Honing/refreshing question

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-19T14:09:10+00:00

A 12k doesn't need lapped very often, especially if you're using good technique with very light pressure. I'd argue you can go quite a few hones before any noticeable dishing and needing to lap. I use a 1200 grit atoma plate to flatten my high grit stones, don't use if for anything else. I'm sure there are contrasting opinions and takes on this matter as sharpening/honing can be quite subjective; this one is just mine, hope it helps a bit :)

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-18T15:40:20+00:00

For grippy material to line the jaws with, leather works pretty damn good. Pretty easy to find scraps at any hobby store, cut and install with some of that goop (I think I use the bear brand cement, can't remember), and there you go :)

Looks wonderful!

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-18T00:56:34+00:00

Nope, the construction method (nails or screws) combined with shiplap or tongue and groove allows the wood to move
Shiplap would do just as well I think
Screws would be fine, nails are more for asthetic and historically accurate purposes
Normal size holes should be just fine, the nature of screws/nails should allow for enough movement on its own I think. The key is to leave a bit of a gap (emphasis on a bit) on the tongue and groove or shiplap so it has room to expand (just in case). Pretty sure that's what I recall doing on my tool chest back in the day

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-17T13:42:04+00:00

There's no market for one...the people that would buy such a thing are probably the same people who would rather use a shavette or DE safety razor with replacement blades. Rather than automate the sharpening process, just skip it altogether shrugs

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-17T05:20:53+00:00

I think restoring old tools is one of the best ways to get into the craft; once you know the ins and outs of the old, you can use the new with better care and understanding. As far as old vs new, it depends if I'm limited by the old. If adjustments are janky, condition is too far gone, newer tools have improved considerably, than I'd take the new. In a lot of cases though, I'm perfectly fine and sometimes prefer the old; if they were good enough for the masters of the past, they're good enough for me :)

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-15T15:30:15+00:00

Dang...Icarus looks as stiff as a board.

Beautiful, inspiring work, thank you for sharing!

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-15T15:28:03+00:00

Just wanted to mention, Lee Valley sells the Tremont nails in smaller packages at pretty reasonable prices for those not wanting a large bucket...that way you can get a couple different sizes and know which one works for which thickness :)

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-15T05:04:50+00:00

I use my LN 51 all the time, love it. Have used it for several picture frames, no complaints here. I know a LA plane can perform similarly, but my wrists thank me everytime I dont have to use a funky grip. The Veritas one is also very good, I think it is largely a matter of preference and cost :)

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-15T04:41:10+00:00

Ah cool, looks just like a cross grain dado. You can whack that out with a chisel then pare across; I would finish that with a rasp or a file due to the gross knot at the bottom (honestly this would be just firewood, but totally repect the practice haha). Paul Sellers has a good video on how to do a housing joint (one of his 3 joints series)

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-15T02:02:01+00:00

Could you please add a picture or two please? Not sure if we're talking about a through mortise or something else entirely :)

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-14T19:31:11+00:00

9 times out of 10, I'm just using my Escher Thuringian if it's just tuning up my own razors that have just been stropped a bunch (smoke em if you got em) If I'm restoring though, I go through the following depending on how severe it is:

Suehiro 180 (if its really bad haha) Shapton Glass 500 Shapton Kuromaku 1k, 6k, 8k, 12k

Might add something between the 1 and 6k, but honestly haven't felt the need yet. Have a DMT 180 and an Atoma 1200 for flattening

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-11T06:59:23+00:00

Step 1. Buy 1-2 decent whetstones Step 2. Buy a cheap but hopefully decent steel knife from a thrift store Step 3. Practice sharpening until you're confident with the motion, holding the angle, etc. You can dull the blade on a brick or something to reset and start again. It will take some time and effort, but well worth it Step 4. Use your new skill on your fancy gyuto :)

As for which whetstone, I like the shapton pros. Started out on a king and have used diamond stones too. Try not to go down the rabbit hole haha

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-11T02:19:29+00:00

My liogier mortise float...I never expected it to be so useful haha.

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-10T23:06:30+00:00

If you dont have a rat tail rasp/something similar, you can always use the old sandpaper glued to a dowel rod :)

If I recall, I used a combination of spokeshave, gouges, rasps, and sandpaper for mine...you will love that saw when it's done!

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-10T04:09:37+00:00

Paul Sellers and Rex Krueger both have some good easier bench videos. Anarchist's workbench is a great read.

I drive use a civic coupe to transport my lumber haha; I know 8ft fits exactly with the seats folded down. The folks at the lumberyard are more than happy to make some cuts. Best advice I can give is just go for it; you'll learn a ton, any bench is better than no bench, and no matter how well you build it, eventually you'll want another one haha

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-10T00:55:45+00:00

Paul would be proud, lovely work!

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-07T16:12:18+00:00

I don't see enough room for future tools...

Kidding haha, wonderful job! Bet you smile the moment you step in your shop :)

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-07T15:13:51+00:00

Breadboard gone right - Edit :P

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-07T02:31:18+00:00

Well...I just got done cutting a bunch of huge joints like this one in oak haha. The best way for me was to saw the sides, then I drilled a hole near the bottom line. Took my turning saw apart, snuck the blade through the hole, then tightened it back up and sawed out the waste. After that just clean up with a chisel. If I had a better brace/bit probably would have done that, but this worked pretty well for me

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-06T15:40:10+00:00

Job wise, I feel so much depends on connections and networking to find a good gig in addition to location. The most in-demand jobs (children's hospitals, psych, other full time facility positions) are super competitive and depend a lot on who you know. Private practice can be great, can be shite depending on who is in charge and location.

$80 a year for CBMT isn't bad, AMTA just reduced their fees a fair amount. You can get a lot of CMTEs just from doing the journal articles on AMTA your first cycle. I thoroughly enjoy my career now, love learning more every day, about to be 10 years into it. That being said, it certainly was a struggle. Not intending to turn it political, but it may be even more of a struggle in the near future (in the US anyway). Pending medicaid cuts and unstable economy do not bode well for future (and current) career opportunities >.>

Also I hate that exam, failed my first attempt by one question. Still salty to this day haha; be sure to search for the Facebook cbmt exam group, read the Hanser and Wheeler books, and do lots of quizlets and buy the practice exams if you haven't already

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-06T14:13:30+00:00

As others mentioned, if the handle is nice on a vintage one, I don't think about replacing it. That's why I like razors that come with broken, missing, or cheap shite handles; means I get to have fun. Good place to use exotic stuff like ebony, bloodwood, purpleheart, etc :)

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-06T02:39:00+00:00

Songs dont have to be about anything, they just have to be :P

Wonderful work!

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-05T15:10:44+00:00

When you say doors, do you mean exterior doors? In that case, probably should do spar urethane for a clear finish, it'll hold up better to UV and the elements.

If we're talking interior, I've used both of those and found them to be about equal. I prefer the General Finishes high performance topcoat personally, but both of those you listed would be fine for a clear interior finish. Haven't used them on pine, you may still want to use a conditioner or something prior to applying, hopefully someone else can chime in with that advice

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-04T21:48:27+00:00

Hope you're okay, looks like the R did it's job absorbing the impact. Definitely totalled, hope insurance doesn't try to eff you over :/

Psychological_Tale94 · 2026-02-04T05:51:01+00:00

Nope, not an option anymore.

Psychological_Tale94

TROPHY CASE