Thanks for the kind words!

Regarding gauge blocks, I have an eclipse-like jig, Made by Richad Kell. I set the jig on a 1 inch chisel and laid the chisel with jig attached on the top of the 1×2 border of my sharpening station, then I scribed a line with my marking knife, and marked the bevel angle that hones my chisels on the wood.

I did the same thing for a couple bevel angles I use for plane irons.

I use the Kell Jig for light maintenance honing between freehand sessions… My Veritas MK II is for major work like bevel changes and nick repair… I use the included bevel setter with that.

Diamonds… Hmmm… DMT Tech Support says the stones are coarse when new and wear in to what they intend the stone to be, Others who are heavy users of them say they eventually lose their cut and need replaced periodically. I think hobby users can get many good years of service from DMT.

I use DMT and I like them. I’ll continue to use them even if I wear any out. They are dead flat and tidy compared to water stones. If you want maximum longevity from DMT, use lightly soapy water with them as you hone, and if you have back flattening to do, then buy a Kanaban plate and diamond paste as it is a faster, cheaper alternative for fast steel removal. Save the DMT for coarse bevel work. If you skip out on the Kanaban plate and paste for flattening, and opt to use the DMT’s you will accelerate the wear, and the costs are higher. The upside is that once the coarse work of flattening is done on the tools you own, then you have it done for ever.

If you stay on top of sharpness then you will likely use your natural-style stones most. White Translucent Arkansas and Shaptons are good stones in the fine realm. If you look at it this way, the DMT’s are doing coarse bevel honing, and stone flattening only. They should last a good long time.

Happy Woodworking!

My temporary solution is one of our old cookie sheets and the rubber-footed Norton Waterstone bases. Works OK but kinda tough on the eyes, is a little small, and has a certain air of impromptuness about it. I like your solution better.

Roland