My Japanese Waterstones had been showing signs of neglect. Tools took longer to sharpen, the sign of a clogged stone, and were starting to dish. My stones needed flattening.

The last time I flattened them, I spent a dull hour or so rubbing the stones back and forth on sandpaper laid out on my tablesaw. I wasn’t looking forward to repeating that task. On a visit to www.toolsforworkingwood.com, I found a silicon-carbide flattening stone made by Norton. As soon as I got it, I headed for the basement shop. I was not disappointed.

After soaking the Norton stone in water for a few minutes, I started rubbing the waterstones across its surface. It took no more than a minute to flatten each side. Of course, once the stones were flat, I had to hone a plane iron. What a difference! Half a dozen strokes, and I was ready to work wood.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Marking knife: Hock Double-Bevel Violin Knife, 3/4 in.

This heavy, double-beveled knife stays on track in all directions, and works just fine without adding a handle.

Buy at Lee Valley

Bahco 6-Inch Card Scraper

The size and thickness are what matter here. A consistent performer, this Bahco scraper is found in many shops we visit.

Buy at Amazon

Stanley Powerlock 16-ft. tape measure

With its smooth lock, tough case, compact size, and excellent accuracy, this Stanley tape is perfect for workshop use.

Buy at Amazon