Honing Chisels and Plane Irons

• 1). Oil the medium India stone or soft Arkansas stone thoroughly.
  
  
• 2). Place the chisel or plane iron in the jig, bevel down, and adjust the honing angle to 25 degrees, using the scale on the side of the jig.
  
  
• 3). Rub the bevel against the stone in a "W" pattern until a burr, a tiny wire edge, forms on the back of the blade.
  
  
• 4). Draw a fingernail down the blade of the chisel to the edge to check for the burr. If it is not there or is only on parts of the edge, keep rubbing until it is fully formed.
  
  
• 5). Wipe the blade clean of oil and move to the hard Arkansas stone.
  
  

Refining the Edge

• 1). Give the hard Arkansas stone a good dose of oil.
  
  
• 2). Loosen the jig and slide the blade forward, so that as you turn the blade over, you can get the back flat against the stone.
  
  
• 3). Keep the back perfectly flat against the stone and rub for 10 to 20 strokes. Flip it over, readjust the jig and stroke the bevel 10 to 20 times.
  
  
• 4). Check for the burr after every few strokes, as it will move back and forth, from bevel to back, as you hone each side. When it is gone your tool is sharp.
  
  

Honing Gouges

• 1). Oil the hard Arkansas stone generously.
  
  
• 2). Hold the bevel of the gouge firmly against the stone and roll the gouge from one side to the other as you push it along the stone. Push in the direction of the edge.
  
  
• 3). Lift the gouge off the stone at the end of the stroke. Return to the far end of the stone and repeat the action, always pushing in the same direction.
  
  
• 4). Apply oil generously to the inside of the gouge. Slide the sharpening slip from the edge to the top of the flute, towards the handle, as you rotate the gouge. This is to hone all of the cutting edge on the inside of the gouge.
  
  
• 5). Run your thumb gently down the blade of the gouge, inside and out, to check for a burr. When you no longer have a burr, your gouge is truly sharp.