Synopsis: Some folks prefer to sharpen their plane blades and chisels freehand, but Chris Gochnour is a proponent of using a honing guide. These guides hold blades at a consistent angle while you sharpen and are essential to getting keen, repeatable results. He tested a variety of guides with different blades, focusing on ease of setup, accuracy of setup, versatility, and consistency. This review focuses on guides that sharpen on the stone. Models reviewed include the Lie-Nielsen, Veritas Mk.II Deluxe Honing Guide Set, generic side-clamping guides, the Kell No. 2, Nano Hone’s Sharp Skate 4, Trend, and the Veritas Sharpening System.

To be successful, a sharpening routine for woodworkers must be easy, quick, and versatile, and it must produce accurate and consistent results.

While some may prefer to sharpen freehand, I’m a big proponent of honing guides, and I recommend one for anyone looking to get sharp edges. Intended to hold blades at a consistent angle while you sharpen, these guides are essential to getting keen, repeatable results.

With all the guides on the market, it’s hard to know which one to pick. Should it clamp from the sides or the top? It depends. Should it ride on the stone or off? I prefer on.

Chris Gochnour’s Sharpening
Process – Watch a hand tool
aficionado who is always looking
for new ways to be a better sharpener

To determine the best models, I tested each with a variety of different blades and focused on four areas: ease of setup, accuracy of setup, versatility, and consistency. No single guide did everything perfectly, but two were easily my top picks: the Lie-Nielsen honing guide and the Veritas Mk.II Deluxe Honing Guide Set. Used mindfully, either will be a great addition to your sharpening arsenal, getting you back to your bench with razor-sharp blades in little time.

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From Fine Woodworking #274

More on Finewoodworking.com:

• Handplane Sharpening by Michael Pekovich
• Honing Guides Aren’t Just for Wimps by Mario Rodriguez #132–Sept/Oct 1998 Issue
• Video: Modifying an inexpensive honing guide by Bob Van Dyke

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