Sharpening Course

Lesson 1 • Abrasive Materials and Grit Systems

Surveys natural stones, synthetic abrasives, and diamond media. Students learn to match abrasive type and grit to the task at hand.

Lesson 2 • Understanding Steel and Edge Metallurgy

Covers steel hardness, grain structure, and how heat treatment affects sharpenability. Provides the metallurgical basis for all subsequent technique decisions.

Lesson 3 • Tool Identification and Classification

Categorises knives, chisels, plane irons, scissors, and specialty tools. Correct classification drives appropriate sharpening strategy selection.

Lesson 4 • Anatomy of a Sharp Edge

Defines bevel, apex, edge angle, and secondary bevel. Understanding these terms enables precise diagnosis of dull or damaged edges.

Lesson 1 • Flattening and Dressing Stones

Teaches lapping plates, diamond flattening stones, and wet-dry sandpaper methods. A flat stone surface is essential for accurate bevel geometry.

Lesson 2 • Diamond Plates and Ceramic Rods

Covers monocrystalline and polycrystalline diamond plates and ceramic honing rods. These tools offer fast cutting and low maintenance for high-volume sharpening.

Lesson 3 • Stone Storage and Longevity

Covers drying, sealing, and protecting stones from contamination and cracking. Proper storage preserves stone flatness and prevents premature degradation.

Lesson 4 • Water Stones vs. Oil Stones

Compares cutting speed, surface feel, and maintenance needs of water and oil stones. Choosing the right lubricant system prevents stone damage and improves results.

Lesson 1 • Progressing Through Grits

Teaches when to advance from coarse to fine abrasives and how to verify scratch pattern removal. Correct grit progression maximises efficiency and final sharpness.

Lesson 2 • Burr Formation and Removal

Explains how a burr signals apex contact and how to remove it cleanly. Proper burr management is the critical step between grinding and a refined edge.

Lesson 3 • Maintaining a Consistent Bevel Angle

Introduces angle estimation, coin-stacking guides, and visual feedback methods. Angle consistency directly determines edge quality and bevel geometry.

Lesson 4 • Grip and Stance for Consistency

Teaches finger placement, body posture, and stroke mechanics. Consistent grip and stance are the physical prerequisites for repeatable angle control.

Lesson 1 • Sharpening Chisels with a Guide

Applies honing guide technique to bench chisels and mortise chisels. Consistent chisel geometry is critical for clean joinery and paring work.

Lesson 2 • Knife Jigs and Edge-Pro Style Systems

Introduces pivot-arm and guided-rod knife sharpening systems. These systems allow precise angle repeatability across multiple knives in a collection.

Lesson 3 • Honing Guide Mechanics and Setup

Explains roller-style and side-clamp honing guides, projection distances, and angle charts. Correct setup eliminates angle drift and speeds up skill acquisition.

Lesson 4 • Limitations and Transitions to Freehand

Addresses what jigs cannot do and when freehand skill is required. Understanding jig limitations prepares students to choose the right method for each task.

Lesson 1 • Belt Grinder Techniques

Covers belt grit selection, platen vs. slack-belt grinding, and convex grind production. Belt grinders offer speed and versatility for reprofiling and finishing.

Lesson 2 • Heat Management and Temper Loss Prevention

Explains the discoloration scale, quench timing, and light-touch grinding technique. Preventing temper loss preserves steel hardness and edge-holding ability.

Lesson 3 • Slow-Speed Wet Grinder Operation

Teaches trough water management, leather honing wheel use, and angle jig setup on wet grinders. Wet grinding eliminates heat risk and produces a refined hollow grind.

Lesson 4 • Finishing After Power Grinding

Bridges power-ground edges to hand-stone refinement and stropping. Power grinding removes material; hand finishing refines the apex to working sharpness.

Lesson 1 • Stropping Technique and Angle Control

Teaches edge-trailing stroke direction, pressure, and angle consistency on a strop. Incorrect angle or edge-leading strokes cut the strop and roll the apex.

Lesson 2 • Sharpness Testing Methods

Introduces paper, thumbnail, arm-hair, and tomato tests for objective sharpness assessment. Standardised testing provides feedback that guides further refinement decisions.

Lesson 3 • Strop Types and Compound Selection

Surveys hanging strops, paddle strops, balsa strops, and abrasive compounds. Matching strop substrate and compound to the edge stage determines final sharpness.

Lesson 4 • Loading and Refreshing a Strop

Covers compound application, conditioning leather, and recognising a spent strop. A properly loaded strop cuts efficiently and extends time between stone sessions.

Lesson 1 • Axes, Hatchets, and Large Blades

Applies file, puck stone, and belt grinder techniques to axes and large blades. Convex geometry and thick stock require adapted pressure and stroke patterns.

Lesson 2 • Scissors and Shears Sharpening

Teaches flat-face lapping, bevel restoration, and pivot tension adjustment for scissors. Correct scissor geometry requires both bevel and flat-face work for clean cutting action.

Lesson 3 • Drill Bits and Turning Tools

Introduces twist drill geometry, lip angle, and bench grinder technique for drill bits and lathe tools. Correct geometry restores cutting efficiency and prevents workpiece damage.

Lesson 4 • Serrated Blade Sharpening

Covers tapered rods, diamond files, and serration-by-serration technique. Serrated edges require individual gullet work that differs fundamentally from flat-bevel sharpening.

Lesson 1 • Sharpness Standards and Documentation

Establishes objective sharpness benchmarks and introduces simple documentation systems. Documented standards enable consistent results and support client trust.

Lesson 2 • Building a Professional Sharpening Station

Covers equipment layout, lighting, tool storage, and ergonomic station design. A well-designed station reduces fatigue, improves accuracy, and supports high output.

Lesson 3 • Diagnosing and Repairing Damaged Edges

Covers chip removal, tip repair, and full reprofile strategies for severely damaged blades. Accurate damage diagnosis prevents wasted effort and guides the fastest repair path.

Lesson 4 • Developing a Repeatable Workflow

Builds intake, assessment, sharpening sequence, and final inspection routines. A documented workflow ensures consistent quality across high-volume sharpening sessions.