Contact Roger Needham, Renegade Company, Arkansas Whetstone Sharpening System, 255 Needham Rd.
How Springs, ARK 71901 Phone: 501-623-0988
Roger sets up inside the main gate at Friendship each year for the Spring and Fall national shoots. He sells some of the finest honing stones available. He also give out directions on how to sharpen knives on stones. You will have to tell him what you are looking for and the length and width of the stone you want. I buy the longest stones he has, because I find they work the easiest to put even bevels on the edges of knives. There are Jigs sold at Woodcrafters to use to hold your chisels for sharpening, and polishing, that you should have to do good work with these tools. Unless you buy the very best brands of Chisels, most of the others leave much to be desired, and will need to be sharpened, and honed( Polished) to a keen razor's edge. Factories today seem to be more concerned about being sued by a new customer who cuts himself with a sharp implement, than in selling finely honed blades. So, you see semi-sharp knife blades, and other tools that can all be made a lot better.
Do buy some leather to glue to a flat surface to use as a strop. And get polishing rouge, or other grits like pumice, and rottenstone- usually available at local paint stores-- to put the finishing edges on any chisel or knife. The Razor Edge Company in Eli, Minn. sells an excellent blade clamp to be used for sharpening knives, if you want to use hobby knives(Exacto) or similar knives in your work. I also recommend having a magnifying glass or lens handy so that you can take a very close look at the edge of your instrument before you return to making cuts.
The secret to keeping blades sharp is to NOT LET THEM GET TOO DULL before you hone them again.
