WWA Info Exchange

or not to hone, that is the question. For rounders, not necessarily a black and white question. For square work honing is really good technique. The URL is for rounders but edges are steel so some of the info can apply it just may need to be made square.

http://woodturninglearn.net/articles/ho ... gtools.htm

I know some turners who feel a sharpened edge is compromised the instant it's put to the wood. I on the other hand feel that a truly sharp tool, be it a turning gouge or mortise chisel, will hold its edge longer than one that was not caressed to a finely honed edge.

I am reminded now of an old school barbershop from my childhood. Back then it seemed that a barber would be giving shaves to clients more often than now. Sitting, waiting for my turn in a chair I can remember the barbers constantly stropping their razors. The big wide strap hung by their tool shelf and was used many many times with a hissing smack sound as the razor was dressed back and forth to keep the edge literally razor sharp. I was familiar with the razor strop for other reasons equally memorable but that's another story

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Everything was new once.
newtooth 311
Rochester, MN

Ah, yes. The razor strop. Unforgettable, eh. I used to have a couple of my grandad's old straight razors and his stop as well. Tried shaving with one once. Once is enough!

But as far as honing goes, I hone my skew chisels to as fine an edge as I can muster. Not only do they produce a much better finish "off the tool" and at least seem to last longer, but they're a lot easier to use when properly sharpened (honed).