Flatten the back first or nothing else matters. Hone at 25° primary, 30° micro-bevel. Progress 220 -> 1000 -> 6000 grit. A chisel pares end-grain pine without crushing it when it is sharp.
| SKU | QTY | SPEC | NOTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIA-220 | 1 | Diamond plate, 220 grit, 8 in. | DMT or Atoma. Flat is non-negotiable. |
| WS-1000 | 1 | Waterstone, 1000 grit | Soak 5-10 min before each session |
| WS-6000 | 1 | Waterstone, 6000 grit | Spritz to use, do not soak |
| STROP-LH | 1 | Leather strop with green compound | Final pass, edge-trailing only |
| FELT-PEN | 1 | Permanent marker, fine | Marks bevel - confirms grind contact |
| SKU | QTY | SPEC | NOTE |
|---|---|---|---|
| GEN-001 | 1 | Honing guide, side-clamp (Eclipse-style) | - |
| GEN-002 | 1 | Square, 4 in. machinist | Verify edge is 90° to long axis |
| GEN-003 | 1 | Flat reference plate or thick float glass | - |
| GEN-004 | 1 | Bucket of clean water | - |
| GEN-005 | 1 | Cotton rag | - |
| GEN-006 | 1 | Loupe, 10x | See the wire edge - you will not feel it |
Lap the back of the chisel on the 220 plate. Scribble on the back with the marker, lap until ink is gone in the first 1/2 in. behind the cutting edge. Move to 1000, then 6000. The back is forever - you only do this once.
Set the chisel in the honing guide so 25° hits the stone. Most guides have a printed jig - measure projection: 30 mm of blade past the guide gives 25° on a 1 in. chisel.
Mark the bevel with the marker. Take six strokes on the 220, edge-leading. Pull back, look. If ink is gone uniformly across the bevel, the geometry is right. If only the toe or heel touches, re-seat the chisel and try again.
Work through 1000 grit. The bevel will mirror in patches. Keep stones flat - flatten waterstones every 5 minutes against the diamond plate or they will dish and your geometry drifts.
Reset projection 2 mm shorter to roll a 30° micro-bevel on the 6000. Twelve light strokes. The micro-bevel is what cuts; the primary is just the support.
Flip and remove the wire edge: one full pass, back-flat, on the 6000. Then back to bevel, six light strokes. Repeat back/bevel until the loupe shows no wire.
Strop edge-trailing on leather, ten strokes per side. The edge should now slice end-grain pine in clean curls. Test, do not assume.
Wipe dry. Wax the back lightly. Hang the chisel by the handle, not stacked in a drawer where the edge bumps another tool.