Sharpening & Tuning Hand Tools
About the course
This course is aimed at the woodworker who has some experience but who wishes to learn how to tune or ‘fettle’ a basic woodworking tool-kit and how to sharpen blades to ‘razor sharp’ using a combination of grinder and bench stones. If you have never experienced the joy of working to very fine tolerances, using a plane that is well set up, with a razor sharp blade, this course will be a revelation!
The main purpose of this course is to emerge with a set of tuned/sharp tools that will allow you to make furniture to a very high standard.
Students are expected to bring along whatever woodworking tools they may have for evaluation and discussion. Advice will be given on buying new or used tools before or during the course, and various tools and sharpening systems will be available to try and buy.
What You Will Learn
Tuning
- Flattening and fine tuning the castings and various components that make up any plane
- Setting up a cutting gauge and if necessary upgrading the blade
Sharpening
- Grinding bevels using bench grinder and whetstone grinder
- Grinding / honing angles
- Flattening bench stones
- Honing techniques with bench stones – freehand and using honing guides
- Techniques for sharpening shaped blades e.g. carving chisels, moulding planes
- Sharpening a cabinet scraper
The tools covered on this course will include the following:
- Bench plane – The No.05 or No.05½ ‘Jack Plane’ is probably the most useful. This plane will be your main workhorse, which despite its size, when tuned will be able to undertake remarkably fine work.
- Block plane – Useful for end grain and very delicate work.
- Shoulder Plane – Designed, not surprisingly, for trimming shoulders, but also very useful for trimming rebates and cutting mouldings by hand.
Skill Level : Beginner
All levels welcome
Cost : £350
Duration : 2 Days
Other : Students are invited to bring their existing toolkit for appraisal
Dates :
5-6 July 2025
Read what our recent students say about this course
“Superb course, many thanks for expert tuition. Already being put into good use- I went mad at local auction on Tuesday and have restored several items with much sharper tools….”
“The information available and the willingness to discuss other areas associated with cabinet making.”
“At first as thought the pace was slow. But, I soon realised that the combination of John’s style and pace were just right. I enjoyed the entire two days learning. Very useful.”
“Relaxed atmosphere, easy access to very skilled tutor, great facilities, pace that allowed coverage of info plus plenty of time to put it into practice.”
“The course instruction was very clear, for a subject that was more complex than I expected. Well paced to allow plenty of time for questions and practice of the skills learned. I would most certainly recommend this course to prospective students. “
“I think the balance of theory and practical was about right, some might not like the theory but without it you do not really know why you are doing things in the process. I would suggest to anyone looking at the course to discuss with John and consider buying a plane at least (if that is what you are planning to sharpen) as then the time is spent tuning and sharpening your tool(s). One of the benefits for me is the ability (partly) to sharpen freehand, jigs take time and therefore sometimes stop you using them.”
“Excellent course in all respects. With no prior experience in tool sharpening, I came away with the knowledge and confidence to fly solo. The skills were learned and will improve with future hard work and practice. Thanks John for a very enjoyable and worthwhile weekend, and to Sarah Jane for the delicious baked treats.”
“Plenty of information was provided. Over the two days there is a good amount of time to use the tools and workshop machines to gain experience and then ask questions and get guidance”
An excellent comprehensive programme which is both highly practical as well as theoretical. I came away feeling confident about sharpening and tuning a wide range of woodworking tools“
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