A Step-by-Step Guide to Precision Sharpening & Grinding Nearly Everything
Thank You for purchasing the WORK SHARP tool grinding and sharpening system. We’ve put together these simple tips—along with detailed photographs—to help you create sharper tools and grind more easily and safely. With sharper tools you’ll get higher quality work done and with faster, safer results. Your WORK SHARP tool sharpener can grind and sharpen just about everything in your shop that gets dull.
Top Tool Rest for top-side freehand sharpening REVIEW THE KEY PARTS OF YOUR Edge-Vision™ Slotted Wheel allows you to see the cutting edge as you sharpen! 150mm Edge-Vision™ Wheel with solid adhesive-backed abrasives applied WORK SHARP 2000 Top Knob for securing wheel Durable cast aluminum top Tool hold-down keeps tool flat during sharpening Durable cast aluminum top Wheel direction indicator Chisel & Plane Blade Port is 15/8" wide with fixed 25° angle. Heat sink is diamond plated to remove burr.
Wood Chisels Objective: Go from this... Create a sharp chisel with the following features: 4 A flat back all the way to the cutting edge 4 A square cutting edge 4 A 25° bevel angle 4 A sharp edge without burr Where to Sharpen: 4 Chisel & Plane Blade Port Abrasive Selection: 4 Rough Shaping: Coarse solid abrasive (P60 – P80 grit) 4 Fine Sharpening: Fine solid abrasive (P180 – P320 grit) Top Tips: Do not round off cutting edge while flattening the back of your chisel. Approach wheel at a 45° angle.
Method: 1• Place the coarse grit solid abrasive face up on your tool, flatten the back of your chisel so you have a smooth, consistent finish. This step is critical and should not be overlooked. 45° 2• Now place the coarse grit solid 45° approach Coarse solid abrasive (P60–P80 grit) Flatten back of chisel Coarse solid abrasive abrasive face down on your tool and plunge and pull your chisel in the sharpening port.
Plane Blades / Irons Objective: Go from this... Create a sharp plane blade with the following features: 4 A flat back all the way to the cutting edge 4 A square cutting edge 4 A 25° bevel angle 4 A sharp edge without burr Where to Sharpen: 4 Chisel & Plane Blade Port Abrasive Selection: 4 Rough Shaping: Coarse solid abrasive (P60 – P80 grit) 4 Fine Sharpening: Fine solid abrasive (P180 – P320 grit) Top Tips: Do not round off cutting edge while flattening the back of your blade.
Method: 1• Place the fine grit solid abrasive face up on your tool and flatten the back of your blade so you have a smooth, consistent finish. This step is critical and should not be overlooked. 2• Turn the wheel over so the fine grit 45° solid abrasive is facing down then sharpen with the same plunge and pull used for chisels. This process should only take a few minutes.
Carving Tools: Gouges, V Tools, Skews & More Objective: Create a sharp carving tool with the following features: 4 A sharp cutting edge 4 The bevel away from the cutting edge is at the proper angle for the type of cut the tool is designed for. Small angles cut better at low entry angles. Large angles are better for vertical cutting or chopping. 4 The cutting edge is shaped correctly for the cut profile desired.
Top Tips (cont.): If your tool is not cutting well after sharpening, check the following: • The bevel angle may be too steep; try sharpening a shallower angle. • The bevel may not have been sharpened all the way to the cutting edge. • There may be a burr on the inside of the cutting edge. Method: 1• Place the fine grit slotted Edge- Vision™ abrasive face down and remove the Top Tool Rest for increased visibility. 2• Look down through the spinning wheel into the Edge-Vision™ port.
Lathe Tools: Gouges, Parting Tools, Scrapers & More Objective: Create a sharp lathe tool with the following features: 4 A sharp cutting edge with a prominent burr 4 A cutting edge that is shaped correctly for the cut profile desired 4 Note: The goal is to recreate the same geometry as originally supplied by the manufacturer, but with a new sharp edge.
