Preparing and sharpening a woodworking chisel | Paul Sellers
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- 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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To see a step by step version of how to sharpen a chisel for beginner woodworkers, visit our sister site: commonwoodworking.com/sharpening-a-chisel/
For projects involving chisels, visit: woodworkingmasterclasses.com/video-library/
To find out more about Paul Sellers and the projects he is involved with, visit: paulsellers.com
I followed your video when I got my set of used Mifer chisels for $15. they are sharp, clean and work perfectly now. Thank you Paul for all you do
I bought a diamond plate for my chisels, i went back to using sandpaper. Don't be such a tight ass with the sandpaper and tape. Get a roll of decent papers and 2" DB sided tape and cover all the paper instead of just the edges.
Rick Dghito
Hi Paul, I’m new to your videos, when you talk about your diamond plates, which make are the best to buy.
Cheers
Een genot om naar te kijken. Rustgevend en duidelijk.
every other wood working channel likes to show off these 200 and 300 dollar chisel sets. Love this.
This is why Paul Sellers is the best wood worker around today. No nonsense straight to the point.
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.
Amazing. Just saw it for first time. Inspired me to get into woodworking.
I may be at that crossroad, waiting for my new stones, will see. But I'm more hopeful after reading your comment
@@sark- Yes I am and you couldn't be more right.
Most enjoyable videos that I have ever watched. Thankyou Paul. Ed.
I like the straightforwardness and honesty of Paul Sellers. He is definitely not a shill for expensive tools like some of the others.
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.
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
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!
Paul Sellers is the woodwork teacher we all wanted
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 .
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
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.
Thank you for the great video just using simple methods with material that most Woodworkers have in their shop
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!
La leçon d'un Maitre, le savoir de cet homme nous ramène aux fondamentaux de notre métier, après 30 ans de carrière, je vous dis merci Mr Sellers.
Oui, tout ça, et aussi le plaisir de lire un peu de français, merci!
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.
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.
You can tell how Paul loves what he does. What pride and joy it is to him. Love those videos, thank you Mr. Sellers.
Ah, the smile on your face when "we're finished". Satisfaction and joy of a good tool.
Makes me smile how after all his years he still loves something as simple as a well sharpened chisel. Brilliant!
Exactly what I thought
Watching the video’s on this channel has made life a lot easier and I enjoy watching and learning from them all thanks for sharing your knowledge I only wish I took up wood working a long time ago.
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 UA-cam 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.
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 UA-cam. Adios Paul. God bless.
I get inexplicably excited about seeing a cheapo Chrome Vanadium chisel razor-sharp enough to perform all the tasks any over-priced high-carbon steel chisel will!
The most relaxing channel I have come across. If you are feeling stressed, watch a bit of Paul and his excellent carpentry.
"Just keep going until you feel the pain shooting up your arm." Love this man!
just been to lidl bought there 5 chisels for less than £12 got your vid on while sharpening them flattening the backs you turn out fantastic vids these will go into my collection i might never use them but they are there if needed
This man got me into woodworking ♥️
I can't thank him enough for sharing his deep knowledge, absolutely free of charge! May God bless his soul!
Paul of most of the woodwork tutorials I find yours to be the most practical. True craftsmanship. A lost art
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.
This video is one of the best of all wood carving videos.
Making topnotch woodwork with ALDI tools.
You really make us amateur woodworkers smile.
I love your videos!!
Sure wish we could get those ALDI chisels in the US!
Hi there Paul at the age of a young 66 year old just retired and wanting a good hobby and to use some of my woodwork skills from school days this is what I have chose just basic projects bird boxes and suchlike. I am finding your trade skills explanation is a great tool for me thank you👍👍👍
Been watching dozens of "how to" videos on woodworking, and you Paul are by far the best and most consistent instructor, at least for a newbie like me!
I would love to learn in his class. Great presentation, obviously passionate guy. Thank you.
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!
What kind of sandpaper is he busing
@@billlehnert418 Wet and dry. It's designed not to fall apart when its wet, used in car body shops.
Just be careful. They will really go through flesh easier now!
@@sblack48 now that you said that, I realize my chisels do not go through my flesh even when I sharpened them...
@@orpheuskun you aren't pushing hard enough. Keep trying.
