Are you Sharp? Sharpening Basics

Friday, May 16, 2025
10am-5pm ET
Instructor: Alex Yerks
Location: Finnish American Folk School Wood Shop
Skyline Commons room 102
Class fee: $85
Materials fee: $25 paid directly to instructor
Last day to register May 8 or when sold out

Sharp tools are a must if you want to carve safely and efficiently. Sharpening is also one of the last things on a craftsperson’s priorities. 

“It’s the dull knife that cuts you.”

I always like to think it cuts you in many ways. For one a dull knife takes a lot more force behind the blade to make a cut, and when you’re pushing too hard accidents can happen. But a dull knife cuts into your carving time. It slows the process down, makes it frustrating, and using a sharp tool should make you feel good.

Learning tools and techniques of carving is only half the battle. To be a good carver you must also be a good sharpener. Most people beginning their carving journey think they know what “sharp” is but arrive at class surprised that their tools can slice paper but are still difficult to carve with. These tools need some care.

In this class you will learn to sharpen an edge to precision sharpness. Learn how to tell when a tool needs attention, or how to raise a burr, or even how to build your own low cost sharpening system. You will leave this class with the confidence to tackle any sharpening chore no matter what the tool is.

This is the perfect class if you have had a fear of sharpening. One of the highlights of the course is the legendary Tormek Swedish sharpening system. Learn to grind edges on a slow moving, wet wheel and have access to their really handy jigs that speed up edge maintenance and tool tune ups.

You will also learn how to make your own simple DIY sharpening kit (included in material fee).

• Wood strop (one side, other side is a sand paper block with rubber bands)

• Wood dowel strop

• Set of wet and dry sandpaper grits

• Stropping compound 

Students are asked to bring any tools they are interested in sharpening, as well as any type of sharpening gear they have in the workshop or kitchen.

It’s highly recommended that students in the weekend spoon carving workshop also take this class regardless of your skill level. This will ensure that you will be sharp and ready for spoon class on the weekend.  

This class is open to anyone interested in sharpening regardless if you are taking the weekend class or not. If you have a kitchen knife, garden pruners, or even your scissors this will be a great class for you.