How to Sharpen a Chisel | Paul Sellers 

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Point blank no run around straight to how to correctly sharpen a chisel and wind up with a absolutely sharp chisel. The Master of woodworking, I wish i had half your knowledge. Thank you for sharing.

Because of this video, I’ve went from never sharpening my chisels because I had no idea how to, to sharpening all of my chisels, new and old/damaged, to very good working condition. Thank you very much, very comprehensive video!

I love Paul's videos. He's the first woodworking teacher I 've ever seen with all his digits.

After watching your tool maintenance video(s), I finally spent an afternoon sharpening all of my chisels, planes, and a cross cut saw that was passed down from my grandpa. I have been binge watching your educational videos and am looking forward to gaining more knowledge from those videos still out there. Thanks Paul.

I'm so glad you mentioned 2x-3x a day! I was afraid I was doing something wrong to my tools, because I found myself needing to sharpen about that often.

Thank you for showing me how wrong I've been doing it😂 Great video. My chisels are on a whole other level now.

Spot on! Fast, easy, effective. No guides, no nonsense, just sharp chisels.

This is literally the highest quality footage I’ve seen on yt

Excellent. How to sharpen tools and measure accurately are the hardest things about woodworking. Thank you for the excellent demo! I also appreciate no music or additional noise in the video, very soothing, low key, effective, and to the point.

Im glad i saw somebody comment his name/channel on somebody else’s woodworking video & that I searched his name and found out he’s a woodworker

How comforting to see a no nonsense tutorial on this matter . Keep it simple and to the point . Bravo Mr. Sellers .

I've been suffering through dull chisels because I didn't have the know-how to sharpen them. After watching this video my chisels are now sharp and oh man. Woodworking is fun again. thank you!

No comments on the sharpening stones or where/how to get them. Good to see the actual sharpening motions.

The part you pulled out the burr was master craft. Pure excellence.

Paul Sellers here is the best salesman of my local brick & mortar woodworking hand tools store :D

I love this guys work bench it’s actually been worked on

I will say it just once here. Sandpaper has its place short term for someone trying to find out if woodworking is for them. In the long term it is expensive and inconvenient. There is a famous song that says, "Diamonds are forever." and then another that says something like "Diamonds are a man's best friend." or something close to that. Anyway, EZE-Lap 3x8 plates in Coarse, Medium and Superfine are all you need.

Paul, I'd like to thank you. After dozens of videos and two sharpening books, there was something about this video in particular that made me realize that sharpening chisels is not really so complicated, and that it's better to just keep doing the basic movements that you demonstrate, get back to cutting and carving, and the super fine edge will eventually happen.

Making a burr is the key to proper sharpness. Don't let this point slip by you. Cheers!

Hi Paul - I do enjoy your videos and its great to see someone with your skills not afraid to use good old planes and tools that don't cost a fortune. I do get tired of all those guys who have to have very expensive tools to do their work. I was fed up today as it was raining hard but after watching your video I decided to go to the workshop and sharpen all my chisels and gouges which was quite a task. I have mainly Ashley Isles and Robert Sorby but do have a few Two Cherries and the odd Japanese chisel which I have picked up over the 55 years I have been working in wood. I had gone through my drawers and checked and sharpened everything that needed it when I came across a chisel I picked up in a lea market about 45 years ago, It is a 2" Sorby cast steel firmer chisel which I mainly used to do the final fitting of my guitar neck joints. Ithas been retired for ssome time as I had purchased a set of Ashley Isles and began to use the 50mm instead. The one thng I had forgotten was how hard the old chisel was and what a fantastic edge it can produce. The one thing that puzzled me was that it did not seeem to like my Diamond stones ( It haad never bneen sharpened on those as they are a much later buy ) The diamond did not work at all well but my water stones produced a superb edge albeit taking much longer than mmy more modern chisels. I will definitely be using that chisel more in future and it just goes to show that they knew a thing or two about making tools back then as it must be pre war. Keep up the great work Stay safe - Dave.

Paul, I was directed your way by videos by James at Wood By Wright and Rex Kruger. I really appreciate the quality content you put out. I've learned a lot. I recently dumped most of my large power tools as part of a downsizing, but have been building my hand tool collection and working on my skills. Thanks for the instruction and inspiration!

