Perfect Edge Ultimate Guide to Sharpening for Woodworkers [HC,2010]

by Ron Hock

Sharp Tools Work BetterIf you've never experienced the pleasure of using a really sharp tool, you're missing one of the real pleasures of woodworking. In "The Perfect Edge," the mystery of the elusive sharp edge is solved by long-time sharpening expert and tool maker Ron Hock. You'll soon find how easy and safe hand tools are to use.This book covers all the different sharpening methods so you can either improve your sharpening techniques using your existing set-up, or determine which one will best suit you needs and budget. Ron shows you the tricks and offers expert advice to sharpen all your woodworking tools, plus a few around-the-house tools that also deserve a perfect edge.

Genres: Woodwork, Reference, Nonfiction, Ebooks

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Austin Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

For how much this book is recommended, I found it underwhelming. It does exhaustively tell you everything you need to know about sharpening any kind of tool, but once you've read the first few chapters, you should be able to figure it out anyways.

[Donald Nadreau · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent guide for sharpening hand tools. Parts of this are way more detailed than I wanted (for example he goes into very minute detail about metals, almost to the molecular level), but the sections on actual sharpening are very good.

[Paul D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep technical work, includes strong metallurgical foundation of blade and metal forging as well as steel varieties and properties. Not an easy introduction to basic sharpening technique but a profound reference text.

[Dirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially somewhat hard to follow... I'd like to understand all.
But at least I can say I learned quite a bit; and now manage to sharpen the basic tools.
Thanks also to this book.

[Ian Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glad I Asked

Having an expert toolmaker run down the upkeep of tools is as worthwhile as it seems. If interested in the subject matter practically, go for it.

[Micah McCarty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful resource for the woodshop!

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friday: Finished reading this book.
Saturday: Used a trick I extrapolated from it to grind an old chisel back to life.
Today: Gonna have it open to consult while bringing some gouges back up to snuff.
In the future: Rererereread.

Definitely check out this book if you even have only one or two questions lingering about sharpening technique. The pictures are really illustrative, the descriptions are clear and full, and it has a few incisive puns. Even the long section on steel science is heartening because it makes me think Hock's not just a guy hawking shaped tool steel but a full-on sharpening geek who cares about all edged tools everywhere being sharp—which is someone I'm gonna gonna listen to.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covers pretty much everything--planes, knives, saws, chisels, chainsaws! etc. Has a really fascinating and in-depth chapter on steel, including the characteristics and rationale for different alloys and the various heat-treating regimens. I could have wished for a little more detail in some of the sharpening chapters (for example, more depth of information about different bevel angles) but that's just a nit.

[Jason Sanford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent work on sharpening. There is even some tool restoration included. This is a book for any woodworker to have on the shelf. The chapters on metallurgy and how blades cut are worth it alone.

[Pianomama · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fantastic introduction into metals an tools. Ron Hock is a renowned blade maker. He shares his experience in metallurgy.

[Roger Minniear · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great reference book for sharpening all types of woodworking tools.