by rwest » Sat Dec 19, 2009 5:54 pm
Hello John,
Don't worry about wearing down the aluminum honing guides, there is some sort of "black magic" that someone a lot smarter than myself can explain that allows a harder metal to be worn down by the softer one!
If your guide will ride on the edges of the honing guide and allow the blade's bevel to sit against the profile it will work just fine.
The easiest way to use the rods to sharpen the arc is to apply the paste and work the bevel while letting the rod roll around on your bench. or as I do, a plastic tray(don't want to dirty my maple top!) This technique comes from BCTW, I read it somewhere, but don't remember where.
I hope this helps, Rutager