Einfach scharf / Christopher Schwarz

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Hand tools need to be sharp – otherwise, you won’t achieve satisfactory results.

That’s nothing new. Christopher Schwarz, who became known in the German-speaking world with the publication of the “Anarchist’s Tool Chest,” doesn’t particularly like sharpening. Yet, he wrote a book about it: „Simply Sharp.” His starting point: Sharpening is unfortunately necessary – and it’s simple. It shouldn’t be made unnecessarily complicated.

Sharpening consists of three steps: 1. Grinding, 2. Honing, 3. Stropping – that’s it. This can be done with various materials. Schwarz explains what sharpening media are available and what their advantages and disadvantages are.

“All sharpening systems work well,” he writes. The important thing is not which one you choose, but that you stick with that one. He advocates for reducing to the essentials. Schwarz has no interest in sharpening stones with a grit of 30,000 and the constant pseudo-improvements hitting the market. There are woodworkers “who own four sets of sharpening stones, six sharpening guides, and two electric grinding machines, but not a single sharp chisel.”

He shows what is truly important in sharpening and how to do it efficiently. This includes the necessary techniques, focusing primarily on chisels and plane blades. So that one can then focus on what really matters: building furniture.

Conclusion: “Sharpening is like brushing your teeth. You do it because you know that bad things will happen if you don’t do it twice a day.”

128 engaging pages in a 10.2 × 16.5 cm format. A booklet in which even an advanced user can discover new aspects for themselves.