Put pressure where it counts.
A comfortable grip gives you control as you flatten the back of your blade.
Magnetic plane blade holder
Meet your new Flat Mate.
A better hold. A better sharpening session.
Flattening the back of a plane blade shouldn’t mean cramped fingers, slipping hands or struggling to put pressure in the right place. Meet your new Flat Mate.
Flat Mate magnetically grips the top of your plane blade, giving you a secure, comfortable hold and precise control as you work. Apply pressure where you need it most while keeping your fingers clear of the abrasive surface and away from places they could catch.
★★★★★
“Really brilliant — flattening and polishing plane blades can be a real chore and an absolute hand destroyer, but the flat mate has made it so much easier.”
5 Flat Mates for the price of 4.
Mix any sizes and recess depths. Plus a free foam-lined box.
Choose your Flat Mate. £15.00 each
Choose your own fit
Choose your Flat Mate.
Know the size you need? Select your Flat Mate below and add it straight to your basket.
Price per Flat Mate £15.00
Mix sizes across either purchase option. Get 20% off 5 or more Flat Mates, plus a free foam-lined box with 3 or more. Offers apply automatically in your basket.
Need help choosing? Build your set with blade measurementsYour blade. Your way.
Not sure which Flat Mate?
Find your fit with a few measurements, or explore it in 3D.
Measure it. Match it.
Enter your blade widths and thicknesses. We’ll find the right Flat Mates and show which blades can share one.Build my setSee your fit in 3D.
Put your measurements into the interactive selector. Rotate your blade and Flat Mate to explore the fit from every angle.Explore in 3D Opens the 3D Flat Mate selector in a new tab.One for every blade
Build your set.
Enter your blade’s measurements. We’ll choose the right Flat Mate for you.
The set builder couldn’t load. You can use the 3D Flat Mate selector below.
How to measure your blade
Width: measure across the cutting edge.
Thickness: measure between the two flat faces.
We find suitable Flat Mates and show when your blades can share one.
One Flat Mate may suit several blades. Shared recesses are recommended only when the blade is no more than 0.5mm thicker. Choose a deeper fit if you prefer more control.
Taxes included. Shipping calculated at checkout.
Give your fingers some space.
Keep your fingers clear of the abrasive surface and away from places they could catch.
Fits your sharpening routine.
Use it on sandpaper, diamond plates or waterstones. Your setup, with a better grip.
Less struggle. More control.
Get a grip on a flatter back.
Magnetic grip on top. Your sharpening surface below. Flat Mate gives your hand a comfortable place to work, so you can focus on where the pressure goes.
Build your set ↗The finer details
Find your fit. Get to work.
Which size and recess do I need?
Measure your plane blade’s width and thickness, then enter both measurements in the set builder. We find suitable Flat Mates and show when blades can share one. If a shared recess is shallower, you can choose a deeper fit for more control. The table below shows the available sizes.
| Flat Mate size | Blade width |
|---|---|
| Extra Small | 25–35mm |
| Small | 35–45mm |
| Medium | 45–55mm |
| Large | 55–65mm |
| Extra Large | 65–75mm |
At a shared size boundary (35, 45, 55 or 65mm), the 3D fit finder recommends the larger size.
Every size is available with a 1.5mm, 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm or 3.5mm recess. For example, choose a 3mm recess for a 3mm-thick blade. With an exact thickness match, a small amount of plastic may be skimmed from the Flat Mate during lapping. This is normal. Blades thinner than 1.5mm fall outside the available recess options.
What is it made from?
Flat Mate is made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic and rare earth neodymium magnets. It magnetically grips the top of your plane blade and works with sandpaper, diamond plates and waterstones.
How do the offers work?
Mix any blade widths and recess depths. Buy 5 Flat Mates for the price of 4, with 20% off all Flat Mates when you buy 5 or more. The discount applies automatically in your basket. No code needed. A free foam-lined box is automatically included with orders of 3 or more Flat Mates. There is no need to add the box to your basket.
