Plow Plane Blade Sharpening

After years of woodworking by hand and using hand tools, I’ve realized that the variety of blades needing sharpening is so broad that relying on just one guide is impractical. In short, there is no universal guide! So, I’ve acquired different devices that allow me to securely hold most blades for sharpening. For plow plane blades, I prefer the Stanley guide. It has the advantage of a rear support that compensates for the narrow width of the cutting edge, preventing the device from tilting to one side and ensuring a perfectly square edge, which is essential for this type of blade.

However, the Stanley guide was originally designed for chisels or wider blades. Metal plow blades are thin, making it difficult to tighten them securely. To solve this problem, I place a small wedge between the blade and the lower part of the guide, which provides a firm grip without compromising the stability of the system during sharpening.