The chisels are one of the essential tools for woodworking. And sharpness is one of the vital things for this. Handling woodworks with something that is not sharp will make the overall process harder than it has to be.
And getting a new set of tools once the edges become dull is not really the most-effective process. The most cost-effective method would be to resharpen the tools and reuse them.
However, if you want to experience a simple and easy resharpening experience, you would need to get the best chisel sharpening jig. Those will make the process of sharpening the tools feel like a piece of cake. You would not have to go through any tedious process, nor will you face any sort of hassles with those.
Our 5 Best Chisel Sharpening Jig Picks
Choosing one of these jigs that will make the sharpening process easier is not that easy because of how oversaturated the market is at the moment.
To make the choosing process more manageable for you, we have gone ahead and picked the ones that we believe are worth recommending. The ones that we have picked exclusively for you are:
1. KNIFEPLANET Store Stone Set
If you are relatively new to the sharpening game, you would not be able to carry out the process without guidance. Well, that is why you should check out what KNIFEPLANET is offering here.
To start with, the kit bundles along with a honing guide. That will make the overall process straightforward for you. There is an angle guide included as well. You would not have to consider the angle manually when you are sharpening the chisel. That is why this kit is ideal for beginners.
Aside from being beginner-friendly, the base that it comes with is quite premium. It is made of bamboo, which makes it reasonably sturdy. Alongside that, there is non-slip padding on the bottom. That padding is going to ensure that the base does not move around when you are carrying out the process.
Also, the whetstone that is included in this kit is exceptionally versatile. It has two different sides. One of them is 1000 grit, while the other one is 600 grit. So you will have the option to choose whether you want a soft sharpen or a hard sharpen. And the whetstone is high-density as well. It features a construction of alumina oxide, which is known for having excellent strength. Because of being forged under high pressure, the grits are not going to soften over time. And the two different grits are not attached using glue, which means they will not come loose.
Pros
- Includes an angle guide
- Comes with a honing guide
- Whetstone is exceptionally versatile
- Non-slip padding under the base
- Base is of sturdy bamboo
Cons
- Some of the units arrive with chipped stones
- Many of the packages ships with missing parts
2. Taylor Toolworks Self-Centering Side Clamping Honing Guide Jig
Even though having a complete set of sharpening tools is great and all, you might not need all of the extra items. What you might be looking for is a simple jig for making the edges of your chisel sharp. Well, that is what this tool is.
First of all, the unit has a side clamping mechanism. That will securely hold on to the tool that you are planning to sharp the edges of. As a result, you would not have to hold the tool manually, which is going to make the process feel effortless for you.
The unit can hold a large variety of tools. It has the capacity to hold chisels and planes that are from 1/16 inches to 3 inches in width. That means no matter how wide the tool you have is, you will be able to sharpen it using this. You would not have to worry about the compatibility that much.
And the wheel that it features on the side is if hardened steel. That wheel rolls pretty smoothly, and will you use a different set of sharpening stones. Whether you are planning to use natural, diamond, or human-made stones, you will have no issues in the case of making them work with this.
Also, the body features a construction of cast iron. That makes the unit exceptionally durable. Also, because of the being of that material, you would not have to worry about it catching rust or corroding either.
Pros
- Side clamping mechanism
- Can accommodate a large variety of tools
- Features a steel wheel on the side
- Can be used with different types of stones
- Easy to use
Cons
- Grooves on the body might be too narrow for some tools
- Some of the units have a flimsy wheel
3. Ram-Pro Honing Guide
Are you worried that the steel parts that are usually on the honing guides will wear down over time? Then we have the perfect thing for you. And yes, it is from Ram-Pro.
To begin with, it features a rolling wheel that is made of hardened steel. For that reason, it will not wear down, nor will it develop flat spots over time. And the body has a construction of cast aluminum.
That material does not only make the unit sturdy and durable but also makes it reasonably lightweight. Because of that, you will be able to handle it around pretty easily.
Aside from featuring a solid construction, the wheel that it comes with is fully adjustable. It can accommodate chisels that are 1/8 inches to 1-7/8 inches wide and planes that are up to 3-1/8 inches in width. And depending on the width, you will be able to adjust the wheel accordingly.
It even includes a set of flat jaws that is going to make it easier for you to clamp down parring blades and chisels. Also, you will have no trouble sharpening the edges at different angles because of the automatic guiding mechanism that it has. You are sure to get an edge that is going to be sharp and square.
Lastly, the learning curve of the tool is pretty straightforward. Because of the automatic mechanisms, you will not have to invest too much time trying to learn how the wheels work.
Pros
- Features roller wheel that is of hardened steel
- Body is made of cast aluminum
- Durable yet lightweight
- Sports a beginner-friendly design
- Self-centering wheel is fully adjustable
Cons
- Grooves are a bit jagged
- Not that easy to fit some stones on it
4. Edinstry Honing Guide Jig
Rust and corrosion have been one of the main problems for steel tools. And Edinstry has found a way to mitigate that in this jig that they are offering.
To begin with, it features a construction of cast aluminum. That material makes it exceptionally durable and sturdy. You are sure to get long-term durability. To top that off, it comes with blue anti-corrosive paint on the surface that is going to make sure that it does not catch rust or corrosion over time.
Just like some of the other jigs, this one also has a self-centering wheel. That wheel automatically adjusts according to the tool that you insert. And you will also have the option to adjust it manually, which will let you ensure that the tool you have inserted is secure.