Can I buy just one?
Absolutely. Enter the measurements for one blade, then add your Flat Mate to the basket. You can add more Flat Mates of any size in the same order to qualify for the offers.
A little help. A big difference.
★★★★★
Read the review
“Really brilliant - flattening and polishing plane blades can be a real chore and an absolute hand destroyer, but the flat mate has made it so much easier. Would recommend to anyone, but especially to anyone with muscular/nerve issues like myself.”
Meet the rest of your sharpening setup
Flat back. Dead Sharp edge.
Your Flat Mate helps you take control of blade-back flattening. Explore the Dead Sharp sharpening system for the rest of your routine.
Explore Dead Sharp ↗
Give every blade a Flat Mate.
Mix your sizes. Find your fit. Build a set that works for your workshop.
Build your set ↑Enter both measurements to find your fit.
Leave unticked to keep the shared Flat Mate.
You may also like
A considered sharpening setup, from a flat back to a consistent bevel.
Protrusion Stop (Lie-Nielsen)
Set a repeatable blade projection in your honing guide.
Full product details
This protrusion stop is designed for Lie-Nielsen honing guides, but is not an official product from Lie-Nielsen.
Creating protrusion stops can present a complex task. Despite their seemingly straightforward nature, achieving precision requires meticulous measurements to correctly align the blade.
Our solution is a stop that places the honing guide in the perfect position every time.
All versions of the protrusion stop are made from a black, Carbon Fibre reinforced PLA plastic, printed in the workshop! Furthermore, it's conveniently compact and lightweight, finding a perfect place in your toolbox.
-
This protrusion stop will give you the options of setting your chisel or plane to 25, 30, 35, or 50 degrees.
Approximate Dimensions: 100mm x 95mm x 27mm (L x W x H)
-
Please Note:
All measurements for these protrusion stops have been taken directly from the manufacturers guidelines.
It’s perfectly normal for these angles to vary a few degrees here and there. Especially if the honing guide encourages the blade to be registered on the underside of the blade, such as the upper section on Eclipse Honing guides, and the Saker Honing guides, this will slightly alter the protrusion of different thickness blades.
On honing guides where the blade is registered on the top on the blade, either using a flat reference such as the Richard Kell guide, or using dovetailed jaws like the Lie Nielsen or Veritas, the thickness of the blade will not alter the protrusion and every blade should end up more or less the same angle.
But all that aside, what these protrusion stops promise is consistency. If your blade happens to be sharpened at 29° instead of 30°, which will make next to no difference in the performance of the blade. Every time you set it up using the protrusion stop, it will always be sharpened at that angle.
This increases the speed of your sharpening, it prevents you from grinding away unnecessary material, and overall it just makes the sharpening process easier.
A Dead Sharp accessory for use with Lie-Nielsen honing guides. Manufacturer names identify compatibility; this stop is not manufactured, sponsored or endorsed by the honing-guide manufacturer.
Protrusion Stop (Veritas Side Clamping)
Set a repeatable blade projection in your honing guide.
£15.00
Protrusion Stop (Veritas Side Clamping)
Set a repeatable blade projection in your honing guide.
Full product details
This protrusion stop is designed for the Veritas Side Clamping honing guides, but is not an official product from Veritas.
Creating protrusion stops can present a complex task. Despite their seemingly straightforward nature, achieving precision requires meticulous measurements to correctly align the blade.
Our solution is a stop that places the honing guide in the perfect position every time.
All versions of the protrusion stop are made from a black, Carbon Fibre reinforced PLA plastic, printed in the workshop! Furthermore, it's conveniently compact and lightweight, finding a perfect place in your toolbox.
-
We have a selection of Protrusion Stops for the Veritas Side Clamping honing guide due to the different positions (Upper or Lower jaws) in which you can clamp your chisel or plane blade.
