Wood Carving V-Tool Chisel

The V Tool's cutting edge is best sharpened in the horizontal position (with the wheel rotating away from the user). This reduces the steel removal rate, and allows for easier sharpening of the edge to the right profile, as it is not too fast.

Guidelines shown below are for the cutting edge angles. Since the entirity of this blade's cutting surface is honed, no secondary / micro bevel is given (as with Bench Chisels).

The angle (β) is the grind angle for both cutting edges (ground first), and the keel (ground last).

Use the Projection Calculator to set the projection and USB distance from the grindstone. This calculator is web-based and does not require Excel.

General Guidelines
Material	β		Notes	Recommended Tormek Jig
	Hand Work	Mallet Work
Softer woods	15°	18°	For softer woods like bass or tupelo, this works well.	SVD-186 R
Harder woods	20°	25°	For harder woods like oak, this works well.

Notes & Comments

Information regarding Grindstones

The shape of the grind used is a call best made by the tool's use, based on their own experience. Additional notes are available on separate web pages for Grind Profiles, and Micro / Secondary Bevels.

If you want to grind a flat bevel on the edge and you are using a Tormek, watch the video below on using the Tormek MB-100 Muti Base and the one on using the Tormek MB-102 Multi Base. The SVD-186R Gouge Jig works well with the MB-100 and the MB-102.

I'm not a fan of this approach as it seems quite complicated; however it is an option.

Carving edges are typically not reground. It is usually done only when needed to reshape them, or repair a problem with the edge. More commonly, the edge is simply honed on the leather wheel.

More Information

Books & Papers

• Some information presented is from the Tormek handbook, Water Cooled Sharpening of Edge Tools, © Tormek AB.

Videos & Presentations

• Tormek Live Sharpening Class - Part 4 - Carving Knife & Carving Tools (YouTube video). Wolfgang and Sèbastian from Tormek go through the sharpening of carving knives and various carving tools such as v-tools, carving gouges and short wood chisels.


• The commentary that starts at 00:10:40 about setup of the Tormek SVM-00 Small Knife Holder Jig is excellent.


• Around 00:24, there is a discussion on sharpening hook knives (with the grind on the outside edge). Sharpening the inside edge must be done by hand, or using the method advocated in The Complete Guide to Sharpening (1996) by Leonard Lee.


• Tormek Sharpening Classes: Part 5 - Woodturning Tools (YouTube video). Want to learn how you get your woodturning tools razor-sharp? In this week's sharpening class we take a closer look at the tools for the woodturner; Gouges, skews, parting tools, scrapers, cutters and more. Sebastien and Wolfgang will show you the methods for sharpening all these turning tools and how you achieve repeatable edges every time. Stay tuned and hit us with your questions during the stream.


• Tormek Live Sharpening Class - Part 9 - Sharpen a flat bevel with Tormek MB-100 on a diamond wheel (YouTube video). In this episode we learn how to use the Tormek MB-100 Multi Base to sharpen a completely flat bevel ▼, on the side of Tormek's diamond wheels DC-250, DF-250 and DE-250. For some tools, such as 🎻 luthier knives,🔪 Kiridashi knives, v-tools, chip carving knives and Japanese plane irons, a completely flat surface on the bevel is preferred over a slightly concave, which you get when you sharpen on the rounded part of the grinding wheel. For some people this is more of a personal preference.

  Regardless of what might be the reason to want a flat bevel, Sèbastian and Wolfgang show how to achieve it with your Tormek wet sharpening system, They will also touch upon the differences between the different types of bevels.



• Tormek Live Sharpening Class - Part 20 - MB-102 Multi Base - Enhanced Knife Sharpening & Flat Bevels (YouTube video). This video covers the MB-102 jig which can be used two ways:


• For sharpening on the side of the grinding wheel (particularly the diamond grindstones). The value for this approach is:
• It allows for a flat grind on the cutting edge.
• It allows for sharpening short tools. This video demonstrates this well.


• For sharpening vertically from the horizontal position. This is a replacement for the front vertical base. Sharpening knife edges using a edge trailing approach may be preferable if you sharpen on a softer Japanese water stone (so you don't accidentally dig into the grindstone). It is also quite useful for sharpening spoon knives.


• At about 00:32, there is a great explanation of sharpening the V-Tool using the SVD-186-R Gouge Jig & the MB-102 Multi Base..


• Alan Holtham - Tormek SVD-186 Gouge Jig (YouTube video)


• David Peters - Tormek SVD-186 Gouge Jig Review and Comparison to the 185 (YouTube video)


• Sharpen gouges with the Tormek Gouge Jig SVD-185 (YouTube video)


• Jeff Farris - Sharpening with the Tormek SVD-185 Gouge Jig (YouTube video)


• Sharpen short edge tools with the Tormek Short Tool Jig SVS-32 (YouTube video)


• Tormek Turning Tool Setter TTS-100 (YouTube video)


• Tormek AngleMaster WM-200 (YouTube video)

Published Articles

• Carving tool tune-up, by Ian Agrell and published in Fine Woodworking magazine #133, November/December 1998.

  Ian recommends that the cutting edges be ground to 10° on both sides of the cutting edge, resulting in an α of 20°. The resulting edge looks rather like a knife. Pictures in the article explain this better.

  This approach is quite different from others I've read, especially for gouges and V-tools.

Web Sites

• R.M. Mottola has published a good set of instructions on Sharpening, Honing and Polishing Gouges and Other Carving Tools.

Tormek is a copyrighted logo of Tormek AB. Its presentation on this site is used to help the user quickly understand when specific Tormek tools, jigs, or setting are being used. For specific information regarding Tormek AB, or its products, please refer to the www.Tormek.com.