Sharpening wood carving tools

Jude Fritts demonstrates sharpening a gouge as she works on the pipe shade carvings for the pipe organ at St Philip Presbyterian Church in Houston. Visit www.judefritts.com.

Carving tools must be sharpened frequently to maintain a razor sharp edge. I use Japanese water stones to sharpen my tools. After wetting the stone, I make a slurry on its surface by rubbing it with a softer stone (starting at minute 1:16 in the video). Water stones sharpen much smoother and faster than oil stones and are less messy.

I show the motion of sharpening a gouge starting at about minute 1:40 in the video. Rock the chisel along its curved tip while moving it in an oval on the wet stone. Notice I keep my wrist at the same level so the tool is sharpened at a consistent angle. Once you get the motion down, it becomes a nice smooth rhythm that you don't even have to think about. (1:40)

Check the tip of the chisel periodically as you sharpen until you get a little bit of a burr on the front. Take that off with a slip stone and then move to the polishing stone. Be sure to rinse the chisel off before you move to the next stone so as to not mix coarsenesses. Also, rinse off the coarse stone before putting it back in the water (2:40).

Two cotton buffing wheels are used to get the super sharp, mirror-like finish. (3:30) Buffing wheels are often used nowadays instead of the leather strops that were traditionally used. Put a little rubbing compound on the wheel. Hold the chisel on the buffing wheel without pushing hard. Get the back and a little on the front, too. Always wipe the chisel off before you go to the next grade of compound. The result is a very shiny, razor sharp edge (4:50)

In between sharpenings, you can touch up the edge a few times on the fine buffing wheel before having to sharpen again (5:00).

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Sharpening
• wood
• carving
• tools

[jdfritts]

I'm actually from the Northwest and the person filming is from Texas. The carvings that you saw in the video were for the pipe organ for St. Philip's Presbyterian Church in Houston. If you want to see examples of my work, google Jude Fritts and you’ll find my website. You might also be interested in my brother’s website, who is the pipe organ builder. Look up Paul Fritts & Co. Thanks for your interest.

[jdfritts]

Thanks for your comment, Phil. If you learn to sharpen by hand well, it doesn't take much time. I sharpen six tools in about a half an hour and that lasts several full days of carving -- with about three touch ups on the buffing wheel between each sharpening. If I didn't touch up on the buffing wheel, I'd be sharpening on the stones a lot more. That's the trick.

[DeltaKino]

Does keeping the stones in the same tub of water contaminate each other? I feel like the coarse grit stone's slurry gets onto the fine polishing stones and makes them less fine. What do you think?

[jdfritts]

@DeltaKino

That is a very good question. You could keep the stones in separate containers of water. But this is what I do. I keep all the stones in one container of water. Each time I use one, I rinse all the slurry and debris off of it and put it back in the same tub. Clean stones can hang out together without any problem. Just make sure you wash them off when you're finished sharpening.

Thank you for your question.

[romeillinois]

What do you carve Jude?Maybe you could show some of what you do.Also I noticed you have your grinder running towards you.I have set mine up to run away from me.I just turned the base around to do this.You seem to have the touch for sharpening.

[jdfritts]

Thanks for your comments. For examples of my work, visit my website. (Search on "jude fritts" in Google.)

[toddly29]

I took a look at your website and I was amazed at how beautiful your work is!!!! I aspire to be a workcarver and might end up becomeing a pretty good craftsman someday but you are an ARTIST!!!

[strawalker]

You make it look easy, but working the angle on stones at that speed takes a whole hell of a lot of practice. Lady you got skills!

[Wrecktapus]

Thank you for this video! I'm very new to woodcarving and have been afraid to touch my gouges without understanding how to sharpen them. Your method is brilliant and very clearly explained, even for a novice like me. I have alot of work ahead of me to get the hang of that grinding rythym, hopefully I won't ruin too many gouges in the process. Thanks again.

[nosloppyagape]

That accent makes me think your from the good ol iron range u sound just like my aunt! On another note I really like your setup how often do u do intricate patterns like that?

[tallandomadera]

THERE IS NOT A GOOD SHARPENING SISTEM OUTTHERE FOR WOODCARVING TOOLS ,WHAT THEY SELL OUTTHERE IS ALL JUNK THAT DONT WORK GOOD ON WOODCARVING TOOLS THE BEST WAY IS MAKING YOUR OWN TAKE A LOOKON YOUTUBE  AT: MRDAVINCICODE . I design a sharpening sistem that works perfect for woodcarving tools

[tallandomadera]

THE TORMEK IS NOT THAT GOOD FOR WOODCARVING TOOLS SINCE IT WILL GIVE YOU A CONVEX BEVEL I HAD A TORMEK AND I END UP SELLING IT AND MAKING MY OWN SHARPENING MACHINE .TAKE A LOOK AT MRDAVINCICODE ON YOUTUBE

[Philmarcelis]

You should try a Tormek it will give you more time to carve

Phil

[chrisagans]

agreed, been messing up my gouges for weeks... worked like a charm