Method: 1• Place the coarse grit slotted EdgeVision™ abrasive face down and remove the Top Tool Rest for increased visibility. 2• Look down through the spinning wheel into the Edge-Vision™ Port. 3• Slowly bring tool to be sharpened into the Edge-Vision™ port at the 2:00 position and contact the heel of the cutting edge to the abrasive surface. 4• Determine location of area being sharpened by watching where the black marker is being removed from the tool.
Putty Knives / Scrapers Objectives: Go from this... 4 Create a sharp and clean putty knife or scraper. 4 Clean debris and material off blade face. 4 Sharpen the edge to appropriate sharpness. Note: If a putty knife is too sharp, it will cut into wallboard or soft surfaces. Sharpen only to meet the needs of your project.
Method: 1• Place the fine grit solid abrasive face up on your machine. 2• Lay the blade face flat on the right side of the wheel. 3• Use left hand to apply downward pressure onto tool. 4• Pull tool toward yourself and swipe the tool off the abrasive disk. 5• Flip blade face and repeat on other side. 6• Raise handle of putty knife or scraper to create a beveled edge if desired.
Pry Bars Objective: Go from this... Create a well-functioning pry bar with the following feature: 4 A clean beveled edge so you can get underneath or between objects. 4 The edge of the bar should not be too thin so that it remains strong. Where to Sharpen: 4 Top Side Sharpening Area Abrasive Selection: 4 Coarse solid abrasive (P60 – P80 grit) Top Tips: Grind a steep bevel angle onto the pry bar for strongest edge. Using the Top Tool Rest will help regrind the bevel. Before WORK SHARP ...
Method: 1• Flatten the back on top of coarse solid abrasive surface. 2• Re-grind the bevel on top of the coarse solid abrasive.
Flat Head Screwdrivers Objective: Go from this... Create a new tip on a damaged screwdriver. Where to Sharpen: 4 Edge-Vision™ Port and top surface Abrasive Selection: 4 Fine Slotted Edge-Vision™ Abrasive (P180 – P320 grit) Top Tips: Use the Edge-Vision™ Port and abrasives. Color the screwdriver tip black to follow progress while grinding. Remove the Top Tool Rest to increase visibility. Before WORK SHARP ...
Method: 1• Place the fine slotted abrasive face down on your machine. 2• Flatten both sides of the screwdriver face in the Edge-Vision™ Port. 3• If you need to re-establish the flat tip, grind the tip square using the top side of the grinding wheel near the center.
Cold Chisels & Masonry Chisels Go from this... Objective: Create a new double beveled edge on a striking chisel Where to Sharpen: 4 Top Side Sharpening Area Abrasive Selection: 4 Coarse solid abrasive (P60 – P80 grit) Top Tips: Use the Top Tool Rest to increase safety and control. Sharpen on the right side of the wheel so the wheel is spinning away from you. The Edge-Vision™ Port and coarse grit Edge-Vision abrasives can be used for narrow cold / masonry chisels (see Lathe Tools).
Method: 1• Place the coarse grit solid abrasive face up on your machine. 2• Adjust the Top Tool Rest to a low position above the wheel. 3• Holding chisel firmly, place the chisel on the Top Tool Rest 4• Slowly lay the chisel cutting edge onto the abrasive disk 5• Flip chisel and grind the other bevel of the chisel. 6• Repeat until desired finish and sharpness is attained.
Re-beveling a Bolt or All-Thread Go from this... Objective: Create a smooth, even bevel around the top thread of a bolt or All-Thread after the material has been cut. This will prep thread to accept a nut Where to Sharpen: 4 Edge-Vision™ Port Abrasive Selection: 4 Fine Slotted Edge-Vision™ Abrasive (P180 – P320 grit) Top Tips: Use the Edge-Vision™ Port and abrasives. Remove the Top Tool Rest to increase visibility. Before WORK SHARP ...
Method: 1• Place the fine slotted abrasive face down on your machine. 2• Bring bolt into Edge-Vision™ Port and gently contact the wheel and roll material so that the lead thread has been beveled and no burr remains. 3• Test the threads with a nut and rebevel if necessary.
