Veritas Mk II Honing Guide vs Bridge City Tool Works Honing Guide

[@shanehertzog5812]

Hi I brought a bridge city honeing guide when they started makeing them.they are beautifully made.i like the fine adjustment.the little square is smart.bridge city said dump into water when you are honeing bit. Australia. I like it.

[@internalmanofmystery]

I have the bridge city guide. I discovered after using it that the screw holding the roller wheel tightens and loosens as you roll back and forth. Mine tightened to the point that it stopped rolling and ground a flat spot on the roller. I also have trouble as he did setting up the angle. I wish I had put the money into a tormek system.

[@philquinn73]

I just ordered the bridge city tool works , i wish i saw your video sooner

[@hugsncuddles]

Well done. Very practical and objective. I appreciate your video.

[@GTWoodshop]

They you Hugs. 👍

[@emadallaho2408]

Thank you for an in-depth and informative review!

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Emad, Thank you. 👍

[@jimbo2629]

I’ve used freehand and honing guides for decades. Repeatability, setting angles and protrusion, and length of effort are all a pain. 5 years ago or more I bought a Worksharp. Using a slope cures all problems. It takes me longer to walk over to it than it does to resharpen.

[@bobcooke1820]

Hi Graham I have been using the Veritas for about 3 years and love it. Being from Canada it's easy to get. Another plus for the Veritas is the accessories like wide blades or mortise chisels. Thanks Bob

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Bob, I've not looked at the accessories, but really good point. Should have mentioned it. Thanks G.👍

[@alangknowles]

Don't forget the useful skew blade guide.

[@Pontustilrem]

Thank you for making many a point in the video. My approach in evaluating is of a more logical nature. The main difference in my view is that when clamping the blade on the Veritas the angles is set whereas on the BCT you have a squared steady position of the blade and can adjust the angle afterwards. I think that is an extreme advantage. I work mainly with japanese planes and chisels in hard wood, mainly in angles between 27 and 32 degrees without a secondary bevel. I use a true plane with a lamp behind on a wallboard in an appropriate hight to adjust the angle. Works fine for me. with the veritas I have to unscrew everything for angle adjustment which I find irritating over time, plus I find it hard to square tools in the Veritas, but that might be just my fault. anyway thank you for your video.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Pontus, thank you, funny how the little idiosyncrasies of tools annoy each of us in some way. 👍

[@KieuPho]

You can use the Angle Cube to measure accurately the angle of Hand plane blade. But you still need the BCTW jig (preset angle) to hold the blade while adjusting the knob. Nice video Mr Graham.

[@GTWoodshop]

KieuPho, thanks, and thanks for the tip. 👍

[@tylerhillman5297]

This really helped me out I had been going back and forth trying to decide between the two and was leaning towards the BCT sorry to say perhaps just due to the fact that it is a beautiful tool but I believe the veritas will be the way to go

[@RidgidRon]

Good job...sold me!!!

[@barrydoxseyuk]

Great video, I have been a Bridge City Tool works fan for many years. I have both these honing guides and yes one needs having set a blade to an angle, need to create a set up block (as per Lie Nielsen) then the set up becomes faster. I like both honing guides, but for there own tasks. For smaller blades and lighter honing the BCTW as it uses more of the sharpening stone length. With the Veritas as it gets older the clamping bridge doesn't seem to hold the blade as well, this may be better with the new model. The Veritas is my first go to for normal work shop plane blades and as Bob before me states there is the skew angle attachment which I would not live without. I use Shapton glass stone, diamond plates and diamond past. On Diamond plates I have found the brass wheels wear and can clog the plate. One of the best reviews I have seen.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Barry, thank you. It does feel like there isn't a single sharpening solution doesn't it. I love the shaptons, they cut really quick and leave a fantastic edge, but they wear quick as well. I have a Tomek tucked away in the back that comes out for really bad stuff, then like you the Diamond then the shaptons using either the Veritas or the BCTW. 👍

[@TheSMEAC]

Thank you sir! I too have the Veritas system and have just been so frustrated with it; particularly on chisels. I about two months ago got a BCT HP9v2. The iron is particularly small and difficult for me to manipulate (I have a traumatic brain injury and thus tremor and weakness in my left hand). I’ve spoken with the folks at BCT’s who were extremely helpful. Yes, they have a do in the fight, but the fact that there is the micro adjustment capability and a more positively registering perpendicular alignment plate, really sealed the deal for me. I’ve got the HG4 and yes they are both somewhat fiddly in their own respects, I can better address some of my stranger irons (L-N 60-1/2 rabbet block, HP9v2, spokeshaves, etc) and my beveled edge/dovetail chisels, while the Veritas will still address my bench plane irons well. *A classic shop made protrusion stop works amazingly well for bench plane iron between grinds (I use a secondary bevel until it’s about gone and then regrind) on the Veritas guide; making one for use on my BGT HG4 too! (Stumpy Nubs uses his HG4 this way and nearly everyone I know using an eclipse still guide does too). I am a glutton for punishment though and will eventually but the Lie Nielsen as well 😂 Have you yet tried the dream that the BCT HP9v2 is? Cheers from Tennessee 🤠 Semper Fidelis, Shannon

