block plane. All three had been getting progressively harder to use, requiring more pressure and leaving tear-out in curly maple that should have planed cleanly.
The Process
Set up my diamond plates in sequence: 300 grit for establishing the primary bevel, 600 for refining, and 1200 for the final polish. Used the Veritas honing guide to maintain a consistent 25-degree primary bevel with a 2-degree micro-bevel at the cutting edge.
The micro-bevel is key. Instead of honing the entire bevel surface every time, you’re only polishing a tiny strip at the very edge. Faster, easier to maintain, and just as sharp as a full bevel hone.
Testing Results
The #4 smoother now takes gossamer shavings from cherry end grain. Held the shaving up to the window – completely translucent, maybe 0.001″ thick. That’s the gold standard for a properly sharpened plane.
The block plane slices end grain on pine without any effort. The jack plane produces ribbon-like shavings that curl continuously without breaking.
Maintenance Schedule
Making sharpening a weekly ritual now, even when the blades don’t feel dull. Fifteen minutes of maintenance prevents hours of frustration with tools that aren’t performing at their best.