Hey Paul, I just posted a picture on my community tab of a similar 6 piece set that I just purchased at our local Lidl grocery store here in the USA, which I purchased for $20! One of my subscribers directed me to your channel, and it appears to be a very similar, if not exact same Chisel. Great video! Scott.
22:20
You Pay for my oak, and I show you, what It can do.
I love you Paul!
Love the practicality!
@Andrew Seniuk on the contrary, pine is the real proof. It's soft, a chisel that isn't truly sharp will crush the fibers or cause tear out. Hard woods will not flex like that and make it look as if the chisel is pretty sharp
Just brilliant!
I love this video, because woodworking can become very expensive. But a chisel can be affordable and very useful, and you go through how to do this on a budget. And you talk about what you are looking for, like the curve of the chisel, how to find flat surfaces etc.
So great content but also made accessible to the beginner.
"Just keep going until the pain is shooting up your arm then you know you're ready." I love those humorous interjections. Of course the avalanche of great tips and pointers are why I keep tuning in. Thanks for the great information!
It is nice to see a video worth watching with as many views as this has. Good for us to have these videos at our disposal.
Paul sellers is the best wood worker i have personally seen
Paul Sellers you are the best. Confident, funny and of course a master craftsman. Thank you for all your hard work and video. I really enjoy learning from you.
I love this. I just started wood working and I can't imagine how lost I would be without information like this from individuals like yourself who have unimaginable amounts of knowledge. It's an artform and I hope we never lose it.
I think of this concept all the time, how did people back in the early 90s before UA-cam. I know forums existed but words on a page can only get you so far. How did they learn all these techniques? If you didn't know anyone who did this stuff you were kind of SOL left huh. Nothing more than self teaching? Maybe look in a phonebook or yellow pages for a woodshop class? Man I love the internet lol
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.
Jérémie Asselin mi ju
I love when he saying that words.. Hahaha.. just like woodworker gangster 🤘😎
Happy birthday Paul, i'm turning 70 in a few months, i am always learning and have learned a lot from you.
Thank you Mr. Sellers. Knowledge is better than money. Thanks for sharing.
Well done videos. I learn something from everyone. Thanks again.
Love the strop...the result by stropping is amazing...super sharp
Mr. Sellers, I have to say: "Thank you!" You really did "demystify" this process for a beginner like myself. I've watched a lot of videos on how to sharpen a wood chisel and I've found your video to be the most comprehensive. Again, thank you!
Wow. The only video I have found that puts this simple enough and budget concerning than any other I have seen. Thank you so much.
Thank you! After watching this great video I grabbed some wet/dry, a sharpening stone an old leather belt and a dinged up chisel and was make it cut paper like at the end of the video! Admittedly, I didn't follow every step to a tee (only used what I had on hand) but was still able to get beautiful results. Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge with such simple and informative videos. And thank you for making the "common fellow" feel like he can do this wonderful hobby without spending a fortune.
I love your practical inspirational advice. I wanted to woodwork because of Paul Sellers. Now, if my college-age kids will stop siphoning off my the spending money...
Love your enthusiasm Paul. Always a joy to watch you work
I've been waiting for these chisels to come into my local Aldi for over a year! i go in every Saturday just to see. Well, yes obviously I'm buying beer while I'm in there, but no chisels! They'll turn up one day. I keep buying odd chisels while I'm waiting and now I have, like, twenty...
I hope you enjoyed learning more about sharpening a chisel. I release regular videos so please subscribe to my channel: ua-cam.com/users/paulsellerswoodwork
The old shaped block planes in the cupboard brought back memories for me, from when I was an apprentice 33yrs ago with a man of 62yrs old,who had to make all his own block planes with various profiles as part of his apprenticeship. that man taught me a lot of very old school techniques which many my age do not have, and are invaluable
I have learned so much from your videos, Paul. I go back to several of them, for the finer points and inspiration. Thanks again for the time and sharing your knowledge.
Would I be able to get a decent enough edge with just up to 1500 grit or so? As a small time hobbyist?
Here is what I like about your channel Mr. Sellers. You're not a tool snob, so you help those of us that are starting out get the most out of our tools. I really appreciate your channel.
I love how you end it your video. Please tell me were to send you the oak.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
That is a very handy tip -something I was never shown during my apprenticeship- but I know what I am doing tomorrow after I have bought some emery paper.
