How do I Sharpen Router Plane Iron?

I freehand my router plane iron. It’s so small that it’s really not that difficult.

-- - Real men read directions

Second that; freehanding is the best way. In my opinion it is not worth the extra effort to sharpen a micro-bevel on a router plane blade unless you plan to use it primarilly for hogging out dadoes, etc… I use mine to do cleanout only (usually less than 1/32” of material, just enough to make the dado even all the way across), so it stays sharp for a really long time.

First, I would hone & polish the bottom of the blade, and then flip it and hone/polish the bevel. Put your stone on the edge of your bench and secure it so it doesn’t get knocked off. Then you can just do what some call “sideways” sharpening; running the blade perpendicular to the stone. A 1/4” blade with a 25 or 30 deg bevel gives plenty of surface area to be able to keep it steady. May take a little practice if you aren’t used to freehanding.

Regards, JM

-- Jarrod, Eagle Nest, NM http://anthologyfinefurniture.wordpress.com

I freehand too. Good to see you again Hawg…

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Hey….I enjoyed your answers for hawg ....now ,on this same topic…..does anyone know where to purchase irons for a #71 ?

-- I'm not slowing down,everythings just going by faster!

John, try ebay. They have one listed!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Stanley-71-1-4-ROUTER-PLANE-Straight-BLADE-IRON-CUTTER_W0QQitemZ260290535613QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item260290535613&_trkparms=72%3A1205|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

God Bless,
Hawg

-- Saving barnwood from the scrapyards

You can also use the irons from the Lee Valley router plane. I just got a 1/4” for my #71. Free shipping last week really helped.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1,41182&p=52609

-- Log...log...it's big, it's heavy, it's wood!

I would recommend that you first create a shallow hollow grind using a DRemel or sandpaper around a dowel…

This will make it a relatively easy task to hone a microbevel on the face of the bevel. I do not recommend trying to hone full flat face – you will just round it.

Regards from Perth

Derek

-- Building and Reviewing Tools at http://www.inthewoodshop.com