The easiest way to get consistent results and a sharpening workflow that is quick and easily repeatable is to use a guide. A honing guide holds the blade at the correct angle and makes quick work of sharpening the edge, regardless of the sharpening media used.
The complete range of Veritas honing guides provides a sharpening solution for every type of blade in the workshop. The new side-clamping honing guide is a flexible and simple-to-use guide for most chisel and plane iron sharpening tasks. The new short-blade honing guide is a unique holding solution for even the most difficult blades that need sharpening. The established MK.II honing guide system and its accessories will provide a holding solution for the most demanding of woodworkers. To assist in making the right choice, the chart below provides a snapshot of all the guides and the types of sharpening situations for which they are best suited.
| Tool | Veritas Honing Guide | |||
 |
 |
 |
 | |
| Side Clamping | Short Blade | Standard | Narrow Blade | |
| Bench Chisels | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Butt Chisels | ✓ | ✓ <1.5" | ||
| Bench Plane Blades | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Block Plane Blades | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Vintage Plane Blades | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Spokeshave Blades (flat) | ✓ | ✓ w/holder | ||
| Narrow Chisels (<1/4") | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Skew Chisels | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Veritas Honing Guides | Max. Blade Width | Min. Blade Width | Max. Thickness | Short Blades |
| Side-Clamping Honing Guide | 2.5" | 0.125" | 0.45" | |
| Short-Blade Honing Guide | 2.65" | 0.25" | 0.375" | ✓ |
| Mk.II Standard Honing Guide | 2.89" | 0.5" * | 0.49" | |
| Mk.II Deluxe Honing Guide | 2.89" | 0.125" | 0.49" (0.7" w/adapter) | |
| Mk.II Narrow-Blade Honing Guide | 1.5" | 0.125" | 0.49" (0.7" w/adapter) |
* Can clamp much narrower blades, but they tend to skew in use.
| Veritas Honing Guides | Angle Range | Skews | Micro- Bevel | Angle Setting |
| Side-Clamping Honing Guide | 15° to 40° | ✓ | user-made jig | |
| Short-Blade Honing Guide | 25° and 30° | ✓ | ✓ | two positions |
| Mk.II Standard Honing Guide | 15° to 54° | ✓ | ✓ | registration jig |
| Mk.II Deluxe Honing Guide | 15° to 54° | ✓ | ✓ | registration jig |
| Mk.II Narrow-Blade Honing Guide | 15° to 40° | ✓ | registration jig |
