10
Dec
 2026
Tool Sharpening for School Workshops All Events
Event Start: 09:00
Event Finish: 17:00
This practical one-day professional learning course is designed to support teachers and technicians in developing the knowledge and confidence required to maintain and sharpen commonly used hand tools and woodturning tools within the school workshop.
 
The course combines essential sharpening theory with practical, hands-on activities. Participants will explore how cutting edges work, how to recognise when a tool requires sharpening, and how correct sharpening can improve tool performance, safety and the quality of pupils’ work.
 
Tools covered will include:
•     Woodworking chisels
•     Plane irons
•     Common woodturning tools, including gouges and scrapers
•     Common marking out tools
 
Participants will be introduced to the equipment required for effective sharpening and will consider suitable systems for use within a school workshop. The course will cover the correct setup and use of sharpening equipment, selection of appropriate abrasives and grinding wheels, sharpening angles and profiles, honing, and routine care and maintenance of both tools and sharpening equipment.
There will be a strong practical element throughout the day, allowing participants to develop and practise sharpening techniques under guidance.
 
Participants are welcome to bring a selection of their own school tools to the course if they wish, providing an opportunity to work on tools that may currently require attention and to apply the techniques directly to equipment used within their own department.
By the end of the course, participants should have increased confidence in maintaining common workshop cutting tools and be better equipped to establish safe, effective and consistent sharpening practices within their own department.
 
 
Course Dates:  10th December 2026
Closing Date for applications: 6th November 2026

Course Leader

Duncan Lamb
01383 626070
duncan.lamb@sserc.org.uk

Accommodation

This is a one-day course, no accommodation provided.  

Location

The course will be held at SSERC in Dunfermline. Our SSERC buildings are at 2 Pitreavie Court, Dunfermline, KY11 8UU. SSERC is a short (5-10 minutes) walk from Rosyth railway station and close to the end of the A823(M) spur off Junction 2 of the M90 motorway. Car journey times (approximately): Edinburgh – 30 min; Glasgow – 60 min; Aberdeen – 2.5 hours; Inverness – 3 hours

Cost

£85

The course will cover:

  • Principles and theory of tool sharpening
  • Identifying blunt, damaged and incorrectly sharpened cutting edges
  • Sharpening and honing woodworking chisels
  • Sharpening and honing plane irons
  • Sharpening common woodturning tools
  • Understanding bevel angles and cutting-edge geometry
  • Selection of suitable sharpening equipment and abrasives
  • Correct setup and adjustment of sharpening equipment
  • Safe grinding and sharpening techniques
  • Avoiding overheating and damage to cutting edges
  • Care and maintenance of sharpening equipment
  • Establishing an effective sharpening routine within a school workshop

SSERC is a Company Limited by Guarantee and a registered educational charity.

Headquarters
1-3 Pitreavie Court,
South Pitreavie Business Park,
Dunfermline,
KY11 8UU

☎ 01383 626070

Registered Office
Morton Fraser MacRoberts LLP,
Level 5
9 Haymarket Square
Edinburgh
EH3 8RY

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