Sharpening Tools

Your morning cup of joe could put a fine edge on your knife blades in a pinch.

Mastered in a Minute: A honing guide and sandpaper adhered to MDF provide effective, no-frills sharpening

As a preservation carpenter, I often have to sharpen my chisels and plane irons when I’m on a job site. In making holders for some new stones recently, I accidentally…

Learn how to use a belt sander, a diamond stone, and stropping compound to revive a dull or chipped chisel.

Grind out deep nicks with a belt sander, use a diamond stone to create a sharp edge, then finish with stropping compound

Keeping chisels and other edge tools sharp is a habit that I insist all our crew members develop, and I’ve found it to be a valuable lesson for new members…

The right tools and a few easily made jigs will give you an edge on your chisels, your planes and your competition.

The next time you're remodeling an old house and have to tear out the knob-and-tube wiring, save the porcelain insulators. They make great knife sharpeners. Steve A. Morris, Lynchburg, VA

We have about a hundred dull circular-saw blades—some carbide, some steel. I’d like to sharpen these blades myself, but I’m not sure exactly how to go about it. What method do you recommend?

Carpet or drywall work is tough on utility-knife blades. Rather than go to the trouble and expense of replacing the knife blades, I touch them up with a couple of…