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Fine Woodworking Magazine
Sharpening a Plane Iron with a Pitted Back
David Charlesworth's ruler trick speeds the process
by Thomas Lie-Nielsen
A blade with a pitted or rough back can never truly be sharp no matter how much you labor over the bevel. But as essential as it is to
flatten and hone the back, it can seem like
an endless process. If you are in a hurry, you can try a simple trick I learned from David Charlesworth, an English furniture maker, teacher, and writer.
After initial honing on a coarse stone, move directly to a 8000-grit stone. A thin steel ruler placed along one edge of the stone angles the blade very slightly and creates a small back bevel (less than 1°) as the back is honed. This hones the only part of the back that really matters -- the part that forms the cutting edge. It is also easy to repeat accurately.
Thomas Lie-Nielsen, author of Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Sharpening, started making hand tools in 1981. Lie-Nielsen Toolworks now makes several dozen high-end hand planes and saws, based on traditional designs.
Photos: Scott Gibson
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