Grinding or Beveling Material on the Top Grinding Surface Go from this... Objective: Create a smooth, even bevel on a piece of material Where to Sharpen: 4 Top Side Sharpening Area Abrasive Selection: 4 Rough Grinding: Coarse solid abrasive (P60 – P80 grit) 4 Fine Grinding: Fine solid abrasive (P180 – P320 grit) Before WORK SHARP Top Tips: Use the Top Tool Rest for increased control and safety. Grind on the right side of the wheel so the wheel is spinning away from you.
Method: 1• Place the solid abrasive of your choice face up on your machine. 2• Lay material on the Top Tool Rest so it projects over the wheel. 3• Hold material firmly and contact the grinding wheel to bevel material.
Lawnmower Blades Objective: Go from this... Objective: Create a sharp lawnmower blade with the following features: 4 No nicks or dents at the cutting edge 4 A sharp single bevel edge on both ends of the blade. Note: The exact angle of the edge is not critical to cutting performance. Where to Sharpen: 4 Top Side Sharpening Area Abrasive Selection: 4 Coarse solid abrasive (P60 – P80 Grit) Top Tips: Flat lawnmower blades can easily be sharpened on your Work Sharp.
Method: 1• Place the coarse grit solid abrasive face up on your machine. 2• Adjust the Top Tool Rest to the low position. Or, in some cases, it may be easier to remove the tool rest. 3• Firmly hold the blade with both hands. 4• Lay the blade cutting edge onto the abrasive disk to grind and flatten the back. 5• Remove blade and inspect area being ground. You may wish to replace the Top Tool Rest in order to make the bevel on the other side of the blade.
Axes, Hatchets, Splitters & Mauls Go from this... Objective: Create a sharp axe, hatchet or maul with the following features: 4 No nicks or dents at the cutting edge 4 A sharp edge (The exact angle of the edge is not critical.) 4 A radiused or curved cutting edge with a bevel on each side Where to Sharpen: 4 Top Side Sharpening Area Abrasive Selection: 4 Coarse solid abrasive (P60 – P80 grit) Top Tips: Use the Top Tool Rest for best control and safety.
Method: 1• Place the coarse grit solid abrasive face up on your machine and adjust the Top Tool Rest to the low position. 2• Firmly hold the axe with both hands and position the axe head onto the Tool Rest. 3• Lay the cutting edge onto the abrasive disk and roll the axe from side to side to contact the entire cutting edge. 4• Remove axe and inspect area being ground. Reposition tool on Top Tool Rest and re-grind as needed. 5• Continue to sharpen until desired finish and sharpness is attained.
Shovels, Hoes & Trowels Go from this... Objective: Create a shovel with the following features: 4 No dents or damage on shovel’s cutting edge 4 Creating a sharp new single bevel edge (The exact angle of the edge is not critical.) Where to Sharpen: 4 Top Side Sharpening Area Abrasive Selection: 4 Coarse solid abrasive (P60 – P80 grit) Top Tips: Hose off shovel before sharpening to reduce dirt, debris and dust. Hold shovel firmly with both hands to insure safety.
Method: 1• Place the coarse grit solid abrasive face up on your machine 2• Sharpen on right side of wheel so it is spinning away from you. 3• Start on the back, right side edge of the shovel and roll the shovel to sharpen the entire surface of the cutting edge. 4• Inspect after first pass to check progress. 5• Re-grind as needed to create a clean, sharp edge on the tool.
Additional Edge-Vision™ grinding wheels and abrasives are available to you from our website, www.worksharptools.com, or at your local Work Sharp retailer. You can also use any standard 6" adhesive-backed abrasive. Trimming will be required to properly fit the Edge-Vision™ wheel.
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Professional Tool Manufacturing,LLC P.O.Box 730 210 E.Hersey St. Ashland,OR 97520 USA Phone: 1-800-597-6170 1-541-552-1301 Fax: 541-552-1377 Web: www.worksharptools.com WORK SHARP™ is a trademark of Professional Tool Manufacturing, LLC. MKM-755 Rev.
