What's the cheapest way to sharpen my chisels?

Question

I'm a beginner at wood carving, and I want to know about sharpening. I have a small set of chisels, gouges, and the v tool. They came ground, but need to be honed. A few people have told me some sort of leather buffing wheel is a good way to go. Would some 4000 and 8000 grit Japanese water stones be sufficient for having very sharp chisels. I'm trying to stay somewhat cheap and simple. Thanks.

Answer 1

Honing stones are good.  Japanese or Hard Arkansas

Take a look at some of the man made flat stones if you want to be frugal.

I have finished honing with some jewelers rouge on a piece of leather I laid flat on a table.  It is slower than a wheel so I did less damage to my chisels.  I also had a piece of leather with the jewelers rouge I used for the inside of gouges