Three years at (wooden) boat building college and we were never told about rubbing compound on a leather, or 3 different weight sharpening stones either. Wonderful to see a master craftsman sharpening this chisel. I was blessed to find 3 old Sorby chisels, buying them out of a mixed box, because their handles felt so silky smooth compared to the others, not knowing about the Sorby family until afterwards, and finally know how to look after them properly. Even without knowing enough, they have been a joy to use.

Super fast! Only took decades of preparation and experience. Well done. Thank you.

On the spot 👌 no unnecessary talk 👍and right on to the subject. Like it...

Just makes it look easy, you can tell he’s done that a few thousand times. Thanks Paul

Right, I'm off to initialize my chisels

Paul is my absolute 'go to' for woodworking tool advice. Easy to follow steps and he never over complicates things that don't need to be complicated. Thank you.

Just a quick thank you. This video and many of your others have been tremendously helpful to me.

Hey Paul! Thanks for the tips. Have you ever thought of doing a video about your shop and bench set up?

Best video on chisel sharpening out there. Thank you Paul!

Thanks for showing me how to sharpen a chisel

Paul, thank you so much for this video. I've seen so many videos and guides by those who know and those who think they know, that I, a mere beginner, was lost. I now need to watch everything else you have done!! Thanks again

Thank you so much for this video! Great explained instructions!

Every single one of your videos inspires me to go buy some tools and start working some wood. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, Paul.

Thank you for the video tutorial.

You, sir, have true grit! Thanks for this great video!

I love your workshop ..all the planes ....clamps etc and the dresser .....fab 👍

Wow, what a detailed video! Many thanks Paul.

Thank you. Love your videos. You’re a very good teacher 😊

Thankyou Paul for this. At last the real way to sharpen! The results are fab!

Hi Paul - I got a chisel that has been turned into a screwdriver - 3 cm wide, 1 mm + thick tip - plus it has been sharpened from the sides - with a bump on the middle (top side )..... a small bit of rust on both flat parts .... I'm new to the woodworking, so it is a challenge ..... Very helpful with detailed tutorials - Thank you !

what stones are you using? They look really nice and seem to work extremly well. Thanks for the video. I have to say your backgroud does the trick. When someone with a thousand planes talks about sharpening I definitely listen ;)

Thanks Paul, you are a great teacher

I did as you said with a set of new Irwin Marples chisels, using a glass plate and 1000 grit sandpaper. Never done anything like this before. It worked a treat. 6 chisels, all sharpened and working. Many thanks. If I can do it, anyone can.

It is extremely relaxing seeing you work like this, Mr. sellers. Thank you for the advices!

Just found and followed this tutorial and my chisels now slide through teak like butter... Thanks so much Paul. Great work.

Nice and clear tutorial, thankyou

Thanks Paul. Great tutorial.

You have changed my life.... many thanks

Very clear and concise Subscribed thanks so much

Thank you sir, as always very informative.

I too thoroughly enjoy and appreciate your videos, your sharing your knowledge, wisdom and experience. Thank you. I've looked, on-line, at the EZE Lap 3x8 plates. Though they are a bit pricey I'd give them a go however, someone else in their comment below questioned the 'grit', ISO vs US. Can you provide any insight into this? Were your plates made in the US? Lastly, for those of us still using sandpaper, regardless of grit, what abrasive material would you recommend, Aluminum Oxide?

Wow!!! I love your videos. I'm just learning about all this. It's so fantastic. Thank you for handing down your knowledge and expertise. God bless you. 😇❤️. Marcie Free xoxxxoo

Paul, you are the man. I've been learning this almost lost art forms few months. Video after video... but yours are top notch. Thank you for all you do.

This is just marvellous, thank you

Thank you for these great videos. I'm always glad to see new content from you. Your videos helped me restore some old chisels. I took them to about 600 grit, that being the finest abrasive I had at the time, and they would cut well enough. But I was amazed at how much better and easier they cut after taking them through 2000 grit. You've allowed me to restore a whole arsenal of chisels and plane irons. Thanks very much!

Amazing how you take so much time and care and how detailed you are teaching me how to sharpen my chisels.. thank you so much

Thank you Paul, I'm getting better at sharpening but not quite there yet. Your vids give me the direction and confidence to carry on. Regards Mike

Paul you are the greatest!

Excellent as always.

Your the best Paul! Thank you

Excellent. Just sharpened my first chisel yesterday. I did not get the infamous burr. Back to the shop to get it. Using a carborundum dual stone with carborundum oil. Got both for $2 at estate sale. Looking forward to sharpening all my fathers old chisels.

