How to Sharpen a Drawknife

Ben Orford shows you how to sharpen a drawknife. Here he uses a Japanese waterstone, a leather paddle strop, and some camellia oil to protect the sharpened blade.
Japanese Waterstone: bit.ly/3huPOg4
Paddle Strop: bit.ly/3d3VQ3J
Camellia Oil: bit.ly/3e3ZvQv
Full Tool Care Kit: bit.ly/2UJfv2o

[@PatLap]

That’s the first time I see a glossy finish off of a draw knife! 🫵🏼😮

[@snowstargazer3939]

I'm glad you referred to the drawknive as a single bevel tool. I wish you would clarify that you need to be careful NOT to make a bevel on the flat side. Almost every old drawknife I have seen has been ruined by people making a bevel on the flat side.

[@blackhorse2947]

Finally I found a video that tells and show me how to sharpen my very old Drawknife…… Thank you very much……. As you spoke I was trying to figure out your dialect…….. I believed I got……. What part of Texas are you in…???🤠

[@BenOrford]

Glad you enjoyed the video. We are in Herefordshire in the united kingdom 👍

[@ILuv2learn]

I have an old drawknife that is probably at least a hundred years old that I inherited from an uncle who was a contractor and a master carpenter. It is in beautiful condition. I have had it for 50 years but only been using it since I retired. It has been great for making things like axe handles and lately to shape wood for the lathe. I have been using a palm stone with water, but with a much coarser grit. I see now I should treat it more like a plane blade and that I need to make a much bigger strop. Thanks again for a great video.

[@193therman]

After watching this, I am a lot more confident to using and sharpening this tool. Thank you!

[@BenOrford]

Well that’s great news. So pleased you found the video useful. Many thanks cheers Ben

[@greywindLOSP]

Old school, slow is smooth, smooth is fast! Excellent thank you...ATB

[@johnmiller732]

Thank you ! As a first time drawknife sharpener , I knew the basics, but, you brought it all together .

[@davidwsmith316]

Thank you so much for this tutorial on sharpening a draw knife. I recently bought an old 10" draw knife that I restored. I removed the rust by immersing the metal in white vinegar for 24 hours. I'm currently working on my first long bow using this draw knife. It was already fairly sharp. However, I'm going to use your tutorial to try to get a razor edge on it so that it will be easier to use and have a better outcome on my wood project! Thanks again! 😊

[@keiths1101]

You really seem like you know what you're doing.👍👍

[@PKD-ze4hr]

I have been attempting to use a draw knife and have come to the conclusion that they are from the devil. This will hope me sharpen it. All i can get it to do now is chatter on the wood and dig in.

[@d540vamartin9]

I know it's a few months old. But one thing I had problems with was holding the drawknife straight across, like a +. Turn it more so it's like an X, and draw it to one side slowly, slicing the wood, instead of splitting by force.

[@whome6764]

Pretty sharp technique. Really admire that sheath for it too. Makes me wanna go do some carving with mine.

[@1stinlastout165]

Great video,I tend to use my thumb nail for the final test, if it bites in a little it's shaving Sharp!

[@acousticfolkpassion776]

Excellent video. Thank you! Off to the strop.

[@AdamBechtol]

Nice, thanks.

[@ShawnsterVideos]

excellent. thank you.

[@500asquare]

Thank you

[@danpryde5503]

Thanks for the tutorial mate. You're an excellent teacher/communicator.

[@lowellyates6685]

You know how to delete the fluff and get to the point. What a have also learned is to do it right, don't get into a hurry and be methodical. I have seen comments about the video being boring. One has to learn patience to accomplish excellance or learn how to fast forward the video if one is bored!

[@jacko4483]

Beautifully done my friend, from the heart!

[@gregorydascher3308]

I sharpened mine then came to watch this and see if I can learn anything.

[@mallorygarbutt6019]

Very clear explainations, thank you

[@eddieberry8450]

Loved this! Thank you for taking the time to share!

[@shanelonergan1792]

Great video ben ye must be very proud of what ye're doing because your tools are fantastic to use

[@MyClarissa21]

Thank You!

[@timdunk7278]

Awesome. Thank you.

[@BootstrapBob]

I've been looking forward to this video Ben. Thanks for posting it. I have a Ray Iles draw knife which has a secondary bevel rather than a convex blade. I can see the advantage of the convex blade, would you suggest taking off the secondary bevel at all?

[@John-yt5zr]

Thanks Ben, now make some draw knives so I can order one please. Your website keeps saying that there out of stock.

[@enzorosati9727]

I tuoi video sono tutti belli.... Peccato che io non li so tradurre. Guardo solo

[@richardbutterfoss2353]

Nice! RWB

[@magnusbergroth5319]

Great and inspiring video!

[@WELSBYROOTS]

Great video brother, thanks for the help!

[@reubenbartsch2530]

Where can I get one of these drawknives

[@davebean2886]

More information about shave horse?

[@skylerslack12]

Mine is pretty dull, has a big burr on most of the blade I can feel with my thumb. Going from up to down, how many times should I go at it with a Wet stone?

