I stood at the bench last winter, hot coffee near the plane irons that had lost their bite.
I scribbled on the dull edges with a marker so I could track the grind.
My Work Sharp 3000 hummed while the glass wheel spun clear and steady.
I slid a two and a quarter inch iron on the stock rest and watched the scratch grow sideways.
That skew drove me crazy.
I reached for the wide blade platform that came with the machine and the problem vanished.
I want you to feel that same relief, so I wrote this guide.
Why Wide Blades Ask for Extra Support
Plane irons wider than two inches sit awkward on the narrow port.
Without help you must steady the steel by hand and your bevel drifts.
The disc also wears a groove because pressure sits in one spot.
Add a flat table and a side guide, and the edge turns square in minutes.
The worksharp 3000 wide blade attachment gives that table plus a clamp that stays true.
It lets you share the load across the whole disc so heat falls.
- Solid platform that sits level with the wheel
- Guide that grips from the sides for repeatable angles
- Simple gauge that sets common bevels fast
- Easy slide across fresh grit with steady feel
What Ships in the Original Kit
Many stores sold this kit years ago though stock now runs thin.
Used units still pop up and you might grab one for a fair price.
- Steel table with slots that match the machine top
- Corner screws that raise or lower the table for fine tune
- Side grip guide that rides on the table
- Plastic gauge marked twenty, twenty five, thirty, and thirty five degrees
Quick Setup
- Unplug the tool.
- Remove the stock rest.
- Place the wide table in the slots, leave the clamp bolts loose.
- Lower the four corner screws until the table just kisses the disc.
- Lay a short rule across disc and table.
- Turn each screw a hair until no gap shows when you shine a lamp behind the rule.
- Tighten the clamp bolts.
- Clean the disc and press on fresh abrasive.
- Set the guide on twenty five degrees with the gauge.
- Clamp the blade and keep the projection on the line.
- Stand clear, then start the motor.
- Touch steel to grit with light pressure.
- Sweep left to right so the whole disc earns equal wear.
- Stop and inspect the scratch.
- Finish with a short pass at thirty degrees to carve a tiny micro bevel.
Fine Tune the Platform
Level equals accuracy here so grab a flat rule and a sliver of paper.
Bridge half on the disc and half on the table.
If a beam slips under the rule you still tilt so tweak the nearest screw.
Spin the glass by hand, watch for light under the rule.
Repeat until the joint looks tight through the whole turn.
Grit thickness shifts height by a tiny amount.
You can tape under the guide to keep angles steady when you swap to thin grit.
Peel the tape when you return to thick grit.
Bevel Angles by Projection
Most guides repeat angles if you stick to a known projection.
I measured three marks that work on my side grip guide.
- One and eleven sixteenth inch gives twenty five degrees
- One and seven sixteenth inch gives thirty degrees
- One and five sixteenth inch gives thirty five degrees
Write your numbers on a scrap of wood and keep it near the machine.
Grit Choices for Speed
I stay with four main discs for daily edge work.
- Eighty or one twenty grit for heavy repair
- Two twenty grit to clear deep lines
- Four hundred or one thousand grit for a bright face
- Thirty six hundred grit for a final polish
Light pressure saves the temper since fine grit cuts fast.
I keep a finger near the bevel and pause if it feels hot.
Keep Edges Square Each Time
Skew hides when three parts stay true.
The key parts are table level, guide clamp and hand force.
- Mark the edge with a pen so you see the grind zone
- Square the blade in the guide with a small engineer square
- Place one finger on each side of the bevel for even push
- Sweep across the disc in smooth arcs
- Use the full face to avoid grooves
If skew shows hold mild force on the short corner for two strokes then return to even force.
Add Micro Camber to Plane Irons
A gentle belly keeps plane tracks off the board.
Finish the normal grind then try this.
- At four hundred grit press a touch more on the left corner for two pulls
- Then press on the right corner for two pulls
- Move to thirty six hundred grit and repeat with one pull each side
The curve hides to the eye yet shows in the shaving.
Flatten the Back
A polished back makes half the edge.
You can flip a wheel and work under the table or stay on top.
- Stick two twenty grit on the wheel underside.
- Rest the back flat on the spinning disc.
- Sweep side to side with gentle touch.
- Lift often so dust clears.
- Once flat jump to one thousand grit on the top table.
- Finish at thirty six hundred grit under the table to wipe the burr.
Steel Types and What They Like
Oil hardening steel often called O1 sharpens with ease and gives a keen edge.
Air hardening steel often called A2 holds longer yet needs more time on fine grit.
A diamond disc at one thousand grit helps A2 and cuts without heavy force.
Routine Care
Clean gear means smooth glide and clean edges.
- Vacuum dust from the table each session
- Rub a crepe stick on the disc to pull swarf
- Wipe the table with a rag and a dab of paste wax
- Add a drop of oil on the guide screw
- Store glass wheels in sleeves
I mark wheel rims with grit size so I never guess.