First time sharpening my chisels and used this method. Wowsa!!! Thank you, Paul Sellers. You explain things in a very down to earth way. Simple, clear, ridiculously effective! I used a granite tile with sandpaper. Crazy sharp chisels!
Aldi chisels and a few sheets of wet and dry who would have thought it. What a great video no mention of paying £100s on fancy chisels and Paul even says you don’t really need diamond stones. Thanks.
I feel like the honing/sharpening itself has become a hobby itself I find my self sharpening a lot to make sure all my tools are always on point . I love it tho I enjoy it , as I do the wood working . thanks for the video .
Let's see how this works with Harbor Freight chisels here in the U.S.A. Great video, with excellent basic information for beginners.
Master Paul Sellers im your number one fan sir
This man ^^^ is an imposter! I am your number one fan.
I would say that 25% of the World are to be fair, the man is a Genius
I just got these same chisels yesterday.Now I have to sharpen them. Thanks for the video!
Okay, I need to say something regarding this video. My handicap has always been sharpening knives and anything that requires an edge. So, I purchased a set of Narex chisels from Lee Valley and collected all of the supplies needed as Paul has shown. I started my first chisel at 320 grit, which may have been to fine, but it worked good. My point is the chisel is amazingly sharp, but the only thing I disagree with is I never had an out of breath Paul Sellers, I did have an out of breath Eric. So, this is an amazing how to video but Paul Sellers did not show up out of breath! Haha
Agreed! Paul's got a video on the needlessness of super high grits when sharpening. He tests plane blades at different sharpening levels and they perform roughly the same.
Hakeem Hasworth ,
Bravo Paul. I am one that listens and learns from your methods. You don't need "the Best made" tools do do fabulous work. Or forefathers did beautiful work from hand forged tools.
Well done and demoed.
love all your videos. technical as well as entertaining which is difficult to do.
and i can say i have followed your techniques line by line and I have seen some really really good results in my work
Great videos. Refreshing to have a British UA-cam who is pleasing to listen to
This man is certainly a practical man. I feel that accuracy depends on the materials and the conditions the materials work in. Working with wood, say making door cabinets, one can work and fit a door to the nearest one thousand of an inch, but then when the humidity of the day changes then that accuracy will have an effect on the functionality of the wooden product one is making, So being good enough, in many cases, is just good enough and sharpening is one of these issues.
so true I find with installation repair renovation that speed is my gauge. Just right is a mix of tools technique materials and application. Anything more looks like "fussing" and amateurish
I love this guy. Shows that you don't need the expensive kit or complex processes to get going in woodworking.
10 minutes into it, why am I here? 12 minutes later, glad I watched it all, thank you Paul.
Thank you Paul ! Us amateurs really benefit from honest no fluff videos like this. Very informative.
Incredible Paul! Great video!
Thank you for keeping it real, and making woodworking a joy for people like me who are on a shoestring budget. I owe my deepening interest in woodworking to you Paul. God bless you sir, you are a true master and a gentleman. Respect and regards from Pakistan 🇵🇰
Thanks Paul.
Love the vids.
Reminds me of Out of Town from years ago...with Jack Hargreaves !
i built a garden cabinets using a plan from *mysecretblueprints. com* it turned out quite well and i loved how well put together the material list was
supersesqui I can totally see that too
How. A great loss and sorely missed.
Mr Sellers thank you very much. Sharpened 5 chisels today first try using your instructions. Did used a honing guide though. And indeed abrasive paper is a bit of a mess and each paper lasts only for a chisel or two.
Hi Paul, thanks for sharing. Ive had the same chisels for about 11 - 12 years and my friends say use this and that to put an edge on them. The way you do it seems by far the better way. Again thanks. Btw love the channel.
Back for a refresher, it always does me good! Thanks again for sharing your time and talent! KANSAS USA
When I was an apprentice, I found it easy to become snobbish, ive since grown some mentally and physically and you loose that foolish mind. I really enjoy how you don't try to make people spend a fortune on what they dont need. You have a great attitude just like the guys who taught me. I'm sadly not in the game anymore (recession lack of work,) just after finishing my apprenticeship but i still have my tool chest and tools (was given an old box maybe 100years old). Keep up that kind and wise mind.
