Honing Gouges

Sharpening gouges is one of those unnecessarily contentious topics, there are lots of ideas and jigs to help. In this video, I do show a simple fixture that helps hone with precision, but I also cover honing freehand honing. I have no issue with sharpening jigs and paraphernalia if they help you get results and back to work, especially if they speed the process. But I also believe the gaining the sensitivity to feel a bevel riding flat on a stone or grinder is a useful skill worth pursuing. So much of the skill base of woodworking is developing sensitivity and usually this comes through exposure and failed attempts. Don’t let that discourage you, it just takes a little time. Usually the greatest barrier to gaining the ability to feel the contact point of the bevel on the stone is the tension you carry into the process. It takes time to relax enough to feel it, which is why I encourage you to simply feel for the contact of the bevel on the stone and then break the position without trying to hone the tool and then repeat the process of finding the position. Soon, it will be more comfortable and obvious. Once you become accustomed to this position and can find and hold it, start moving the tool down the stone. Maybe practicing on a medium grit stone that offers less resistance but isn’t too slick will be helpful when getting used to holding the tool in position while moving. When honing this way, either the bevel is in full contact or it isn’t. Once you develop that black and white awareness, the rest falls into place.