- Veritas (Combo) protrusion stop. For setting your chisel or plane to 25 or 30 degrees.
- Veritas (Pair) protrusion stops. For setting your chisel or plane to 25, 30, 35, or 50 degrees using 2 separate blocks for mounting in the upper and lower jaws.
- Veritas (for Upper Jaws) protrusion stop. For setting your chisel or plane to 25, 30, 35, or 50 degrees using the upper jaws of the honing guide.
- Veritas (for Lower Jaws) protrusion stop. For setting your chisel or plane to 25, 30, 35, or 50 degrees using the lower jaws of the honing guide.
Approximate dimensions:
Veritas (Combo) Style Protrusion Stop Approximate Dimensions:
- 136mm x 113mm x 27mm (L x W x H)
Veritas (Pair) Style Protrusion Stop Approximate Dimensions:
- Lower Jaws - 102mm x 98mm x 27mm (L x W x H)
- Upper Jaws - 121mm x 115mm x 27mm (L x W x H)
-
Please Note:
All measurements for these protrusion stops have been taken directly from the manufacturers guidelines.
It’s perfectly normal for these angles to vary a few degrees here and there. Especially if the honing guide encourages the blade to be registered on the underside of the blade, such as the upper section on Eclipse Honing guides, and the Saker Honing guides, this will slightly alter the protrusion of different thickness blades.
On honing guides where the blade is registered on the top on the blade, either using a flat reference such as the Richard Kell guide, or using dovetailed jaws like the Lie Nielsen or Veritas, the thickness of the blade will not alter the protrusion and every blade should end up more or less the same angle.
But all that aside, what these protrusion stops promise is consistency. If your blade happens to be sharpened at 29° instead of 30°, which will make next to no difference in the performance of the blade. Every time you set it up using the protrusion stop, it will always be sharpened at that angle.
This increases the speed of your sharpening, it prevents you from grinding away unnecessary material, and overall it just makes the sharpening process easier.
A Dead Sharp accessory for use with Veritas side-clamping honing guides. Manufacturer names identify compatibility; this stop is not manufactured, sponsored or endorsed by the honing-guide manufacturer.
Protrusion Stop (Eclipse)
Set a repeatable blade projection in your honing guide.
Full product details
This protrusion stop is designed for Eclipse style honing guides.
Creating protrusion stops can present a complex task. Despite their seemingly straightforward nature, achieving precision requires meticulous measurements to correctly align the blade.
Our solution is a stop that places the honing guide in the perfect position every time.
All versions of the protrusion stop are made from a black, Carbon Fibre reinforced PLA plastic, printed in the workshop! Furthermore, it's conveniently compact and lightweight, finding a perfect place in your toolbox.
-
This protrusion stop will give you the options of setting your chisel or plane to 25 or 30 degrees.
Approximate Dimensions: 140mm x 120mm x 27mm (L x W x H)
-
Please Note:
All measurements for these protrusion stops have been taken directly from the manufacturers guidelines.
It’s perfectly normal for these angles to vary a few degrees here and there. Especially if the honing guide encourages the blade to be registered on the underside of the blade, such as the upper section on Eclipse Honing guides, and the Saker Honing guides, this will slightly alter the protrusion of different thickness blades.
On honing guides where the blade is registered on the top on the blade, either using a flat reference such as the Richard Kell guide, or using dovetailed jaws like the Lie Nielsen or Veritas, the thickness of the blade will not alter the protrusion and every blade should end up more or less the same angle.
But all that aside, what these protrusion stops promise is consistency. If your blade happens to be sharpened at 29° instead of 30°, which will make next to no difference in the performance of the blade. Every time you set it up using the protrusion stop, it will always be sharpened at that angle.
This increases the speed of your sharpening, it prevents you from grinding away unnecessary material, and overall it just makes the sharpening process easier.
