DO I NEED BOTH?! Veritas Side Clamping Honing Guide vs MK II Honing Jig

[@esuter7186]

Canadian secret: You can wrap a length of masking tape around the roller of the regular Mk2 for the “ cambered” effect…

[@BatCaveCreations]

That is awesome! Thank you for sharing!

[@douglasanderson7260]

Good video. I did not know that the side clamping was a thing. I have had cheap versions of side clamping jigs, and I was never really impressed with them. Basically, it was easier to learn to a good enough job by hand. Now I have the full-blown mk2, and it is so easy to set up. It is one of the things that I can see where veritas thought about how people use things. A tool for humans.

[@BatCaveCreations]

I 100% agree! They are great at that!

[@TheRaven0811]

I have the veritas with the flat roller and the guide. Normally I sharpen my chisels and irons by hand until I have to straighten the edge. For me it is faster by hand and I take my time when I need to true them up. I had a really cheap side clamping one before I bought the veritas. The wheel was uneven so I upgraded. Having the wider wheel is so much better, you don't have to try and balance it as you are sharpening. Good video again.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Thank you!!! Pur sharpening methods are basically the same haha I deff free hand between but to resquare or if I want to test out a specific angle deff a jig! I still have one of my first honing jig and now that veritas has the size clamping I'm ready to sell it hahaha

[@Lapsin121]

Wow I had to go check mine to see if it has that micro bevel adjuster on the MKII ahah. Never knew that. Should have read the instructions. Also didn't know about that Skew jig and have been wondering how I was gonna set up my Skew block plane blade. So needless to say. This video came in clutch.

[@BatCaveCreations]

I am happy to hear that! I will be doing a video on how to use the MK2 in all of its features :D

[@re9334-s9f]

Lol. I have not been easing the corners of my irons because I lost track. I tend the ease the corners one sharpening a year. If I'm using the Veritas Mk II, I just put more pressure on one corner and then the other. I just didn't want to have to use another jig for easing corners.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Yes!!!! Thats why I like just corner easing more than the "true" camber! Lol

[@moshekwart4043]

Excellent video. Clear, to the point, well thought out and...bottom line, very helpful. Thanks.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Happy to hear it and happy to help!!!

[@dannyhale7645]

Great video. I've got a crappy Chinese made Eclipse knock off. It stinks. I've been wondering about the Veritas jigs. Your channel is awesome so far. I knew who you are from CIHI, so I had to check your channel out. Glad I did.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Thank you!! I am glad you did too! If my channel ever becomes not awesome. Lemmie know :D

[@inkandbarrel]

How did you clamp the iron from the side clamp to the apron plane?

[@BatCaveCreations]

I'm sorry I don't understand? Are you asking if the apron plane iron can fit in the side clamping jig? I don't have either anymore but I don't think it cam be done due to the shape of the iron :(

[@stevem268]

my first sharpening jig was the mk 1 and i still use it. very easy and quick. i recently got the side clamping jig and find myself using far more but i use the mk1 angle thingy to set the side clamp!

[@BatCaveCreations]

I didn't realize that other honing jig they over is called the MK 1 lol you can use it to set the side clamping?! Thats cool!

[@nasarazam]

If I do not do camber, would a "Standard MK2" suffice instead of the full blown Deluxe one?

[@BatCaveCreations]

The delux set includes the side clamping for narrow blades and chisels. I highly reccomend having that attachment. Compare prices of the deluxe vs the standard adding on the side clamping and see the difference

[@robertgarvey5744]

Would love to see you review the veritas chamfer guide (and if it will fit other block planes). I want to get one but can’t afford the $160 for their block plane

[@BatCaveCreations]

I love the chamfer guide! It won't fit another plane tho unless you modify it and cut the metal sides narrower even then I'm not sure it would work. The veritas block plane is wide, kinda like the width of a stanley 220. If you know it. All others are narrow like a 60.5. Keep an eye on ebay, you can snag some really good deals on veritas stuff.

[@re9334-s9f]

Great video! Quick but good comparison video for buyers.

[@repy123]

I had the Mk2 and got rid of it for the side clamping jig. One thing to note. If you're using Japanese chisels, since the blade is much shorter the side clamping jig doesn't really work. So that's annoying

[@BatCaveCreations]

Ah great point about Japanese chisels! Thank you!!

