Replies

1. 
   JeffHeath | Jan 27, 2005 04:57am | #1

   Peter

   I haven't been quizzed in years, so I think I'll respond.  Please let me know how I do!  I flatten all my chisels, plane blades, etc.. with a 1 1/4 inch thick piece of granite that has different grits of sandpaper adhered to it.  I also lap all my plane soles the same way, on the same granite.  I know I'm finished when the polish on the back of the blades and chisels is mirror-like and consistent for the 1/4" bottom of the item in question (backside of cutting edge).

   By the way, I know the granite is flat because I checked it with an engineers straight edge that I spent too much money on many years back.

   Jeff

1. 
   Peter36 | Jan 27, 2005 05:09am | #2

   Have you checked the granite for wind? How big is the piece and how much did it cost? Sounds pretty good.

1. 
   bones | Jan 27, 2005 04:55pm | #3

   Here is a link to a granite slab I just bought for sharpening. It is $29.00

   http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=4864

2. 
   Castlewerks | Jan 27, 2005 08:32pm | #4

   Peter,I just bought a phenolic lapping plate from McFeely's that looks pretty good (although I haven;t tied it yet). The advantage is that it won't break like glass and at 18"long x 6" wide it'll be better for flattening plane soles than a 12" long granite slab... As I said I haven't used it yet, but you may want to have a lookhttp://www.mcfeelys.com/product.asp?productID=kss-0302Cheers,--Michael

3. 
   JeffHeath | Jan 27, 2005 09:42pm | #5

   Peter

   I have 2 sections of granite that I use.  Both are the cutouts for the sink and cooktop of our kitchen that I remodeled 3 years ago.  One is 4' by 30", and the other is a little smaller.  I'm going to cut the smaller one in half, because it's actually too big for just sharpening with the scary sharp system.  the big one is great when I need to lap the bottom of a plane flat.  I use some self stick sandpaper in progressive grits, and it does the job.  I did check both pieces for wind, and they are really flat.  The company that did the granite job has a very expensive machine (actually, 2) that they cut and mill all their granite slabs on.  It is cnc controlled, and gets the top of the slab polished to some rediculous accuracy.  I got a tour of their shop, and was quite impressed.

   I also have 10 pieces of 4' by 32" granite that came out of a building in downtown Chicago during a remodeling project.  I traded some work for them (cheap) and someday I'll figure out what I'm gonna do with them.

   Jeff

4. 
   BG | Jan 28, 2005 12:44am | #6

   Peter36,

   If you have  local supplier of granite tops for kitchens...their dumpsters are a good source.  

2. 
   CajunDan | Jan 28, 2005 03:30pm | #7

   Because, when I set it down it doesn't roll off the bench. LOL

   Dan