Menu
You've started with properly commissioned tools (of course!) but, as you carve away, the impact of steel on wood takes it's toll; nothing is permanent. So what can we do about it?
In these two lessons I'll be looking at how to maintain that correctly shaped bevel and keenly sharpened edge.
Normally we maintain our blades by regularly stropping as we feel we need it, either by hand or power. But there's a price to pay! There really is.
In the last few minutes of this video I'll describe something that, to me, is very profound: bedrock. What I call the 'life cycle of a carving tool'. You won't find this described elsewhere and understanding it will completely change your ideas about sharpening. Seriously. It's one of the shiniest nuggets on this website.
You'll find more information and lessons on hand sharpening and stropping in the Sharpening section of Woodcarving Workshops.
| 22 January 2020 18:15
Mark - The 'candle', as it's called, is that little line of a shiny bevel left as you flatten or resharpen it on a stone - it's useful as a guide to how near the edge you are - and you stop when you get there and the candle 'goes out'. It's hardly a bevel at all.
A secondary bevel is exactly that and usually comes with factory-sharpened tools where the handle was lifted right at the end to give a sharp edge - the edge is indeed sharp but the blade cuts by resting in this short bevel which means you have to lift the handle high.
| 21 January 2020 21:04
What is the difference between the candle and a secondary bevel?
Thankyou
