(01-23-2018, 05:17 PM)Harry Page Wrote: I was at a garage sale recently, and I picked up a 1/2" Japanese Fishtail chisel for $20.  I really never had any desire or intention on buying one of these chisels, but this one was in pretty decent shape, so I picked it up.  I don't have any Japanese chisels, so I have no clue how to go about sharpening the chisel.  I use water stones for all my sharpening, so I'm assuming I can use these for this chisel.  I would appreciate any advice and recommendations on sharpening.  

Harry

(01-23-2018, 10:28 PM)JimReed@Tallahassee Wrote: I use my Japanese chisels all the time and sharpen them frequently. I use a Norton pink stone to grind out nicks and AO sandpaper to sharpen and hone. I flatten the backs just like western chisels and I put micro bevels on the front. I beat on the chisels with a Japanese hammer and don't hold back. These chisels hold up well without all the fuss and babying that some people think they need. Steel is just steel.

But I think I might be a little more gentle with a fish tail chisel because it gets more narrow with every sharpening.

(07-05-2024, 12:47 PM)AaronR Wrote: Responding (6 years later!) to JimReed's post, I didn't know Norton made a pink stone.  Did you mean to say a pink brick from Imanishi or Naniwa or Japanese Knife Imports or ??

Thanks!  Hope you see this Jim!

Aaron