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How the HECK do I sharpen one of those 2 cherries curved shank chisels? I’ve successfully managed to round everything over


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The back is flat so it can be lapped as normal. I found I was able to fit it into a cheap holder/roller to do the bevel...

I’ll have to come up with something
I have the Veritas system for holding my blades, but it doesn’t fit properly in that


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You are not likely to chop mortises with it, so whether it's concave, convex, or flat doesn't matter too much, as long as it is sharp, and the first little bit has a reasonable angle.

I have both Veritas jigs, obviously like the 2nd one better.

For that chisel seems you need a Lie Nielsen jig, or learn to do it like Rob Cosman.

The veritas one is far too good to work on that, lol...

Mines just a roller which adjusts widthwise...

Richard Kell honing guide would be able to do it.

I just get it flat/concave on the top with a wheel, wipe it till the edge is smooth and sharp with a stone, and polish it up, all freehand. But I'm an animal.

With a little concavity from the wheel, it's easy to feel it, and keep it flat. I have a 6" wheel, smaller would be even better. The honed edge can be a mm or so. When the coarse grind in the middle is gone after several sharpenings, put it back in.

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Why be normal?

Sharpen it freehand. A bunch of instructions on the web, Tools for Working Wood used to show the method that I was taught. It's a lot easier than most think.

Freehand, bevel gauge like this will give you an idea of how you're doing if you are concerned.
http://richardkell.co.uk/handtoolsECom.htm

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Keep the bottom flat!

True that. You can mess up the bevel and it’s not that big a deal. If the bottom gets messed up, it’s hard to fix.

Hold the blade of the chisel in one hand and your stone/sandpaper-on-a-stick/diamond hone in the other, bring them up to eye level, and rub them together at the right angle for back and bevel.

Ed M