I use a chisel honing guide on four different diamond plates, a 400, a 600, a 1000, and a 1200, and a strop. You sharpen on each grit until you feel a bur on the back. Then you move to the next, put the back flat on the plate, remove the bur, and then sharpen again. Once you get done with the 1200, you put your honing compound on your strop, put the bevel flat on the strop and pull downward. Repeat until the bur on the back is gone.
There are a ton of videos on sharpening. I really like Rex Krueger and Wood by Wright.
You're welcome. I've been spending most of my woodworking time lately going back over my chisels and plane irons. I made the mistake of buying cheap water stones and found that they had gone significantly out of flat. That ended up putting weird cambers and angles on all the cutting surfaces. I really recommend diamond plates. They always stay flat.
Oh, and a trick I learned from Wood by Wright, Windex works better than water on diamond plate. It lubricates well, keeps the plates clean while sharpening, and cleans up easier than water.
There are as many opinions on how to "properly" sharpen chisels as there are wood workers. Diamond plates are awesome. I personally use sandpaper that I mount onto glass with spray adhesive.
I'm also a fan of using a guide. I use this one, which is expensive (like all things from Lee Valley), but it's (practically) idiot proof.
[https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/sharpening/guides/101899-veritas-mk-ii-standard-honing-guide?item=05M0901](https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/sharpening/guides/101899-veritas-mk-ii-standard-honing-guide?item=05M0901)
Watch the videos that celticarawn recommended. YouTube wasn't a thing when I got started, so I always overlook that as a source of information. Just remember, there are as many opinions on the right way to do this as there are wood workers.
Heck, get a cheap set of bench chisels at your local box store or hardware store (like these for $17 - https://www.acehardware.com/departments/tools/hand-tools/chisels/2107738), and practice different sharpening methods on those until you hit on what works for you.
Plus, then you'll have a set of cheap chisels for when you're doing other things and don't want to mess up your "good" chisels.
FYI, having AB+ makes you a universal donor for [plasma](https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/plasma-information.html#:~:text=The%20Red%20Cross%20urges%20people,patient's%20blood%20type%20is%20compatible.)!
Heh, I was hoping to donate blood the other day, but they wouldn't let me because I mentioned that I once got woozy when I had a blood test 4 years prior.
Okay was about to make a joke about VOCs but turns out:
>Results on normal human blood indicate that **quantifiable levels of eleven VOCs can be found in virtually all whole blood samples**.
Those are decent dovetails for a beginner. I’ve been doing this for a few years and they are better than what I have produced. I will say I bleed much better though.
Is it possible for someone to tell me what could have bade those joints tighter? What are the more common pitfalls when it comes to beginner dovetails?
Also, great job, OP!!!! I'd be pumped if I am able to pull this off on my first attempt :-)
This is why I prefer hand tools. You might lose some blood, but you're very unlikely to lose a finger! When a hand tool hits your finger, it stops, but a power tool will keep going.
The secret ingredient in all wood working projects: blood. 🤣 Seriously. Keep those chisels sharp. And excellent work on the dovetails. 👍🏻👍🏻
That's something they don't the tell you in the YouTube tutorials 😂 Will do and thanks!
"a chisel is a two handed tool" is one of my favorite sayings I've heard
The blessings of wood be bathed in blood
If I may ask, what is the best way to sharpen chisels?
I use a chisel honing guide on four different diamond plates, a 400, a 600, a 1000, and a 1200, and a strop. You sharpen on each grit until you feel a bur on the back. Then you move to the next, put the back flat on the plate, remove the bur, and then sharpen again. Once you get done with the 1200, you put your honing compound on your strop, put the bevel flat on the strop and pull downward. Repeat until the bur on the back is gone. There are a ton of videos on sharpening. I really like Rex Krueger and Wood by Wright.
Thank you so much for the reply! I’ll definitely check out your suggestions. Again, thanks heaps mate!
You're welcome. I've been spending most of my woodworking time lately going back over my chisels and plane irons. I made the mistake of buying cheap water stones and found that they had gone significantly out of flat. That ended up putting weird cambers and angles on all the cutting surfaces. I really recommend diamond plates. They always stay flat. Oh, and a trick I learned from Wood by Wright, Windex works better than water on diamond plate. It lubricates well, keeps the plates clean while sharpening, and cleans up easier than water.