I picked up two sets of these exact same chisels here in Ohio, at Aldi's today, after watching your video. They were $6.99 per set, so I can't complain! So, they are available in the USA. I will try sharpening one set sometime this week and see how they work. Paul says they will last a young guy a lifetime, so at 55 I ought to be able to pass them on to future generations and have one set left over! lol
Paul, you are a kind man and I much appreciate your guidance on these things.
Braden Glett Apparently the same chisels appear on ebay for about $20, post paid from Japan. Jim
You can also buy these in Norway, Sweden and Poland in the store "Jula". They are branded "Hard Head". Same chisels ☺️
The day that I bought my diamond stones, leather and chromium as defined by Mr Sellers is the day that I learned to sharpen. My old N0. 4 Stanley is a completely different tool. My chisels now give me the opportunity to understand and feel the wood and its subtle variances. So with that simple change, I've opened up a new level of working with wood.
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I love this series by Paul Sellers. Such a practical bloke. Can't you tell he is a time served craftsman? Absolutely at home with the tools and the medium. Paul is handing over to you all of the benefits of his years of training and experience in a really simple and practical way. Just look how he illustrates the preparation of these wood chisels. And just look at the results. Wonderful! You won't find this in books. You'll only find this from time served craftsmen like Paul. And look how he achieves the desired result, and not costing you a fortune either with the chisels or their preparation. The best. I have a lot of time for this fellow.
A true craftsman :) passion and knowledge... Thanks for sharing..
Very good job. Congratulations from Portugal from a guy that works in gold an diamonds.
Have you done any videos on how to sharpen rounded chisels or gouges? I would love to learn how to sharpen them because I just picked up my first gouge thanks to your video on making wooden spoons. I'm looking forward to using it tonight, Thank you again :)
Hi Paul, thank you so much for all your videos. They're well-shot, perfectly paced, and full of actually-valuable information - in fact I'd say your teaching ability rivals your woodworking skill, which is considerable :)
thanks for showing me what my cheap brand new only sett of chisels can do if I get some fine paper, I'm off to the hardware shop in the morning !
I was watching your M/T video and said "damn, i wish I knew how he got those chisels so sharp..." once the video ended, this chisel sharpening video started... Such great instruction. Thank you Paul!
I'm a cook first and foremost and what you've just done to the chisel is exactly what I do to my knifes. Slightly different methods for the each tool, and way different angles, but if my knife cuts thin paper held with one hand at an angle it's sharp.
You could cut decent sushi with that chisel it's that sharp.
This is a premium video. UA-cam should express thanks.
"Ok, you pay for my oak and I'll show you". SUBBED.
Quite Superb. What an inspiration you are,thank you. I can’t wait to get back to my garage/workshop.
I bought the Harbor Freight version of these for $16 for six chisels, sharpened them on the diamond plate, stropped them on my tormex leather wheel and they are all I use for my hobby woodworking. Paul is the best at this stuff. I even bought one of his stanley small marking knives for $4.00 and I use it daily.
I love the sound of a good sharp chisel slicing through wood
Long time D.I.Y. find these tutorials excellent easy to follow, they have made it much quicker and easier for me to sharpen my tools
Thanks for the excellent instruction.
Also, it's interesting that Aldi is a hardware store in Britain. Here in the States, it's a grocery store.
It's sells mainly groceries here too. But I think they have bins all around the place with random, cheap household stuff for sale also. Don't know if I've actually been in one before but going to see if I can track these down tomorrow.
I just used this sharpening method over the weekend. Within 45 minutes, I had 3 Buck Bros. chisels in far better shape than the day I purchased them 9 years ago.
Thanks again, Paul!
if i go into aldis this week and find chisels ill be the happiest man alive
Yes Aldi sell groceries but they also have weekly specials. Sometimes tools, sometimes cycling Gear, sometimes motorcycle clothing, sometimes garden equipment. It varies from week to week. I have just about furnished my Workshop with Aldi Tools over the years.I recently bought a portable bandsaw from them. I have been looking enviously at your stores like Harbor freight for years until Aldi had one on offer. I snapped it up.
I know this is an old video but *THANK YOU* Mr Sellers. I am now able to "repair" my 16+ year old AUD$7.50 set of chisels back to a working order. I did not want to buy a new set due to the prices we have here down under. I am most appreciative for this video. 😍
"Codswallop!" Love it.
Craft secrets, keep going to your arm gets sore, fantastic,what a pro, thanks for this