[@nowhereman4041]

I agree that a camber all the way across is not the best method as it actually creates a subtle curve along the whole cutting edge which wont give you a flat surface. Its probably such a small curve it wouldn't be noticeable but the engineer/Journeyman toolmaker in me says make everything perfect if possible lol. I'm curious to know what you think of the Honing Guide Sleds like the Levoite Premium Honing Guide Sled? I've got the standard guides and it works well, but these look like they would make quick work of sharpening and might be worth the money. Please share your thoughts and In return I'll buy you a cup of coffee (Or a beer since its Friday) on your website. Thanks Mr. Bat. As always, another great video.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Hey! I actually LOVE the idea of that guide. It looks super simple to use and easy to set up. I would love to buy one and test it out one day and do a full review to check if my concerns are valid or not. First, I worry about wear on the stone and that fact that you can't move the blade around to wear the stone evenly it will just always be in the same spot. So you have to unclamp the stone to take it out and flatten. Vs jist setting aside a clamped iron and flattening the stone. If you know what I mean. I worry about water/debris/slurry/ect. Getting into the sliding action and making it rough or bump. Depending on the tolerance in the slide this could cause an issue. Or need to be cleaned and maintained. You also need to eyeball the angle, instead of a jig telling you the angle so this introduced human error into the mix. Esp if you do micro bevels you won't be spot on if you want things to be spot on. There are also alot of moving parts where the iron/chisel is held I worry about thise getting dirty and not as smooth thus requiring more maintenance. Something to keep in mind is that you have to pay attention to the stones you buy. If you decide to change stones. You have to make sure they fit in the holder. I know this sounds like alot of negatives, but I tend to analyze things a lot before I buy them, and above is what I'd worry about. Plus, the price is up there vs just getting a side clamping jig, building a registration stop, and goin to town on whatever stone you want. But yes I still wanna try one out lol Last note. My buddy has issues with his hands. As do I. This may be a great option for people who would struggle to hold a normal honing guide they would just need to keep these things in mind. I hope this helped!

[@nowhereman4041]

@@BatCaveCreations Your concerns are definitely valid, not to mention the fact that the standard guide actually does a great job already without all of the moving parts and and additional features. The first thing we learn in engineering school design class is the KISS rule, "Keep it simple stupid" haha! Thanks for your opinion bro. You have a cup of coffee (Beer) coming on your website right now.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Haha 100% deff KSS! Work smarter, not harder! I feel like you were just testing me if you're an engineer!! I need a beer now hahahah thank you!

[@nowhereman4041]

@@BatCaveCreations Haha! Not testing you at all. Woodworking is a completely different ball game, and to be honest, I find that in some ways my 25+ years as a mechanical engineer and a Journeyman tool maker sometimes lead me to make the wrong decisions with my woodworking as I tend to over think things. And although I love the idea of this sled jig thing, I practice traditional woodworking, hand tools only, so its hard for me to bring myself to buy things like this when I think that guys like my father back in his day didn't have any fancy jigs to sharpen their tools. Enjoy the beers bro' I just hooked you up. Happy Friday.

[@BatCaveCreations]

I deff agree with you there! Thats kinda how I feel about the tormek grinders lol Happy to help and thank you for the beers!!!

[@stephenclingerman4865]

Their side clamping that I have, doesn’t make it square. I only use a jig for this for doing/ changing the primary bevel for chisels.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Their side clamping jig isn't square for you? Are you centering the iron on the roller before clamping? If so you may have gotten a bad one and should exchange it

[@stephenclingerman4865]

@@BatCaveCreations Only chisels. I don’t use it for plane irons. I have 2 cheap chisels (N*x) that I changed to a 17deg bevel. It’s possible that they are twisted? I did make sure that the clamps were tight and straight on the bottom.

[@Driver10011]

My first sharpening jig was the Mk 2 and then I got the side clamping model. The Mk 2 is by far the harder one to get square since the jaws only clamp top to bottom. If your sideclamping jig is out of square, I’d call Lee Valley for a replacement. If it’s too late for that, you could try filing the jaws until they hold square.

