01-06-2018, 06:54 AM
“Thanks.
I hate your answer. It's not fair. Nobody told me I'd ever have to have any talent!![[Image: biggrin.png]](http://bessex.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.png)
“
Grepper just posted this on another topic. I enjoy Grepper's humor and trust that everyone realizes he does not really hate anyone. This humorous remark does spark a serious topic: It reminds me of musicians with perfect pitch.
Most of us have relative pitch. A few gifted people have perfect pitch. Research indicates that some musical training by age six may be necessary to activate perfect pitch. The rest of us can develop our relative pitch through good training. I have a sense of pitch which belongs in the audience, however, from years of listening to hundreds of piano lessons and classical music, I can tell when a performer is singing off pitch or time.
How does this apply to sharpening? With no false modesty, I do not consider myself a natural sharpening talent. I work mostly with the Tormek. I have become a believer in mastering small basic parts of technique one at a time. I believe that a 3/4” bench chisel can be the great teacher. It has only a single, straight bevel. It is sized to fit well with the machine and jig. It is also sized to be easily observed. Working with just this single tool, you can learn the sound and feel of good (and bad) grinding. you can learn the operation of the machine, from good technique with the water trough to set up and clean up. You can master the truing tool, stone grader, and Anglemaster. You can master coarse and fine grinding as well as the leather honing wheel. You can learn what sharp is and how it looks at various stages. I have around a dozen of these 3/4” chisels, and recommend having three. I recommend the Irwin (Formerly Marples) Blue Chip chisels. They have adequate length, have a proper square back (not radiused by a designer who never sharpened a chisel to look nice), and they are inexpensive. Stay with the one size. Do not buy sets.
My main point is that focused work habits, study and practice can help those of us not blessed with natural talent.
Thanks, Grepper.
Ken
I hate your answer. It's not fair. Nobody told me I'd ever have to have any talent!
“Grepper just posted this on another topic. I enjoy Grepper's humor and trust that everyone realizes he does not really hate anyone. This humorous remark does spark a serious topic: It reminds me of musicians with perfect pitch.
Most of us have relative pitch. A few gifted people have perfect pitch. Research indicates that some musical training by age six may be necessary to activate perfect pitch. The rest of us can develop our relative pitch through good training. I have a sense of pitch which belongs in the audience, however, from years of listening to hundreds of piano lessons and classical music, I can tell when a performer is singing off pitch or time.
How does this apply to sharpening? With no false modesty, I do not consider myself a natural sharpening talent. I work mostly with the Tormek. I have become a believer in mastering small basic parts of technique one at a time. I believe that a 3/4” bench chisel can be the great teacher. It has only a single, straight bevel. It is sized to fit well with the machine and jig. It is also sized to be easily observed. Working with just this single tool, you can learn the sound and feel of good (and bad) grinding. you can learn the operation of the machine, from good technique with the water trough to set up and clean up. You can master the truing tool, stone grader, and Anglemaster. You can master coarse and fine grinding as well as the leather honing wheel. You can learn what sharp is and how it looks at various stages. I have around a dozen of these 3/4” chisels, and recommend having three. I recommend the Irwin (Formerly Marples) Blue Chip chisels. They have adequate length, have a proper square back (not radiused by a designer who never sharpened a chisel to look nice), and they are inexpensive. Stay with the one size. Do not buy sets.
My main point is that focused work habits, study and practice can help those of us not blessed with natural talent.
Thanks, Grepper.
Ken