# STL271: Making Dull > Getting Sharp

- Show: [Shop Talk Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live)
- Published: 2022-07-29
- Length: 1h 01m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-07-29-stl271-making-dull-getting-sharp
- Listen: https://shoptalklive.podcast.static.taunton.com/stl271-making-dull-getting-sharp

## Summary

Megan Fitzpatrick joins Vic and Ben to discuss the practicalities of maintaining hand planes, specifically recommending Hock irons for vintage Stanleys due to their thickness and high-carbon steel quality. The group debates grinding angles, concluding that a single primary bevel (around 25-30 degrees) is sufficient for most users, as the secondary bevel does the actual cutting. They also advise against cutting rabbets for dovetail alignment, suggesting extruded registration lines instead, and answer a listener's question about setting up a shop in a cold climate.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-07-29-stl271-making-dull-getting-sharp#t=6) Introduction and Hock Irons
- [9:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-07-29-stl271-making-dull-getting-sharp#t=544) Grinding Primary Bevels
- [20:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-07-29-stl271-making-dull-getting-sharp#t=1232) All Time Favorite Tools
- [33:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-07-29-stl271-making-dull-getting-sharp#t=2012) Adding a Rabbet to Aid in Dovetailing
- [42:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-07-29-stl271-making-dull-getting-sharp#t=2520) Call-in: Shop Setup in Buffalo

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Fabrication & craft](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fabrication-and-craft)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Hock (company)
- Veritas (company)
- PMV 11 (product)
- Stanley (company)
- Lee Nielsen (company)
- Cardin Tools (company)
- Move It (product)
- Lloyd's (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Making It #010: If it looks straight….](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-02-26-making-it-010-if-it-looks-straight) (Making It)
- [237: Winter and Anvils](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2019-11-15-237-winter-and-anvils) (Making It)
- [Episode 032: Listener Questions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-08-13-episode-032-listener-questions) (Making It)
- [Episode 094: Being a hoarder is a big job…](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-10-28-episode-094-being-a-hoarder-is-a-big-job) (Making It)
- [Episode 332: Plywood is good](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2021-11-27-episode-332-plywood-is-good) (Making It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-07-29-stl271-making-dull-getting-sharp. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Shop Talk Live.