Preparing and sharpening a woodworking chisel | Paul Sellers

In this video Paul Sellers shows you how to sharpen a chisel using simple and accessible techniques, a great skill for any woodworker.

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[billyloper]

every other wood working channel likes to show off these 200 and 300 dollar chisel sets. Love this.

[inglemandovetail]

This one video that I came across about four years ago actually changed my life. It reawakened an interest in woodworking, an avenue I had abandoned thinking I was no good at it. In reality it was all about the sharpening and once I had sorted that out, the door to creativity through carpentry was opened up again for me. Thank you Paul. I will never match your skill but I will always be grateful for what you have shown me.

[aldunlop]

Not only is this video showing us how to sharpen chisels, it's also showing us that we don't have to spend a fortune on tools to achieve fantastic results. One other thing that stands out about Mr Sellers' videos is the absence of noise from machines which allows us to clearly hear what this man has to say. A true gentleman and artisan with a love of sharing his knowledge to anyone that is willing to learn which is why I'll always keep coming back to this channel.

[nodbod-bt]

I like the straightforwardness and honesty of Paul Sellers. He is definitely not a shill for expensive tools like some of the others.

[mikeronga]

This is why Paul Sellers is the best wood worker around today. No nonsense straight to the point.

[soofihasan]

Paul, there will never be one like you. God bless you sir. We who do not have access to fancy stones and expensive diamond stones, can still see your simole and uncomplicated method. Thank you for helping and making woodworking less snobish and shrouded by unaffordable tools. Kind regards. Soofi from Pakistan

[toddfox]

I've watched this several times, and every time the thought of Paul digging through the skip for plate glass makes me smile. It makes me feel better about my own tendencies to salvage materials from anywhere.

[thenorthstargirl]

A true craftsman. Honest, helpful, kind, and skilled. Thank you for sharing sir! I just bought a chisel and was getting so frustrated at how it was working, now I'm excited to sharpen it and give it another try. Thanks!

[rafasacha]

You can tell how Paul loves what he does. What pride and joy it is to him. Love those videos, thank you Mr. Sellers.

[davidosullivan]

couldn't leave them behind i am seriously impressed with these chisels they feel just like a narex in the hand, a lovely balance with nice length.watching you tonight brought me back to when i first joined your woodworking master classes and i used wet&dry for every part of sharpening which does end up expensive but certainly got me going .i sharpened up the 10mm today and used it to do my first ever half lap dovetails thanks to your master classes. thank you very much mister Sellers and Aldi .

[beernd]

Making topnotch woodwork with ALDI tools.
You really make us amateur woodworkers smile.
I love your videos!!

[andylopez]

GREETINGS FROM TEXAS PAUL.
Ive been following you for about 3 years and love your knowledge of wood crafts and tools. Keep posting your awesome videos and ill try to keep finding them here on YouTube. Adios Paul. God bless.

[doctorwhy]

Thank you so much for this, I drop some tears when I saw you dong this; it reminded me of my old man back in the Southseas! I used to play, yes play, with my dad chisel when I was a kid. He would get upset with me and then grab his stones (that I also messed up, and that he also would fix, equally upset) bring the chisels to perfect tools and test as you tested that piece of paper. He would then grab a piece of wood as you did or sometimes a pencil and sharpen it; it looked as if was coming from the factory with perfect hexagonal cuts! Again, thank you. A year or so back I bought some chisels for an emergency work in my house; they worked horribly! I need to use them again and I was not looking forward to it. All they need is what you and my old man used to do.

[neriyahoren]

Loved the comment - "this is pine, show us with oak", "well you pay me the oak and I will show whatever you want"!
You are the best Paul, thanks for sharing so much info with us. Big fan

[ivestring]

Great lesson.  I always thought my "brand new" chisels were sharp, and usually I dulled them worse when I tried to sharpen them.  So, at first I thought this video was of little help, but I was dead wrong.  I spent an hour sharping a couple of my chisels while watching another youtube clip.  The difference was night and day.  So I shut off the video and focused on the chisels.  I can't believe how wonderful they are to work with now.  They went from one of my least used tools to one of my most favorite to use now.  Thank you!

[TheLayla]

You really are the encyclopedia of the world of carpentry.
It's fun to watch your detailed tutorials, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[Standswithamiddlefinger]

I just want to share my Aldi chisel experience thus far. I was able to purchase a set of these Work Zone chisels this past September around Labor Day here in the US (Midwest). These are made in China. I believe the chisels Paul has in this video are German made based on a screenshot I was able to make when there was a close-up.

The chisels I purchased (4 to a pack) were roughly ground just as Paul's were. I cannot speak for his chisels, but these were not squarely ground. They are quite a bit out of square and will require work to get them there, which I am fine with. It will give me a chance to hone this skill, pun intended.

Flattening the backs (all were hollow) took considerable time. I have both the diamond plates Paul has AND the 4-sided diamond block from Harbor Freight. I used the HF 200 and 600 grit sides to start and can't help but wonder if this didn't make matters worse due to not being perfectly flat, which is highly likely (I had yet completed my diamond plate holder to perform this initializing step). Aggravation led to using the diamond plate holder that was shipped with the plates. While a little cumbersome, the process worked and gave the desired results. I am through the back polishing phase and preparing to square the edges using sandpaper on glass. I haven't any doubt that once square and sharp that these will work "perfectly" for my needs as I build his first bench. :)

Paul and Team Paul, I'm not sure I can put into words how grateful I am for the videos you make and share with the world. To pass along your knowledge, insights, experiences, etc. is truly appreciated by this wood chipper. Thank you again!

[cudgee]

You are like a good wood work teacher at school, you love your work, have no end of knowledge, and you know how to pass on your knowledge to an enraptured class. Love your work and your passion.

[kg]

Wow, what a process!! I found it extremely difficult to watch the last few minutes of this video because I wanted to get out to my shop and get started applying these techniques to my chisels, all of which I thought were sharp. Thanks, Paul. Once again, you've shown me that I don't know squat about something I knew all about! My self-esteem may be pouting, but my woodworking sure is improving since subscribing to your YouTube channel, as well as purchasing an unbelieveably inexpensive membership to your web-based "Woodworking Master Classes."
I'm very grateful for your selfless sharing of your knowledge and experience because they're turning me into a better hobby-craftsman than I ever dreamed I could be and, more importantly, they've brought me a greater appreciation for the skills that my great-grandfather, a master carpenter, used everyday of his life. I'm blessed to be the caregiver and guardian of every tool he owned, from his still-sharp chisels to some of the oddest planes and their attachhments (that I think he used for the beautiful, intricate scroll work he was known for) I've ever seen, to the huge, hand-made tool chest in which he shaped a customized spot for every tool therein. Thanks, Grandpa, for passing some of your wood-loving genes down to me.

[joeshmoe]

Paul you are a great teacher. And also a pleasure to listen to. I am a carpenter with 17 years experience and I have learned some new things watching your videos. I love the belt sander comment. Very true. I always sharpen my beater chisels with it on site because it is fast and convenient. Thanks for sharing my friend.