We have a drawer full of fine Arkansas stones and some that have been inherited from my grandfather and my dad.  We even at one time had a collection of Japanese water stones.  The Arkansas stones have been relegated to pocketknives, kitchen knives and large hand plane blades.

For many woodworkers what I an about to share with you will sound like blasphemy in the world of proper sharpening.  There have been many articles written on the virtues of sandpaper, flat rotating stone systems like the Makita wet grinder and the relatively new Tormak Sharpening system.  In our shop they all take too long to acquire an edge and in many times are just too messy.

Years ago we found a system that will create a razor sharp edge in only a few minutes and re-sharpen and polish in seconds.  Sounds too good to be true!  For a busy shop it is a real time saver, and the real nice part is that it will create an edge with a very short learning curve for the woodworker.

Our sharpening station consists of a Baldor ¼ HP Model #114 buffing motor, with double shafts that runs at 1800 RPM.  It is equipped with two, 8” cotton sewn buffing wheels and a Lortone 8” Expanding Drum equipped with a 220-sanding belt.  Lortone has made expanding wheels for the lapidary/stone market for almost twenty years.  When the wheel expands it locks the sanding belt in place.  We have found that chisels up to 1 ½” wide and smaller hand plane blades can be sharpened quickly and square.  Above 1 ½” there will be a very slight rounding of the outside edges.  The wheel creates a hollow ground edge and is followed up on the cotton wheel with abrasive green rouge for a razor edge.

There is a learning curve since the edge is created free hand. We have a jig that we made years ago but we have become so familiar with the grinder that we no longer use it.

I have been in many shops throughout the years and have never found a quicker more reliable sharpening system.  The Baldor Buffing motor sells in the $175.00 bracket on the internet and the Lortone Expanding Wheel is $70.00 and can be ordered direct at 425 493-1600.  Doug Guthrie, is President of Lortone and has many satisfied woodworking customers.  The 8” cotton wheels are available at most mail order suppliers for a very inexpensive cost.

When setting up the station, be sure that the rotation of the wheels is away from you. This manner will assure that the sharpening is done on the top of the wheel. This will require that the base of the motor be rotated to the rear.  Removing the screws on the bottom of the base does this and reversing the base.  Be sure the switch is located in the front.  The Lortone Expanding Drum should never be run without the belt for safety reasons.  You can control the heat, which is the danger in any sharpening system like this, by the pressure that you apply to the chisel.  When you just start out it maybe wise to have a small cup of water nearby to keep your blade cool.  After you have sharpened a few, the cup of water will not be necessary.  If you have any questions please contact me directly at 760 743-6923 or our e-mail at americanfurniture@cox.net.

Brian H. Murphy