Do you like a sharp or dull draw knife?
Since I'm starting to work with staves/saplings and I have a old draw knife I would like to know what is better. A sharp one or a dull one?
Right now My knife is dull and it works good, but I want to know what others think and Why it should be sharp or dull.
I have always been sharpening impaired so I have always used a dull draw knife, but with good results. Especially while chasing rings on osage, locust, mulberry and other hardwoods. It works well for removing bark and sapwood and reducing the belly.
I have never used a scary sharp draw knife but I can see where one would come in handy sometimes. Pat
I have both. I use the duller (it will still cut wood, or scape bark) for rough work. The sharper draw knife I use for finner work and delicate shape work.
Really, I guess I use both about the same. If I only had one, I would keep it sharp. You can do rough work with a sharp blade but you can't do fine work with a dull blade.
OkKeith
One of each, like Keith said. But if I could only have one it would be a dull one. I tend to make to many mistakes with the sharp ones.
John
It's called knife for a reason - and not wedge. I like my cutting tools sharp. For rough work on a stave I just use a big draw knife, which has a bigger angle at it's edge then my smaller ones - but it's still sharp.
Sharp knife bevel down seems to work best for me...
i use both as well. the dull one works well for me when chasing a ring, when you get it in between a growth ring it just kind of prys a layer off. but the sharp on works good for rough tillering and shaping
I like all my tools sharp. Knowing it is easier to make a mistake helps me use better care with my tools and I think helps me to become a better wood worker. But like all this stuff whatever works best for you the more important aspect.