Sharpening Handbook

About this Site

Biagio Pupini This site is meant as a reference tool for those who already know how to sharpen specific tools. It is meant to mirror the value provided for machinists by

Fred Colvin and Frank Stanley in American Machinists' Handbook or

Erik Oberg and Franklin Jones in Machinery's Handbook

I like the technique shown in the picture from Biagio Pupini titled, "Man supervising another sharpening an axe with a boy turning the wheel" (a pen and ink drawing, circa 1535, and shown to the right); however I can't find the room for such a grindstone in my shop. Also, my sons have moved out.

Instead, I use the Tormek wet grinder with associated jigs for sharpening when it makes sense to do so. When it does not, I have noted that in this site.

I have not used other systems like the the Accu-Finish or Sorby ProEdge machines, so I can't speak to what would change using them. If you have some information worth logging on this site, then please eMail me at the address shown below.

icon: For many topics, there is a link to information about recommended processes for the noted tools. This is a quick overview. If you are seeking information about how to sharpen tools, please refer to the sharpening resources noted on this site. There are many others and they may be quite good. I recommend these based on their proven approaches, and I have also found them to be safe when followed as instructed.

Nothing will ever please me, no matter how excellent or beneficial, if I must retain the knowledge of it to myself. And if wisdom were given me under the express condition that it must be kept hidden and not uttered, I should refuse it. No good thing is pleasant to possess, without friends to share it.

From Seneca the Younger's "Moral Letters" to Lucilius, letter 6 titled, "On Sharing Knowledge"

Information presented here is given without any commercial gain. God has been very good to me and my family, and this is a way of giving back in a small way. I also choose to fund this web site privately so that the information won't be skewed towards any vendor, and so that it can be presented freely to those who would like to use it.

If you have ideas or thoughts, please send them to me. I want this to be a quick reference for sharpening, and notes that help make that faster or more effective would be greatly appreciated (and will probably be added).

I have only shown information for tools I sharpen, or information given to me by others who sharpen their own tools. If you have information about tools not shown, please do send them to me so they can be added.

You can contact me at SharpeningHandbook @ Gmail.com.

I hope you find this information useful.

With kindest regards,
Rich Colvin

The legal stuff :
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons "Attribution - ShareAlike" license. See the Creative Commons web site for its terms. To the extent that material may appear to be infringed, I assert that such alleged infringement is permissible under fair use principles in U.S. copyright laws. If you believe material has been used in an unauthorized manner, please contact me at the eMail listed below.

Tormek AB have been kind enough to let me reference information from their Tormek Handbook. Notes have been made to the use of their copyrighted material.

And, remember : The goal of sharpening is to produce sharp tools, and these tools can injure you if mishandled. Safety measures should be followed to protect yourself and those in your shop. Be sure to read and follow all instructions from the manufacturer, and and utilize proper safety equipment. Never consume alcohol or anything that could impair your judgement before sharpening tools, or using sharp tools.