Sharpening moulding planes
Stephen in Ottawa
>What technique is most practical for sharpening moulding plane irons and gouges? I have been using sandpaper wrapped around drill bits to get the radii I need, but find it inconvenient. I was wondering if slip stones would be better, and if so would oil stones be better than waterstones since they would wear less. I use waterstones for all my plane and chisel sharpening, but was thinking that they may wear unevenly when sharpening moulding profiles.
With regards to slip stones, I see that many manufacturers offer a traditional slip with two radiused edges or a carvers slip with one radiused edge and one beveled. Which would be more versatile. Lee Valley sells a carvers slip on which the radiused edge has a radius that varies from 1/8" to 1/2". I thought this would be more versatile than a fixed radius.
Any help would be appreciated.
- Stephen