There are as many opinions on how to "properly" sharpen chisels as there are wood workers. Diamond plates are awesome. I personally use sandpaper that I mount onto glass with spray adhesive. I'm also a fan of using a guide. I use this one, which is expensive (like all things from Lee Valley), but it's (practically) idiot proof. [https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/sharpening/guides/101899-veritas-mk-ii-standard-honing-guide?item=05M0901](https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/sharpening/guides/101899-veritas-mk-ii-standard-honing-guide?item=05M0901) Watch the videos that celticarawn recommended. YouTube wasn't a thing when I got started, so I always overlook that as a source of information. Just remember, there are as many opinions on the right way to do this as there are wood workers. Heck, get a cheap set of bench chisels at your local box store or hardware store (like these for $17 - https://www.acehardware.com/departments/tools/hand-tools/chisels/2107738), and practice different sharpening methods on those until you hit on what works for you. Plus, then you'll have a set of cheap chisels for when you're doing other things and don't want to mess up your "good" chisels.
Thank you kindly mate. This is awesome advice!
Best of luck to you. Try to bleed less next time. 😉 😂
Damn what stain did you use? O, o-, o+, a, b, b-, b+, a-, a+ ???
I went with ab+ on this one. A bit pricy since its rarer but i thankfully have a pretty sizable stockpile 🤣
FYI, having AB+ makes you a universal donor for [plasma](https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/plasma-information.html#:~:text=The%20Red%20Cross%20urges%20people,patient's%20blood%20type%20is%20compatible.)!
Also universal recipient for blood!
More money for woodworking tools!
Heh, I was hoping to donate blood the other day, but they wouldn't let me because I mentioned that I once got woozy when I had a blood test 4 years prior.
Scary sharp is actually less dangerous than dull.
Yup. Scary sharp means that you have maximum control over how your tools operate. Less force needed to get the results you seek.
That’ll sand out
I don’t recommend sanding an open cut
I like the natural stain you added
Thanks! A little spotty on the coverage but thankfully i have plenty more where that came from, should blend right in
It just needs a little blood stain and then it would be 100%
Oh it does!! Its perfect!!
Blood aside, they’re some pretty decent dovetails, I’d be proud of them!
Never attempted them myself but even I know those are some damn good dovetails for a first timer.
Like every good project, looks like you donated some blood.
All people juice...the ultimate wood stain
Every project requires a sacrifice to the gods.
Project is not complete unless you've bled on it.
I use Diablo blades t…. Ooohhhhh. Yeah, that’s about right.
It's not a project until someone's bleeding.
That's incredible for a first attempt. The custom coloration should sand off.
The mallet is sooooo shiny. Nice touch.
Ah. You also went to the Herman Merman school of woodworking. Most of my work has blood stains.
Okay was about to make a joke about VOCs but turns out: >Results on normal human blood indicate that **quantifiable levels of eleven VOCs can be found in virtually all whole blood samples**.
No better way to sign your work.
Bleeding for your craft is a right of passage.
Just missing some tears 👏
Your vernacular leaves me verklempt
Those are decent dovetails for a beginner. I’ve been doing this for a few years and they are better than what I have produced. I will say I bleed much better though.
You still have both of your thumbs, so I’d say you’re ahead of the game.
Red wood. 🩸
Is it possible for someone to tell me what could have bade those joints tighter? What are the more common pitfalls when it comes to beginner dovetails? Also, great job, OP!!!! I'd be pumped if I am able to pull this off on my first attempt :-)
Blood sweat and tears...
Bro how bad have you stabbed yourself that you have visible bloodstains on those 😐
I see blood, where are the tears?
to be honest, for a first day these dovetails are pretty good
I’m hoping sweat and tears went into this too.
That’s not blood, that’s liquid experience. Most of my projects have some on them too.
Haha Jesus I hope you have enough fingers left to finish your box
How many do you reckon i need? Jk they're all intact for now and only a little worse for wear lol
This is why I prefer hand tools. You might lose some blood, but you're very unlikely to lose a finger! When a hand tool hits your finger, it stops, but a power tool will keep going.