The Windsor Workshop, a chair making workshop (www.windsorworkshop.co.uk) is an excellent venue with enough space and vices for everyone to work comfortably.
The curriculum covered learning what sharp means for different tools, looking at knives, axes and billhooks.
We looked at how to understand what condition an edge is in, before starting work on it, then reviewed metallurgy, edge geometry and surface finish before the students got to work on their blades, a mix of billhooks, axes and loppers.
The Society's Vallorbe files did an excellent job on everybody's blades except one old Brades billhook, which is so hard it will need (careful) grinding, proving that not all old tools are the best.
Everyone left with a good understanding of what a sharp blade looks and feels like, and at least one tool sharper than they came in with.
Course leader and article writer - Iain White