I've felt conflicted this month. I've wanted to post some more about how complacent Christians are with witchcraft and magic, but have been to distracted lately with some life-changes that are happening with Elizabeth and me. So the only other thing that enters my mind at these times-other than prayer-is woodworking.
I'm not an expert or even an amateur by any measure but I know its in my blood and I can't ignore it regardless of how much I try. My greatest obstacle to becoming a better and to be honest "marginally relevant" woodworker is truck driving. When I'm done driving I will live in my shop 24/7. As things are now I've currently cached a workable staff of various tools and sharpening equipment.
On most weekends I am now either forced to skip a trip to my shop or if I am fortunate I am able to weasel in three or four quick passing hours. It goes too quickly. Most times it's doing small stuff like making a sidebead moulding on some poor piece of "furniture grade" oak that wouldn't pass even the most desperate furniture makers test or I could be doing something as simple as I did last weekend. I sharpened a chisel.
I'll say it again. All I did was sharpen a chisel. But as any beginning woodworker will proudly tell you, this is a very transformative time. When a man can go from simply using an edge tool to also being able to maintain and sharpen it-it is an enormous rush of potential. Anyone that has attempted to sharpen in the past may have experienced what I call the "false sharp". This is when you believe that you have sharpened your tool and begin to use it and the edge life only lasts a matter of short minutes if even that long. When you graduate from that to being able to use your freshly sharpened tool for over twenty minutes that is an ego boost like non-other. It's almost as exciting as the first time you thicknessed a board solely with hand tools. It's a talent and a skill that is an honor to own and maintain.
You may be wondering why I'm not spending my time with my pals in Eureka learning to make handplanes. Well the simple answer is that they really have taught me what they can without me really getting experience on my own. I've seen and learned alot from them. Now it's time for me to sink or swim. Albeit I have to wait till I am done driving truck. It's a tough situation to be in. But I know with certainty that the clock is ticking.
I'll try my best to take some photos of my limited tool collection. I'm sure you guys would like that. It might answer some questions or perhaps create more.
I really appreciate my teachers. I owe them alot. I wouldn't be where I am now or have had the experiences I've had, had it not been for them.
With regards to sharpening, I will concede that I do still have alot to learn about various stones and which orders to best use them in. Convex and concave edges also present a new trick when solely using stones and not electric systems.
To make it simple on yourself just use a medium or corse India stone, and a fine Arkansas with a DMT diamond stone to flatten with. Initially it may seem expensive but you will have these pieces in your sharpening arsenal for ages.
At this point I have two things going against my sharpening escapades, #1 inadequate lighting in my shop and #2 I'd like some sticks that have a 25 degree bevel on one end and 5 degrees more on the other. This is fine and typical for most irons and chisels. But feel free to experiment once you have experience. FYI I'm not there yet- Yet. The only caveat to offer really is that the steeper either of the angles or both angles are, the shorter the edge-life.
I wish you well with your sharpening escapades, Lord Bless You
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