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Shannon, thank you. I dream of getting more of the BCTW kit, they are stunningly beautiful, especially the HP9v2, I am jealous sir. I do so hope you look after and love them. I note with interest another comment stating his Veritas guide is not true! must check mine. I find I have little bouts of obsession when both guides comes out and I end up re-sharpening all my plane blades just to make them perfect and beautiful again. 😁😎👍

[@oldpopmike]

Thanks very much for the video. On the split screen part of it I found it would’ve been better as one screen but a much closer shot of the guides. I feel the Bridge City Tools are great to look at but from videos I’ve seen, don’t perform that well. I’ve made my own honing guide system that has advantages over these types and costs peanuts to make. I’ll do a video when I’ve finalised it. Cheers. And thanks again for taking the trouble to make the videos. 👍

[@GTWoodshop]

Thanks Mike. 👍

[@01ideasdigitales10]

Hi, thanks for your review. I have the BCT, and setup the second bevel it only requieres a twist on the knob adjust screw to change the tilt

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Digitales, thanks for the tip. 👍

[@ehRalph]

My old original guide died and looking for a replacement, kakuri came up in the search, its Japanese & straddles the iron, it has side handles and a long steady looking roller. Otherwise veritas, I bought a BCT square with a magnetic fence and ended up adding more small magnets to their design, because the included magnets were too weak. It came in a beautiful box.

[@marvistawoodworks7624]

I agree with your assessment and had a very similar experience: Saw it and had to have it. I voiced my concerns about the initial placement of a blade in the guide on John's blog at BCTW. Did not get much help. The solution was to set-up the blade at the right place for each angle and then make a scratch-mark on the set-up guide. Not very elegant, but it works. Also felt the clamping mechanism was hard to keep in place, so I attached a small piece of carpet tape on the mechanism where it meets the blade. One more problem I have is the clamping mechanism moves front-to-back too easily. A solution I'm thinking of is to insert a plastic washer to provide some friction as it moves. One positive is that the BCTW guide will hold small blades (i.e. spoke shave blades). Another advantage the Veritas guide has is, when the angle gauge is attached, there are markings for the blade width so the blade will be centered on the gauge. For these reasons, I've pretty-much gone back to the Veritas guide.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Mar Vista, good points all. I must admit I've returned to the Veritas myself. Must learn to control my 'Must Have it' urges. 👍

[@agentchodybanks9120]

I would recommend getting the more simple side clamping Veritas or Lie Nielson honing guides and making a jig

[@andredesrochers8468]

Hi, I may be wrong......but it looks like if you got your blade stick farther on the Bridge City, the locking clamp will not block your view for adjusting the angle.......let me know if it work, thanks Andre

[@H0meb0y666]

I was given one and i must say - I concur with your findings. I had many versions of the Veritas sharpening system and like you thought the setup of these device complicated and drawn out. However - after using the Bridge City device (i could never get an prefect angle - so use it to sharpen my ‘rough’ tools where a sharp blade is all I need) the Veritas wins hands down. Bridge City is just eye candy - that said their bench and block planes (although expensive) are very functional and given the different blade angles provided by the supply of multiple blades - are good values for money

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Martin, indeed a shame as they look incredible.

[@simplytodd4155]

You would think for double the price Bridge City could have engineered that awful squeal out of the the roller wheel. That sound alone would make me want to return it. Perhaps it disappears with use.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Simplytodd, yes, it did.👍

[@johnmagnussen917]

I just received a Bridge City Guide and used it for the first time today. This is also my first time ever sharpening a chisel. I thought the problems were my dumb fault, so I'm relieved that you had the same problems. Hard to see whether or not the angle was correct was my biggest problem, as well as learning the fundamentals of how it worked. It sounds like I should make a jig/guide for setting the angle by distance. Well, it does look beautiful, including the box.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi John, no its not just you, I also found their setup tool really dificult to use. Definately make yourself an angle setting jig, and it is a thing of beauty for sure. 👌👍

[@billcoley8520]

I think we all fell for the beauty of the guide. It’s kinda like buying a car, we all focus of the stereo system, the Bluetooth, and the other functions when we should be focusing on the motor and weather or not it can pull a heavy load.

[@GTWoodshop]

@@billcoley8520 Ain't that the truth.

