WHY SHARP ISN’T ALWAYS BEST - DULL CHISELS
James Hamilton James Hamilton

WHY SHARP ISN’T ALWAYS BEST - DULL CHISELS

While sharp chisels are essential for most woodworking tasks, a deliberately blunt chisel can be a surprisingly useful tool for controlled paring and shaping, especially across the grain or on end grain. This article explains how to create a crisp blunt edge, when to use it, and the advantages it offers over ultra-sharp tools in specific scenarios.

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DO BEVEL ANGLES MATTER?
James Hamilton James Hamilton

DO BEVEL ANGLES MATTER?

Some people insist on a precise angle for pine, a different one for oak, another altogether for cherry, one angle for long grain, another for end grain. If you work with a lot of different woods, you'd need a hundred different planes or chisels set up with different bevels, or else you'd be regrinding your tools to nubs with the constant changes.

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ADDRESSING THE STROPPING MYTH
James Hamilton James Hamilton

ADDRESSING THE STROPPING MYTH

Learn the truth about stropping woodworking tools—how leather, light abrasives, and proper technique can keep chisels and plane irons razor-sharp without expensive sharpening stones. This guide breaks down compounds, materials, and methods so you can sharpen faster, cheaper, and with better results.

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A QUICK AND EASY WAY TO SHARPEN TOOLS
James Hamilton James Hamilton

A QUICK AND EASY WAY TO SHARPEN TOOLS

Stop struggling with dull chisels—this drill-press method sharpens them in under a minute using acrylic discs, a simple jig, and Cubitron sandpaper. Fast, efficient, and precise, it keeps your tools razor-sharp so you can get back to woodworking without delays.

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