How do I identify the bevel angle on blades in order to sharpen them correctly?
John Brock: I use a hand lens and a sliding bevel gauge.
Michael Dresdner: An inexpensive bevel-setting protractor will work, and you can also use it to set up angles in the shop. Personally, I use a brass bevel gauge: a small, flat circular plate of brass with seven different bevel angles cut into it, each labeled with the number of degrees in the angle. You simply pop it onto the chisel to find which angle fits.