[@BatCaveCreations]

The chisels deff can be twisted I've had that before haha What do you use 17 degrees for? I've never tried that

[@Driver10011]

@@BatCaveCreations not OP but I’ve seen people use that low of an angle for paring soft woods like pine.

[@petrsidlo7614]

Even before I watch this I'll nag on the roller attachment. Anyone outside Canada or the US is screwed if they ever want to replace the roller, since the Allen bolt is Imperial and getting your hands on a set of Imp allen keys in europe is a) expensive, b)kinda hard and again expensive since you can only get them online, in a set, and with hefty postage.

[@BatCaveCreations]

Wouldn't that go for any US or Can made jig? Have you tried taking a metric key and filing it down to the imperial size you would need?

[@petrsidlo7614]

@@BatCaveCreations it would, but all my other stuff has always been in metric, this was the first instance in which I needed an Imperial allen key. The filing method doesnt sound bad, I'll give it try, thanks!

[@BatCaveCreations]

Ah i get you and no problem! Hopefully that works!

[@petrsidlo7614]

@@BatCaveCreations In case anybody ever reads this thread, Veritas sends a 1/16 allen key with the replacement roller, even though the website I bought it from did not mention this. So dont be like me and buy a set of imperial allen keys you will never ever use, Second thing that I have not found an answer to online - while disassembling the jig, you are instructed to remove the set screw and pull the inner rod out of the excentric "core". I've seen several people under official veritas video complaining that they cannot do that and the rod doesnt move, nobody from veritas addresed this under that video. The issue is rust (judging by the slight rust on my new replacement parts, the rust on the old roller must have been there due to poor oiling by veritas too). The inner hole of the excentric is fused to the rod by rust, clamp the part in a vise and start tapping the end of the rod with punch/nail set/ anything thin. The rust on the rod was minimal, the rust inside the excentric was significantly higher, though it could be cleaned and used again. So before you instal the new part, put some anti rusting agent on the rod - camelia oil has worked wonders for me.

[@BatCaveCreations]

@@petrsidlo7614 this is awesome! thank you for sharing!!!

[@XxIcedecknightxX]

Hey, for your thumbnails try copying what you did with the honing guides comparison video. I think you will get more views if you make it look like a fighter game loading screen lol.

[@BatCaveCreations]

I thought about that! It was tough cus the MK2 is super tough ti edit the background out of ahha and shhh I ran an ad campaign on that video to test those out and see how ads work ahha

[@XxIcedecknightxX]

@@BatCaveCreations Hope you find out what clicks the best then, you deliver good reviews!

[@BatCaveCreations]

Thank you! I hope so too lol I know I have a niche topic so it will be slow to build clicks and subs. But I'm happy with where it's going and I'm having fun! Hoping to incorporate some builds in too but these planes litterslly keep falling in my lap. I have a 2, 112 scraper planes on the way cus I got a LN one. I also have a clifton 4 on the way!

[@deezynar]

You don't need a jig at all. The burr shows you that you have sharpened to the edge. You don't need to sharpen to an exact angle. This is more like hand grenade accuracy than sniper fire. Close enough is good enough. The greatest examples of woodworking the world has ever seen was made by men who didn't use honing guides.

[@BatCaveCreations]

The method you use to sharpen does not determine how great your project will turn out. Do you need a jig no but, Some like to use them, and there is no issue with that. Some haven't figured out how to free hand, and there is no issue with that. Some don't want to free hand and there is no issue with that. Does the precise angle matter no, I free hand my micros and I don't care what angle they are but.. Some like to be precise and there is no issue with that. Some don't like the look of micro bevels and want consistency, and there is no issue with that.

[@Driver10011]

Angles do matter depending on the situation. If you’re using a jack plane to do initial stock removal, sure. If you’re doing a final smoothing on wild grain, you can definitely see differences in what the angle you’re using.

[@BatCaveCreations]

True, I mainly mean the micros, a few degrees off doesn't matter to me. But primaries yes 25 vs 38 (BU for example) big difference! Lol

[@Driver10011]

@@BatCaveCreations yessir!

[@Deeger-1]

The mkII is worthless - awful