Synopsis: Matt Kenney designed a dedicated bench that makes sharpening edge tools a permanent part of his workshop. It includes an area for flattening the backs of plane blades and chisels, grinding primary bevels, and honing secondary bevels. It also includes a wet station for flattening waterstones. The mobile cabinet lets him move quickly through all the steps needed, and now there’s no excuse for him not to have sharp tools every time he works.

From Fine Woodworking #223

I have used hand tools for as long as I’ve made furniture, and I quickly learned the importance of keeping them sharp—nothing is more frustrating and unproductive than a dull tool. But I faced a major difficulty because I lacked a convenient space for sharpening.

I dreaded the hassle of gathering my sharpening gear, heading into the house—so I could be near the sink— and setting up the kitchen island as a sharpening station. Packing up my stuff afterward and cleaning up the mess were also frustrating and timeconsuming.

As a result, many of my tools stayed dull and nearly unusable.

That changed when I decided to give sharpening its rightful place in my shop. By creating a dedicated space where everything is set up and ready to use, I am always just minutes from finely sharpened tools.

Consider the four key sharpening steps: Before designing a permanent sharpening station, I took some time to think about my sharpening technique, how I could improve it, and what equipment I would need.

There are three basic procedures to sharpen edge tools like plane blades and chisels: honing and polishing the backs, grinding primary bevels, and honing secondary bevels. And for woodworkers like myself, who use waterstones, there’s a fourth—flattening the stones, which requires water.

Although I don’t perform each task every time I sharpen, I knew I wanted a station that would allow me to move quickly between all four steps, and that would have places store all my sharpening gear.

I managed to kill three birds with one stone by building a mobile sharpening station with a flat and durable work surface and a convenient place to store all of my gear. And, since water is essential for me, I installed a utility sink next to the cabinet. Of course, not everyone is lucky enough to have easily accessible water sources in their shop. Those without a sink can store water in a Tupperware bin or empty jug.

The sharpening station has plenty of room on top to spread out my gear, and six drawers below to store everything. It sits on a heavy-duty, mobile platform— similar to the torsion-box design for shop furniture built by John White—designed to handle the daily rigors of shop abuse. Together, the unit is waterproof, mess-proof, and solid.

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Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Rockler Silicone Sharpening Stone Tray

At 6 in. wide, with plenty of length for standard waterstones, they have grippy dimples that keep the stones stable and level, plus wide channels all around to catch the water. They also lock together, side by side, so I can have all of my stones available at the same time.

Buy at Rockler

Wen Diamond Grinding Wheel

Diamond grinding wheel is perfect for flattening grinding wheels before honing chisels and plane blades

Buy at Amazon