How to Sharpen Wood Planer Blades
- 1). Place the sharpening stone on a flat, stable surface.
- 2). Wet the surface of the stone with either water or honing oil, depending on the type of stone you have. If you aren't sure which kind you are using, check the packaging or feel the surface of the stone to determine if there is an oil residue.
- 3). Flatten, or lap, the flat face of the planer blade by rubbing it on the sharpening stone. You may move forward and backward or use a figure-eight or circular motion. Make ten passes and then move on to honing the bevel.
- 4). Flip the blade over so that the beveled side of the blade is in contact with the sharpening stone.
- 5). Grasp the planer blade with both hands so that your thumbs are touching the same side of the blade as the bevel. Your thumbs should be located slightly behind the bevel, almost touching the stone. Place three fingers of each hand on the face of the blade.
- 6). Hone the wood planer blade by rubbing it across the sharpening stone in a circular, figure-eight or side-to-side motion. Experiment with all three to see which one you are most comfortable with. Make ten to fifteen passes on the bevel.
- 7). Alternate between lapping the flat face and honing the beveled face of the planer blade several more times, checking for sharpness by using the blade to cut paper. When the blade easily slices through paper, you can stop sharpening.
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