Introduction to Hand Tool Sharpening Class

While most woodwork projects require a sharp tool for high-quality results, hand tool sharpening is often seen as a mysterious or inscrutable art. In this Sydney workshop, we'll demystify the world of sharpening, including how to make and maintain a sharp edge and teach you how to achieve one consistently and easily for your own woodworking tools.

Guided by Gardening Australia's "Mr Fix It" Luke Mitchell, we'll focus on sharpening a chisel by hand and a hand plane blade using a honing guide. High-quality, hollow ground Japanese chisels will be provided as part of the course by Japanese Tools Australia which students will get to practise their sharpening and take home at the end of the day.

Learn about the pros and cons of using a variety of sharpening methods and media from high-end water-cooled grinders to more affordable and nonetheless effective options.

You're encouraged to bring in your own tools to sharpen and free time will be given at the end of the workshop to practice and work on your own tools with the provided equipment and media and the supervision of the class facilitators.

This course will introduce attendees to a variety of sharpening equipment including:

• Hand-cranked grinders
• High and low-speed bench grinders
• Modern water-cooled, slow-speed bench grinders and attachments
• Powered linisher sanders
• Oil stones and lubricating oils
• Japanese water stones
• Diamond sharpening and lapping plates
• Steel lapping plates and sharpening compounds
• Slip stones and more esoteric sharpening paraphernalia
• Strops and other polishing material
• Honing and polishing compounds and pastes

This course is open to students 13 and older. Among The Trees accepts students under 18 in two groups:

• Students 13-15 years of age must attend all courses with a parent or guardian. This parent or guardian must also purchase a place in the course and take part. One parent/guardian is able to attend with multiple students.
• Students 16-17 years of age may attend a course without a parent or guardian present.

You can read our full Child Safe Policy on the booking page.

Beginner-friendly. This workshop is designed for beginners with no prior experience who have an interest in learning to sharpen and maintain a sharp edge on their woodworking tools.
  By the end of this course you will have:

• One freshly sharpened Japanese carpenter's chisel with a sheath to take home
• The ability to achieve a razor-sharp edge on chisel and plane blades
• An understanding of the different sharpening tools such as; grinders, oil and water stones, diamond and steel lapping plates and strops, and when to use them
• An understanding of sharpening options for different budgets
• An understanding of how to sharpen a variety of different-edged woodworking tools
• Time on the stones and the grinders to practise your technique

Attendees should wear clothes that they don’t mind getting a bit grubby. PPE will be available to use but attendees are encouraged to bring their own ear, eye and breathing protection.

Attendees are also encouraged to bring in a tool or two of their own to sharpen. Appropriate tools to bring in include:

• Metal and timber planes such as block planes, smoothers (No.4), Jack (No.5), Jointer and scrub planes
• Router planes, rebate planes and combination planes
• Timber and metal spokeshaves
• Card scrapers
• Sloyd knives and hook knives
• Kitchen knives
• Hatchets
• Rasps
• Moulding planes

If you are planning on bringing in your own tool, particularly if it isn’t on the list, get in contact with us at Among the Trees so we can make sure we have everything ready for you.

If you don’t have any tools to bring in, ones will be provided on which to practice.

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