Mr. Sellers that was a nice tip on the wood chisels. Can you eventually do a video on wood lathe chisels they are extremely hard to sharpen and I don't have a clue on how to go about it! I really do appreciate all your videos.

Excellent instruction.👍

Thank you for your knowledge

Hi there from Portugal, Another nice info :D Obrigado(Thanks) Master P.Sellers

great video. the amount of skill, knowledge, experience and patience you show is truly remarkable. thanks for sharing.

Wonderful video. Thank you

I've tried almost everything else, but the way Paul does it makes the most sense in both application and portability. The camber gives your blades a convex grind, making it actually far more durable. You can do it by jigs, but I don't find it advantageous other than the set up times and the ability to say that I have it sharpened to x & y degrees. It really isnt that hard to learn, once you have it, you'll have it for life. Thanks Paul.

Thank you so much for all the great videos and articles Paul! I have learned so much from watching you show us how to do it. Today I managed to sharpen a chisel for the first time in my life and can't believe how easy it actually is. Used only 1 diamond stone that has 400 & 1000 grit sides and the cutting edge is plenty sharp for what I want to do. Thank you very much!

Sorry, it's a little off-topic. Would you mind sharing your insights on drawknives? What are they useful for? How to sharpen them the simplest way? Thanks.

Wow! I wasn't going far enough with the Burr, I didn't expect it to be visible

Great video very informative.

Excellent well explained 👍

Spectacular! Thank you!

Thank You Paul well done.

Paul Sellers you are the best of the best

Thank you for this! Found some old rusted Rockford Greenlee's in a pile of old tools and I was refurbing them with stone but couldn't quite get it right. Now they cut walnut like butter. Thanks!

Wow I never appreciated just how much work goes into sharpening your tools, you make it look easy though. Thank you for this video, it will be a big help when I need to do this!

Thanks Mr. Sellers!

Brilliant! Thank you so much.

Hey Paul, I'm just getting in to hand tool woodworking and I love your no fuss approach to sharpening - it's helped me get on with completing projects. Quick question though, what would you do if your new chisel didn't have a hollow back? Is it worth the time to polish through the hump to the edge or would you just return it and get a different set? Cheers

A while ago i decided to get some whetstones to sharpen my kitchen knives. Best decision ever. Not only do you get nice sharp and safe knives, but it's really relaxing. Kinda Zen.

Thanks for reminding me (again) that what needs sharpening is the cutting edge, not the entire tool.

I enjoy your videos -- very practical. I have used wet or dry sand paper for years to sharpen my chisels and irons; but your tips and methods have improved the result tremendously. Using glass cleaner as the lubricant is an especially good tip, as it carries away the waste and makes the paper last longer. Now, I need a project! Many thanks.

Great video, very informativ. thank you very much

Very helpul video that demistifys geeting tools ready properly

A true expert. I've never seen a burr cut off like that. I'm off to do that with an old E A Berg chisel and I suspect it's not as easy as Paul makes it look.

I made a strop with a piece of an old pair of blue jeans. Works great!

Paul, thanks for the video. I bought the Aldi chisels you recommended and while they are cheap and good, it took me a long time flatten due to unusual concave back. They seemed to be twisted. Also one of chisels had one side much thicker than other side. After a few hours of belt sanding followed by diamond stones, I managed to get all of the chisels flat. A considerable time investment. Though I like the chisels I wonder if I spent more money I wouldn't need so much effort.

Thank You, Sir! In deed, a very good video, how to sharpening a chisel.👍😀

Master! Thank you.

Thanks, Paul. The best results I got using dry sandpaper. It doesn't wear as quickly as wet paper and you make lesser mess. But when dealing with a ruined bevel one should not be afraid to start with a very coarse grit.

absolutely awesome!

was wondering what the other grits were other then the 1200 for polishing thanks great video thank you.

Nice tutorial 👍

Very good sir, thanks for sharing

Very straightforward. Thank you! Now I'm wanting stones like the ones you've got there :🤔

You video is very helpful. Thank you very much! Question regarding touch up: Suppose we've initialised the chisel, used it for some time and now it's gone dull from normal use. If there are now nicks in the cutting edge, would you still start with the coarse grain for **touch-up** work, or would you start with the medium grain?