10-19-2018, 05:08 PM
I already had the MKII guide, but hadn't used it much, cuz I've just been using one of the cheap guides for the simplicity. I've been using the same techniques as the Lie Nielsen guy on Youtube...I know...I'm a wimp for not going free hand, but I like the repeatability and simplicity. Anyhow, one day I checked how the guide holds my chisels and man, were they not square to the jig!
So, I went out and got the Narrow Honing Guide and tried it out. Boy, what a difference! Square and repeatable. I know, I know...learn to do it free hand. But you know what...this works for me, so I'll stick with it and let you pros go free hand.
By the way, the kit warned about a skewed secondary bevel, but mine was nice and even, so no worries. Only issue I had was when I first started using it, the chisel slipped a bit, so I had to reset it. Once hand tightened, I gave it a just a nudge with pliers. After that, no slip. I read one guy was told to roughen up the contact surface, so I may do that. It would be nice if the tightening knob had a slot for a screw driver.
I'll probably be using the jig for plane blades as well, since I now know the old one doesn't hold blades at 90*.
So, I went out and got the Narrow Honing Guide and tried it out. Boy, what a difference! Square and repeatable. I know, I know...learn to do it free hand. But you know what...this works for me, so I'll stick with it and let you pros go free hand.
By the way, the kit warned about a skewed secondary bevel, but mine was nice and even, so no worries. Only issue I had was when I first started using it, the chisel slipped a bit, so I had to reset it. Once hand tightened, I gave it a just a nudge with pliers. After that, no slip. I read one guy was told to roughen up the contact surface, so I may do that. It would be nice if the tightening knob had a slot for a screw driver.
I'll probably be using the jig for plane blades as well, since I now know the old one doesn't hold blades at 90*.