I think we overcomplicate sharpening, saw a guy at a hardware store in Nashville just use a file on his chisel

He had it sharp in like 2 minutes with a cheap flat file on site, meanwhile I've got a whole kit with stones and guides back home. Am I missing something or is the old school way just fine for framing work?

2 comments

2 Comments

logan_young2910d agoMost Upvoted

Framing chisels aren't that serious.

jordanblack10d ago

Whoa hold on, @logan_young29 I gotta push back on that a little. I mean, if you've ever tried to pare a tenon cheek with a dull chisel that's got a wonky edge, you'd know the difference a good framing chisel makes. A proper one with a thick, solid tang can take a beating from a mallet and still give you a clean cut, while a cheap one will just chip or roll right over. Plus, the bevel shape and weight distribution actually matter when you're hogging out waste on a big beam, not just whittling little dovetails. Idk, maybe it's just me but a sharp, well-made tool kinda earns its own seriousness on the job.