Mike Darlow Releases Updated Second Edition of Sharpening Woodturning Tools

Mike Darlow published the second edition of Sharpening Woodturning Tools on April 1, bringing an updated sharpening manual from one of the turning world's most recognized authors and instructors to a topic that trips up beginners and sparks debate among experienced turners in equal measure.

Sharpening sits at the center of nearly every club curriculum and skill-builder session for good reason: dull or improperly ground tools produce catches, tear-out, and fatigue. Darlow, whose books and DVDs have been used as teaching references by clubs and classes internationally for decades, has covered bevel angles, grinds, honing, and jig use across multiple titles. A second edition signals that the material has been meaningfully revised rather than simply reprinted.

New editions in Darlow's catalog typically bring updated photography and diagrams alongside clarified step-by-step instructions. This edition may also address developments that have changed the shop floor since the first edition appeared: modern abrasive options, powered sharpening systems like the Tormek and Oneway Wolverine setups, and the growing use of CNC-milled or 3D-printed jigs for repeatable bevel angles. Whether those additions are confirmed becomes clear once you check the table of contents through the book pages on his site or through seller descriptions.

For instructors running club libraries or teaching structured courses, the timing is worth acting on. The second edition is the more defensible recommendation for a student who asks which sharpening reference to buy, and it gives instructors running round-robins on grinds a current, consistent text to anchor the session.

Darlow's official website lists the book's availability along with ordering links. Turners who already own the first edition should compare the updated contents against their copy before assuming the revision warrants a second purchase; for anyone new to the topic or building out a club library from scratch, the second edition is now the current version of record.