French Edgers

[jwwright]

I am looking for methods of doing a good job sharpening French Edgers. All suggestions appreciated , Thank You, JW.

[bruce johnson]

JW,

I have some with pretty thin blades with very little angle, and others with more meat and a relatively steeper bevel. None of these have much bevel though, at least the way I like them.

I got some of my first french edgers and read the Stohlman book. At the risk of sounding like a heretic, I don't think his method is correct for all situations. He recommended keeping the bottom flat (I'll agree with that). His method of removing material was to use a stone on top between the channels. Looking at any of my favorite french edgers, it personally would be hard for me to maintain that same bevel angle as original and work a stone back and forth across the width of the blade. I would be making a steeper angle with the stone. With a thicker blade and steeper bevel, maybe it would work Ok for me.

I now have better luck maintaining the bevel by doing my material removal from the bottom. It is a lot easier for me to keep the bottom flat and work it on a stone or piece of wet-dry than maintain the angle on top. I will make a few passes on top to make a burr, but the material has been mostly taken off the bottom. I mostly use wet-dry now and very little time on stones unless they have a chip or pit to get past. I was taught this by an old guy who asked me why I had stone marks on top of my french edgers. This would be have been right after I told him I didn't like french edgers much. On the thinner blades I do put a slightly steeper secondary bevel with a stone on top. This is to help keep from rolling the edge. On the meatier blades I don't. I power strop with a soft wheel and am good to go.

As I sharpen some, the toes start to get longer as the material is taken off the bottom. Once in a while I will knock those toes back with a grinder.

As an aside Herb French has a pretty good little book on sharpening leather tools. Costs about 10 bucks or so from him, or Vandy at Sheridan Leather Outfitters sells it also.

[jwwright]

Thanks Bruce. My French edgers are all J Watts, and I like them. I have been doing some sharpening off the top, but I have not been able to get them very good. I will try your suggestion of sharpening on the bottom. Makes sense to me in keeping the angle much better. JW

[CWR]

What sizes of French edgers do yall use the most? I'm trying to put a set of tools together, but my son was born 3 months premature and things are tight as the bills come in. I would rather have one or two good tools than several poor ones.

Thanks,

CW

[bruce johnson]

CW,

The ones I use the most are 1/4, 3/8, and 3/4. I use the 1/4 to gouge channels for folds. I use the 3/8 the most probably for sharper tapering. I don't use the 3/4 much except to skive riggings where they go up around the swells.

[CWR]

Thanks, Bruce. That was just what I needed to know. I think I will start out with the 3/8 for now.

CW

[Jim L.]

Thanks Bruce. My French edgers are all J Watts, and I like them. I have been doing some sharpening off the top, but I have not been able to get them very good. I will try your suggestion of sharpening on the bottom. Makes sense to me in keeping the angle much better. JW

The iilg pro's corner has an article by Phil Leduc on sharpening these, I use his method and it works for me. JL

[jwwright]

Jim........if you could direct me as to how to find that article, I would like to read it. Thank You, JW

[oyvindbl]

Jim........if you could direct me as to how to find that article, I would like to read it. Thank You, JW

I was just in on the IILG pages to check it out since I never managed to get my edger sharp.

It was actually Verlane Desgrange who wrote that article. It can be found at http://www.iilg.net/membersonly/how-to/verlane/verlane2.html , but you have to be a IILG member and logged in to get it. But if that is what it takes, then I guess it is worth the membership just to get the loads of tips available at the IILG pages.

Rgds

Oyvind

[hidepounder]

What sizes of French edgers do yall use the most? I'm trying to put a set of tools together, but my son was born 3 months premature and things are tight as the bills come in. I would rather have one or two good tools than several poor ones.

Thanks,

CW

CW...if you haven't purchased a French Edger yet, consider buying an old Gomph. They're a little harder to come by and a little more expensive, but the steel used in those old tools really out performs anyting made now (in my humble opinion!). I've replaced all of my expensive pieces with Gomph's, at some considerable expense, and am glad I did! The sizes Bruce gave you are just right, and like he said...sharpen from the bottom. I power polish with green rouge after sharpening and I use a stiff piece of skirting leather heavily impreganted with green rogue and strop the top by hand...just a little...I don't think that top angle should be changed...just strop the wire edge off which is formed from sharpening the bottom. They're available on Ebay from time to time and Bob Douglas almost always has some (307/737-2222). Have fun!