Gouge Strop

The first thing I like to do, with a new gouge is make the sharpening tool for that gouge. I recently got a new set of gouges so I needed to make the gouge strop.

Michael Pilla, A good friend of mine from Philadelphia, sent me some delightful rock maple. Perfect stuff to make into a Gouge strop.

The chisel made the gouges in the gouge strop.

The a bit of oil and grit rubbed into the gouges, and I can strop the blades to decent enough sharpness.

As you rotate the block you get a total of six grooves for tools to be sharpened in, one for each of the gouges.

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Here I am testing the gouge on pine endgrain.  There is an nice example of smooth gouging of pine endgrain beneath my hand and in the vise.

The best part about a gouge strop is that it seems to get better with time.

Bob