[@woodcraft_cz]

The Veritas is great UNTIL it comes to the secondary bevel function, it’s flawed and not fit for purpose in most cases. I have both, Iv been through a few Veritas trying to find one that has the roller precisely drilled so that turning the dial to 06:00hrs doesn’t skew the micro bevel, each iteration I tried had a varying degree of skew, so for me at least this is not acceptable on my expensive chisels. To obtain a perfect parallel micro bevel on the Veritas you have to re adjust the blade to the new angle (30°-35°) keeping the micro bevel adjustment set to 12:00hrs. Form on the Veritas is great but function fails at the micro adjustment. The BCT is precision at its finest but as you stated the trade off to achieve this is more time and effort on set up. I’m going to do a video on the two in the upcoming weeks myself as I feel no one really covers these points but wanted to express my experience here with anyone else trying to make their mind up between the two.

[@sandyradeke5408]

Excellent video. I was really tempted by the BCT honing guide but think the Veritas might be better for me.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Sandy, I haven't found a perfect one yet, but the Veritas is up there with the best. 👍

[@brucepottorff6870]

Couldn't agree more. I have both and the BC gathers dust. I'd be happy to sell it for half what I paid.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Bruce, thanks.

[@cameroncurley3556]

I’ll buy it if you still have it and are willing. I want to see if a honing guide is worth it or should I just keep trying to freehand sharpen

[@charles888]

Thank you for a good review. One of the potentially important things you didn't cover is that of "secondary bevels". The Veritas allows that to be done very easily with the use of an eccentric guide wheel that allows quick and easy repeatability of angles. The Bridge City allows turning of the adjustment knob to change the angle of the honing, but it is left to the user to achieve repeatability, as you pointed out, turning of the knob against the pressure of the clamped blade. I purposely chose not to buy the Bridge City since it appeared excessively tedious to setup, as your review confirms. As you said, a focus on appearance over function that I've found to be generally true of their tools having owned a number of them.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Charles, thank you, good point I should have covered that. 👍

[@charles888]

@@GTWoodshop Thinking about it further, the Veritas also allows a mechanism for honing a camber into plane blades that the Bridge City does not. The camber ability is a paid-for add-on for the Veritas. Ditto for sharpening short blades. It isn't clear to me how well the Bridge City accommodates shorter blades/irons such as used in spokeshaves and smaller planes.

[@jameseconleyjr7868]

My MK II can't hold chisel or blade square. The jaws started failing about a year in. Wish there was a way to tune it up. An odd looking paperweight now. Just an FYI.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi James, sorry to hear that, seems to be quite unusual, I haven't heard about a lot of failures. 😢😢

[@jameseconleyjr7868]

@@GTWoodshop checkin back in with you. Happened to get an email from Bridge City yesterday to check out a flash 1 day sale. The H-4 honing jig was offered for $99USD. Down from $249. I had to jump for it. Will be delivered tomorrow. I'm wondering if after using it a spell, setting the angle on the BCT has gotten a little less tricky? Like you, my eyes are a bit suspect. I keep a cheapo flashlight handy for just about everything. Be well.

[@woodcraft_cz]

I’m here because the Veritas is driving me crazy on the secondary bevel, all skewed, replaced the roller and a vast improvement but far from perfect

[@alangknowles]

How would bc deal with the short skew blades used in the Stanley 79 side rabbit plane or a scrub plane blade?

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Alan, I'm not sure it could do it looking at the plane online, I don't own one so can't really say, sorry. 😒

[@lendevonuk5479]

Hi Graham, excellent and impartial! My general feeling about Bridge City is that, on some tooling, they are trying to compete with ‘Woodpecker’ but their modern designs prioritise aesthetics rather than the wonderful simplicity of the Woodpecker range. Additionally, very, very much overpriced. Of course ‘Veritas’ are a hard act to follow too. Subsequently, I stay clear of all Bridge City products! However, I would like to see a like for like comparison with the Woodpecker sharpening guide (if you can get one).

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Len, excellent summary sir. 👍

[@j.r.tidwell3318]

I think if you had used the Bridge City as much as the Veritas you may have said Bridge City. I have a Veritas sharpen device and about 10 others including a Work Sharp that I really like. Saying all this to say this, I'm ordering myself a Bridge City next week when I order the Joint Maker Pro II. By the way I liked and subscribed to your channel cause of your honest reviews on the Bridge City..

[@GTWoodshop]

Thanks J.R.

[@danieltaylor9235]

Price has definitely gone up for the Veritas. Bridge city tools has some beautiful tool. But for tools now made in china, the price is cheeky.

[@patrickgirard-k3g]

joli mais trop complexe et difficile à régler , je préfère le Veritas qui semble plus facile et dispose de l'angle supplémentaire de 2 degrés pour le morphile .

[@johnvanderhoof1248]

I have to disagree with you on the Veritas guide. My experience is that the blade can move during the sharpening process and become skewed. The HG 4 is a bit finicky; however most guides (including Lie-Nielsen) are as well.

