Description
Hand Tool Sharpening Class with Mike Davis
Bring your hand tools back to life and learn how to achieve a razor-sharp edge in this Hand Tool Sharpening Class with instructor Mike Davis at the North Carolina Furniture School. This full-day, hands-on workshop is designed for woodworkers who want to master the fundamentals of sharpening and tuning their tools for peak performance. Whether you’re restoring vintage tools or refining your daily-use chisels and planes, you’ll gain the knowledge and skill to sharpen with confidence.
Learn the Complete Hand Tool Sharpening Process
The day begins with an in-depth introduction to what “sharp” really means—and how to get there. Mike will demonstrate how to take a rusty relic and make it shave wood in under 20 minutes, showing each step from cleaning and flattening to final polish.
You’ll then move into focused sessions sharpening chisels and handplane blades, learning how to:
Flatten the back
Grind and hone the bevel
Polish and strop to a mirror finish
After sharpening, Mike will guide you through tuning your handplanes—adjusting the frog, chip breaker, and blade depth to achieve a perfect cut.
Explore Specialized Tools and Techniques
In the afternoon, you’ll dive deeper into the world of scraping and shaping tools. Learn how to sharpen and use:
Card scrapers and scraper planes
Wooden molding planes
Beading tools, compass planes, drawknives, and spokeshaves
You’ll also discuss scraping vs. sanding, and how to maintain a sharp edge across a variety of cutting tools. The day concludes with individual sharpening practice, giving you time to apply what you’ve learned to your own tools under Mike’s guidance.
What to Bring
To get the most from this class, please bring:
A set of chisels or a few you’d like to restore
3–4 handplanes for tuning and sharpening practice
Any hand tools you don’t know how to sharpen
Your sharpening supplies – stones, strop, or any equipment you’re unsure how to use
All other sharpening stations and materials will be provided.
Restore, Refine, and Sharpen Your Skills
This is an essential class for any woodworker who wants to achieve professional-level results using hand tools. Learn to sharpen efficiently, safely, and accurately while gaining the insight to understand your tools like never before.
Seats are limited, so register early to reserve your bench. Classes run from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the North Carolina Furniture School.
This is a great class to take in preparation for the Decorative Wood Box Class being held the following week!
If you are interested in fine hand tools we recommend the following companies to help you get started:
Lie Nielsen
Veritas