Finding or Building a Wide Blade Table Today
The stock attachment stays rare now and prices move often.
A scrap wood table works the same when the kit stays out of reach.
You need one sheet of flat ply plus four bolts and a runner that fits the machine slots.
Plan for a Home Built Top Table
Below is a simple build that many makers finish in an hour.
Materials
- Ply twelve millimeter thick
- Hardwood strip for edge band
- Four carriage bolts quarter inch by two and a half inch
- Eight nuts with washers
- Two tee nuts quarter inch
- Paste wax
Cut List
- Top piece ten inch by ten inch
- Back fence ten inch by two inch
- Side runners ten inch by one inch two pieces
- Bridge eight inch by three inch
Build Steps
- Cut the top and knock off sharp corners.
- Glue the back fence flush with one edge of the top.
- Glue runners under the top so they slide in the machine slots.
- Drill four holes near each corner for the bolts.
- Drop the bolts from above and add washers and nuts below.
- Fix the bridge under the front lip and seat the tee nuts.
- Wax the surface.
Leveling
- Set the table on the machine without grit.
- Spin each bolt until the table kisses the disc.
- Lock nuts once flat.
The table keeps its plane unless you crank the screws.
I still check with a rule when I swap discs and it takes one minute.
Angle Block for Quick Repeat
I lost the plastic gauge once so I made a maple block with three slots.
Each slot matches my projection marks and never slips.
Slide the iron against the stop then clamp and grind.
It saves time and keeps each bevel the same.
Common Problems and Fast Fix
- Skewed edge means you tilt or the guide leans
- Groove in the disc means you stay in one track
- Uneven scratch after grit change means disc height shifted
- Burn marks mean too much force or slow sweep
- Guide slip means dirty sides or loose screw
Tackle the fix, then test on scrap pine before you return to work.
Other Tools on the Table
- Bench chisels
- Block plane irons
- Skew chisels if you own a skew guide
- Scrapers ground on the wheel underside
- Jointer knives suited for longer rigs so I send them out
Small tools still gain from the wide table since your hands stay clear.
How This Stack Compares to Other Systems
Water cooled wheel rigs run cool yet move slow and cost more.
Stone work by hand feels calm but takes effort on rough edges.
Belt grinders shape fast yet can round the bevel if your touch changes.
The Worksharp 3000 wide blade attachment stands in the middle for speed and control.
Helpful Extras
- Spare glass wheels for each grit
- Bulk pack of abrasive discs
- Crepe stick for quick clean
- Leather strop wheel with green compound
- Small digital angle box to spot check the table
A tiny engineer square also earns space near the machine.
Safety
Eyes matter so keep clear glasses on every session.
Unplug the cord before you swap wheels.
Loose sleeves grab so roll them up.
I place blue tape on the switch when the disc stops so I avoid a start by mistake.
A Workshop Tale
I once rushed and set the table by sight only.
My first pass left a lean on the bevel that you could see in the light.
I grabbed a rule and found daylight under one back corner.
I tweaked that screw and the next edge sliced maple like silk.
The sweet hiss of a sharp iron feels like music.
The Feel of a Fresh Edge
Listen to the soft hiss as the iron skims the disc.
Fine grit sounds smooth, while coarse grit rumbles.
Watch sparks dance then fade as the scratch shrinks.
Slide a thumb across the bevel and feel a whisper catch on your skin.
The scent of warm steel hangs light then clears with a single breath.
Sample Routine for a Day in the Shop
I start with the block plane iron because it sees the most use.
I touch the edge on two twenty grit for five passes.
I check the scratch then move to four hundred grit for eight passes.
A single pass at thirty six hundred grit leaves a mirror.
I strop on leather for ten pulls and the edge shaves hair.
Total time sits under ten minutes so I stay in the flow.
Simple Storage Ideas
- Store discs in zip bags by grit
- Keep the guide in a small tray so screws stay safe
- Hang the table on a peg when you swap back to the narrow port
- Keep a log of bevel angles in a notebook
A clean bench invites quick work.
Popular Questions From New Users
- Does the chisel port fit plane irons wider than two inches
It fits up to two inches so wide irons need the table - Is the wide table still made
New units are rare yet used ones appear online - What bevel should I pick for soft pine
Twenty five degrees works fine - Can I sharpen carving gouges
This platform suits flat blades so gouges need another rig - How long do the discs last
They cut well until the scratch looks shiny then swap
Glossary of Key Terms
- Bevel The sloped face that meets the wood
- Burr A thin wire that folds on the edge during grinding
- Camber A slight curve across the width of the iron
- Disc The tempered glass wheel that holds the abrasive
- Grit The roughness rating of the abrasive
Final Thoughts
Sharp gear lifts the craft and saves time.
The worksharp 3000 wide blade attachment brings that edge with little fuss.
Build the table if you cannot find the kit and watch your planes glide.
Take a photo of your first see through shaving and share the grin.