[@hdwoodshop]

I’m glad you are giving an objective review. I miss that from some KZbin creators who started off well. They’re all very unwilling to offend their sponsors. One guy even duct taped over the brand of table saw he uses regularly but because they don’t sponsor him he hides their logo.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Hugo, thank you.

[@hdwoodshop]

@@GTWoodshop merry Christmas Graham!

[@GTWoodshop]

The very same to you and yours Hugo, have a good one. 👌👍

[@rsitch1]

A very nice review , thank you. We all work to hard to spend our good money on what ? I have a better honing tool and I spent $10.00 us . Thank you for your review . Bob

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Bob, thank you, as you say, sometimes all that glitters......

[@patbassman8251]

Axeminster charge 75 pounds for the veritas , I found my Veritas is not true and my irons are finishing out of square , I got on better with my cheapo iv used for years .

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Pat, Now you've said that I think I'll go and check mine, I have a suspicion. 👍

[@patbassman8251]

@@GTWoodshop Keep us posted thanks

[@RobyWanKenobi]

Will the veritas work with Japanese chisels?

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Richard, I see no reason why not. Japanese chisels are hollow in the centre of the back I believe so the two outer edges should rest firmly on the underslung clamp. I've must say that I don't have any Japanese chisels (although I'd like some) so I'm unable to confirm for sure.👍

[@RobyWanKenobi]

@@GTWoodshop I have seen where the length of 50 to 55 mm can be a problem. I ordered the Bridge City on Christmas while on sale for 128 usd. Went back and forth for months and was coming to the conclusion that I will just have to learn to freehand till I saw the sale and guilt tripped my wife lol. Will see how it goes.

[@GTWoodshop]

@@RobyWanKenobi Let me know what you think, when it finally arrives.

[@RobyWanKenobi]

@@GTWoodshop yee sir and thank you.

[@jefflavenau]

Everything I've seen and heard of BC Toolworks is that their stuff is pretty from afar, with awful machining up close (like a plane sole being utterly rough ground) and generally designed as though the person who sketched it out had never done any woodworking. Very unfortunate!

[@397fire397]

Didn't you have a friend's hand plane you could sharpen handy. It would have saved you 're-honing your own blades.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hey 397, funny you should mention that, I do have a blade here that some,,,,, 'Aquintance' in the losest sens of the word, 'dropped off' 🤣👌

[@billcoley8520]

Why don’t you just hold it in place on the bracket and hold it but to the light

[@GTWoodshop]

HI Ross, I did try that but I wasn't certain I had it right, aging eye sight doesn't help. 😊

[@billcoley8520]

@@GTWoodshop I’m 62, I hope I don’t have that problem. If it continues put a small flash light behind it. It will help you see the light

[@GTWoodshop]

@@billcoley8520 Top tip, cheers. 👍

[@turboqzma]

That angle setup guide clearly is a failure.

[@ionut5316]

Let's face it, we deal with a lot of blades in our shops, bevel edge chisels, narrow chisels (1/8, 3/16), big mortise chisels, skew angle irons for rabbet planes, short blades for spokeshaves, hard to clamp irons like the shoulder plane irons and router plane irons, combination plane irons (short and narrow). The veritas, as ugly as it is can do all of the irons I mentioned, BCT cannot do shit, simply because the clamping system is not secure, narrow blades moves. It takes forever to set the bevel and it is not repeatable. The LN's implementation of the Eclipse style guides is probably the fastest to set the bevel, just by using a stop block. What a joke from BCT...

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Ionut, good point I forgot to mention the small clamping area, 1 more for the Veritas. Thanks. 👍

[@onecarwood]

Bridgecity use a terrible method to set the angle. It’s why you make a guide so you don’t have to match the angle. It seems like they just wanted to be different.

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi DumdumDev, I couldn't agree more, its awful. 👍

[@davidjennings9253]

Like all of BCT tools they are purchased by people with more money than sense, just because they are pretty colours. The all have too many joints in their design so will likely not stay accurate for as long as a simpler tool. Their planes are a nightmare!!! Sadly since arthritis set into my hands I do have to use a honing guide after free hand sharpening most of my woodworking life, but the Veritas is far superior in my view as it does everything the BCT one does without the 'art for arts sake'. Well if people must waste their money on tinsel tools its up to them but I would rather spend my money on more important things - WOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi David, sadly I must agree, not worth the money. 👍

[@allanhundeby1675]

So, this ISN'T an easy-to-use jig?? And instead of buying this... If I just committed to spend time learning how to perfect freehand sharpening, I will save some money, and - in the long-run - I'll save hundreds of hours (i.e. time taken to set up this "jig" EACH time while never learning muscle memory)? :p

[@GTWoodshop]

Hi Allan, pretty much I'd say yes. 👍