sharpening dove tail tool ?

[Dan Mosley]

Recently bought a dove tail tool for tennons when they were on sale and it works very well. Wondering what i the best way to grind and put the two angled cuts on the tool to keep the angles exactly aligned.

 

[Vernon Oberle]

honing

With some of the tools like that the manufacturer suggests honing the top surface instead of messing with profile. Just use a diamond stone and do it regularly so the edge never gets dull.

Vernon

 

[Dan Mosley]

thank you i think i have one and ill just sharpen regularly like you said - im only using it to true up the angle for the tennon so i wont need to sharpen to often but the stone should work well

 

[n7bsn]

I made my own (from an Harbor Freight Skew). I sharpen it the same way I sharpen any scraper. A 70 degree bevel, done with an 8 inch stone, on both sides of the angle.

 

[john lucas]

I just use my bowl gouge while I'm turning the outside. The only time I use the scraper is for platters or recessed dovetails and then I just grab a screwdriver that I rough ground to some shape that is steeper than the angle I need. Then I just do it buy eye. I do have one custom made scraper that I use for inserting segmented rings in the back of my mirrors. I sharpen it carefully by eye on the grinder if necessary and then raise a burr using diamond hones as long as possiable before I have to go back to the grinder.
I might try making one that has a 45 degree bevel grind and polish the top to see if it will cut well enough without the burr's just to see how it works. My current homemade tools has about 75 degree bevel.

 

[MichaelMouse]

Try one of the narrow two-fanged parting tools to make your dovetail, whether innie or outie. http://www.woodcraft.com/product.aspx?ProductID=124054&FamilyID=410 They cut pretty clean, and with a little bit of clearance cutting, they certainly go deep enough for chucks. Then you can clean away the remainder with your preferred tool.

 

[Mark Warden]

I only ever used a regular skew for dovetails but on some woods like maple I do get some bad tearout.Do you have the same problem with these tools youe talking about.