[@lukasking2573]

How do you sharpen it for seasoned Harwood. Like axe handels. Thank you

[@enzorosati9727]

Bravissimo

[@themeat5053]

Can you recommend any U.S. water stones and oil?

[@enzorosati9727]

Bravo e un bisturi

[@LuizRobertoFaggioni]

Thank you

[@navigator1372]

Dude your videos on sharpening are the best I have yet seen. I'm impressed.

[@BenOrford]

Well thanks a lot so pleased you find them useful. Much appreciated 👍 cheers Ben

[@navigator1372]

@@BenOrford sharpening is a major survival skill because it maintains the soo important knife. If you own knives you HAVE to be good at sharpening

[@earlwagner5940]

Very helpful Video. Maybe you could do a film on how to make a leather sheath for that draw knife.

[@frankroberts3868]

What brand is your drawknife in this video. Id like to get one or two like it. Thanks

[@BenOrford]

This one is one of our design that we make here in the workshop. If you would like one let me know. Many thanks cheers Ben

[@freydablack9027]

This is an excellent tutorial on sharpening a drawknife. I am surprised, however, that you do not also have a tutorial on sharpening a spokeshave, it's "smaller cousin" for finer work. Could you do one?

[@mikeevans3766]

Thanks for an excellent video on sharpening drawknives. That is pretty much the same technique I have used on mine. Would you consider demonstrating how to restore a typical older knife? So many folks have fine older knives that have been neglected, allowed to rust, have loose handles, or have damaged edges requiring some pretty extreme repair. It would be nice for the owners of sch tools to be shown how to restore them to use.

[@thomasgronek6469]

I though blades, Japanese Knives, chisels, plane blades etc were sharpened on the flat side only, not the beveled side.

[@BenOrford]

I think this is a common mistake when people see a tool that only had one actual bevel and flat the other side. You always have to polish or remove the burr from both sides even if one of them is dead flat. Glad we could help you understand this issue. Many thanks cheers Ben

[@thomasgronek6469]

@@BenOrford Many thanks (BTW, you picked up a new subscriber). It dawned on me that each should be sharpened according to its need, and whether one would be using it bevel-up or bevel-down, and whether it has a flat cutting edge or curved

[@cayman401]

I love my draw knife.... I hate sharpening the damn thing...

[@Gunslinger-1962-martin]

Hi Ben after watching this video several times I must add 🙌 I came across a draw knife at a market the other day that caught my eye ,, the makers name was Atkin&son wondered if you'd come across this makers name at all 👍 any feed back would be great fully appreciated regards Martin 👌

[@jhnunezm]

Muchas gracias por su arte. Saludos desde Ralún El Este en Chile

[@LitoGeorge]

Ben/anyone: I picked up a new drawknife that's definitely not top tier. I went through the grits from 120-1500, flattened the back (which took some doing), did the marker trick, kept a steady hand (not new to sharing, I can put a hair shaving edge quite easily on knives), and when I was done the bevel of the knife was polished to a shine. I also stropped of course. But my drawknife is still dull. I can scrape off some nail shavings but it's not great. Help please?

[@smeraldoderosa7556]

Very nice Ben. Thank you. I love working with hand tools and some years back I found a draw knife at a garage sale. With a few dings though, which I haven't been able to eliminate with a good metal file. My question is: is the knife harder than 60 Rockwell? Thanks.

[@johnmiller732]

What are the considerations of a flat bevel vs a "curved " bevel in using this tool ?

[@johnbuck477]

Thank you! Best video I've seen to sharpen a draw knife to dead flat. I like the strope paddle as well! Thanks!

[@BarefootBeekeeper]

Mineral oil is cheaper and just as effective as camelia oil IMO. I coat all my saws and blades when not in use.

[@BenOrford]

Sure it will be food safe and if it works it works 👍

[@erikolsen6269]

Thanks for this video man.

[@leroymontano9080]

Thank you your spot on my friend

[@stansbruv3169]

Perfect! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!

[@jeetray11]

Loved the part where you shaved some wood from that wood in the end. The sharpening process was good to watch too but was getting boring a bit but the climax of that test made the vdo very worthwhile for me. Thank you!

[@myobs]

Many thanks.

[@ZeWriter1]

Like always, nice video, making it easier to learn and becoming better! Great job!

[@BenOrford]

Great stuff so pleased you found it useful. Many thanks cheers Ben

[@grahamfraser7250]

A very well done video. I am working on a live edge table top and keeping my drawknife sharp is very important. As I am new to woodworking high quality, instructional videos like yours make learning new skills so much easier. The marker tip was excellent and really helped me to get my drawknife sharp.

[@BenOrford]

Great stuff, so pleased it helped you get your drawknife sharp. Good luck with the table. cheers Ben

[@dogmandoug1715]

Cracking tutorial as always. Thank you

[@daultonhuskey2804]

great video! thanks!

[@rodneyperkins4242]

What do you call that stand your using to hold the knife?

[@mikehindley3]

A shave horse or shaving horse. If you Google it you'll find tonnes of info. They are for sitting on and holding green pieces of wood while you shape them.

[@LarsKiel]

🙏👍