It can also accommodate a large set of tools. The unit has the capability of accommodating chisels that are from 1/8 inches to 1-7/8 inches in width. You will also be able to fit planes from 1-3/9 inches to 3-1/8 inches wide. Worrying about the compatibility is something that you would not have to do for this.
Aside from that, the wheel that it features is made of hardened steel and rolls pretty smoothly. Because of that, you will be able to achieve all the sharpening angles with this. Also, the body is reasonably lightweight, making it easy to maneuver around.
Pros
- Both the wheel and the body is of durable material
- Features anti-corrosive paint on the exterior
- Boasts a self-centering wheel
- Has the ability to accommodate tools of different sizes
- All standard angles are achievable
Cons
- Threading of the wheel is not that smooth
- Might require adjustments for accommodating some tools
5. CartLife Honing Guide Jig
Study structure is one of the important factors for these tools. CartLife seems to have nailed in it in that factor. And that can be perfectly illustrated with this unit that they are offering.
First of all, CartLife utilized a steel hardened carbon wheel for this unit. That makes it exceptionally resistant to wear and the chippings. No matter how extensively you use it, it will not develop any sort of flat spot on the wheel. It will remain functional and will roll smoothly for an extended amount of time.
Aside from the wheel, the body is also made of durable materials. It is of cast aluminum, which is not only sturdy but also extremely resistant to rust. And to top that off, it has been coated with anti-rust paint that will let it achieve high corrosion rust and corrosion-resistant capability.
The clamps are adjustable as well. By rotating the screw cap, you will be able to change the clamps within seconds. It can fit chisels are 1/8 inches to 1-7/8 inches in width. And plane irons that are between 1-3/8 inches and 3-1/8 inches wide.
Also, it bundles along with flat jaws that will enable you to mount mortise chisels. You will also receive grooved jaws that will allow you to fit paring chisels and other planer blades. It also has an angle adjustment mechanism that will let you change the angle of sharpening. Lastly, it is comparatively easy to use too.
Pros
- Wheel is made of carbon steel
- Utilizes cast aluminum for the body
- Clamping mechanism is adjustable
- Features an adjustable angle guide
- Includes flat jaws and grooved jaws
Cons
- Will require some adjustments for some tools
- Tolerance of the wheel is not that tight
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What to Look for Before You Buy the Best Chisel Sharpening Jig?
In addition to going through the reviews, you will also have to keep some factors in mind if you want to get a jig that offers a decent sharpening experience. Wondering what factors are we actually referring to? Well, they are as stated:
The wheel
Before anything else, what you need to first consider is the wheel that remains on the side of the units. In this factor, the first thing that you need to consider is whether the wheel rolls smoothly or not. If the wheel does not roll smoothly, you will have trouble adjusting tools on the clamps.
Secondly, you need to ensure that the wheel is of durable material. If the wheel is flimsy and does not have a solid build, it will chip away pretty easily. Also, it will have a higher possibility of getting flat over time. And if that happens, the unit will not remain functional.
Body
Aside from the wheel, you should also consider the build of the body. Make sure that the body is made of durable material. Most of the brands will utilize anodized aluminum or cast iron for the body.
Both of them are considerably durable, but the cast-iron units will be more durable than the aluminum ones. For that reason, if you want long-term durability, you should go for the cast iron ones.
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Coating
The coating on the exterior plays an important part in the case of overall lifespan. For this, you need to consider whether the body features any sort of powder coating or not.
Even if the body does not have any powder coating, make sure it has some type of rust-resistant coating. Without those, the unit will catch rust and corrode pretty easily.
And when rust does occur, it will not only ruin the overall aesthetics of the unit but also will deteriorate the durability as well. For that reason, we highly recommend shooting for the ones that have rust and corrosion-resistant capability. Those will be able to offer you a long-term service.
Clamps
Usually, the units will include multiple sets of clamps. These clamps are what is going to hold on to the chisel when you are carrying out the sharpening tasks. And if they are not that sturdy, they will start chipping over time. Keeping that in mind, we suggest shooting for the ones that include sturdy and durable clamps.
Also, do make sure that the unit comes with multiple clamps, or else it would be difficult for you to fit certain types of chisels on the tool.
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Adjustability
Not all of the chisels are of the same size. While some are 1/8 inches in width, many are around the 2 inches mark. Considering that, you might have a wide number of chisels that are of varying sizes. And it would not be that much of a cost-effective decision to buy a dedicated sharpener jig for each of them.
Considering that, what you need to look for is whether the jig that you are shooting for has an adjustable mechanism or not. And even if it does have an adjustable mechanism, make sure that you can adjust it according to the width of the chisels that you have.
Self-Centering Mechanism
If you want a hassle-free sharpening experience, you should opt for the ones that have a self-centering mechanism. With those, you will not have to fiddle the wheel around that much. The mechanism will automatically adjust the wheel depending on the size of the chisel that you are putting in.
Stone Compatibility
The last thing that you need to consider is whether the jig that you are shooting for is compatible with the stones that you plan to use or not. If you get something that is not compatible with the honing stone that you have, you will have to buy a separate stone to use it.
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Final Words
We are fully aware that the list that we have in this article is relatively short. But it has been compressed to that amount to make the choosing process easier for you. And we do ensure you that no matter which one you pick from our recommendation list, what you are going to end up with will be the best chisel sharpening jig.
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