Comments on: Looking Sharp for my Vacation

By: Fred West

Fred West — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 15:56:21 +0000

Megan and everyone else, I have been quite remiss in pointing out something and I feel very badly. I have received my Sigma Select and my Sigma Select ll from Stuart Tierney of ToolsfromJapan.com. I could not recommend Stu more highly and if you check his prices you will be quite happy. He also goes far, far beyond most vendors in trying to help. I realize that this is a plug but Lee Valley and Fine-tools were also mentioned. Give Stu a try, you will be very pleased. Fred

By: Fred West

Fred West — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:08:37 +0000

Megan, As they say, I could be all wet but it is what I was told from two different sellers. ) Fred

By: Fred West

Fred West — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:55:32 +0000

Jason, I started with 1,000 then went 3,000,6000 & finished on 10,000. I had to start low as they had some pretty bad needs when they arrived. I was told that the Sigmas were developed for the harder steels and so far I would very much agree. I took fewer strokes on the Sigmas though as to how many fewer I do not know. I will try and keep count next time and compare them with my Shaptons. Fred

By: Megan Fitzpatrick

Megan Fitzpatrick — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:54:46 +0000

Interesting. I’ll pull the #10,000 from the water, let it dry, and see what happens!

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:33:29 +0000

Fred,

What grits did you use with mortise chisels? I’ve been using diamond plates for the lower grits, but would like to save my Shaptons some wear (and save time, also) if the Sigma’s did a quick job in the finer grits.

By: Fred West

Fred West — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:30:02 +0000

Megan, I too have the Sigma Select ll but what I was told was that the lower grits needed to be soaked but that the upper grits could be used like the Shaptons. I have been using them in that manner for a month or so and they have worked like a charm. I took some of my mortise chisels that are made with M2 and sharpened them with the Sigma stones and they sharpened quite easily. Fred

By: Steve_OH

Steve_OH — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 04:28:39 +0000

I use the 1000/4000/8000 Shapton GlassStones. On the 4000 and 8000 I rarely make more than eight total strokes per blade per stone, and on the 1000 average only a little more, maybe twelve. I spend more time mounting the blade in the honing guide and making sure it’s square, and flattening the stones afterward, that I do actually honing…

Of course, I do try to sharpen at the first signs of blade distress.

-Steve

By: Megan Fitzpatrick

Megan Fitzpatrick — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 02:22:30 +0000

It is! I have a bunch of chisels, but I do so love those (less back to flatten, and can beat the heck out of ‘em)!

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 02:07:16 +0000

That’s almost as good as seeing an attractive, well-spoken lady in a woodshop.

Wait a minute…

By: Wilbur

Wilbur — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 01:55:29 +0000

Is that a Japanese chisel in the photo?

***swoon***