A Dead Sharp accessory for use with Eclipse-style honing guides. Manufacturer names identify compatibility; this stop is not manufactured, sponsored or endorsed by the honing-guide manufacturer.
Dead Flat Glass & Complete Sharpening Film Pack (1-100 Micron)
Pair Dead Flat Glass with sharpening films for your lapping setup.
Dead Flat Glass & Complete Sharpening Film Pack (1-100 Micron)
Pair Dead Flat Glass with sharpening films for your lapping setup.
Full product details
Take your chisels and plane blades from initial sharpening through to final honing with two reusable glass sharpening plates and the full eight-grade film range. This pack combines two large Dead Flat Glass plates with one sheet each of 100, 80, 50, 30, 15, 9, 3 and 1 micron sharpening film.
Start with the grade that suits the condition of your tool, then work through progressively finer abrasives to refine the bevel and finish the cutting edge. You don’t need to begin with the coarsest grade every time.
Arrange the film to suit your sharpening routine
Each 10mm-thick large float glass plate gives you several ways to arrange your adhesive-backed sharpening film:
- Three grades in wide strips: cut each A4 sheet into thirds and mount one strip from three different grades side by side. This provides space for sharpening bevels and flattening blade backs.
- Four grades in quadrants: cut each A4 sheet into quarters and mount one piece from four different grades in a two-by-two layout.
- Four grades in narrow strips: cut each A4 sheet into four vertical strips and mount one strip from four different grades side by side. This suits bevel sharpening when you don’t need to flatten blade backs on the plate.
With two large plates, the four-grade layouts let you keep all eight grades mounted at once. Cut the film to your chosen layout, peel away the backing and apply it to the clean glass. Keep the unused pieces as spares for when each abrasive wears out.
Included in the pack
- Two Dead Flat Glass Plates (Large): reusable bases for your sharpening film.
- 100 and 80 micron film: coarse abrasives for initial sharpening and bevel work.
- 50 and 30 micron film: reduce coarse scratches and prepare the bevel for finer sharpening.
- 15 and 9 micron film: refine the bevel and develop a smoother finish.
- 3 and 1 micron film: hone and polish the cutting edge.
A complete abrasive sequence for a glass-plate “scary sharp” sharpening system. Replacement film is available individually as each grade wears out.
A Dead Sharp sharpening bundle combining custom-specified glass plates with abrasive films manufactured by 3M. The glass is made to our specifications by a specialist glass supplier; Dead Sharp assembles the bundle.
Grit to Micron Conversion
| Micron | ≈ Grit |
|---|---|
| 100 | ≈ 150 |
| 80 | ≈ 200 |
| 50 | ≈ 350 |
| 40 | ≈ 400 |
| 30 | ≈ 600 |
| 15 | ≈ 1,200 |
| 12 | ≈ 1,500 |
| 9 | ≈ 2,000 |
| 3 | ≈ 8,000 |
| 1 | ≈ 16,000 |
Grit equivalents are approximate (≈).
Dead Flat Glass & Coarse Sharpening Film Pack (30-100 Micron)
Pair Dead Flat Glass with sharpening films for your lapping setup.
Dead Flat Glass & Coarse Sharpening Film Pack (30-100 Micron)
Pair Dead Flat Glass with sharpening films for your lapping setup.
Full product details
Dead Flat Glass (Large) and Coarse Sharpening Film Pack
Establish and refine the bevels on your chisels and plane blades with a reusable glass sharpening surface and four coarse abrasive grades. This pack combines one large Dead Flat Glass plate with one sheet each of 100, 80, 50 and 30 micron sharpening film.
Start with the grade that suits the condition of your tool, then work through progressively finer abrasives to reduce scratches and prepare the bevel for honing. You don’t need to begin with the coarsest sheet every time.
Arrange the film to suit your sharpening routine
Choose from three layouts for each 10mm-thick large float glass plate. For each layout, cut a piece from each abrasive grade you want to mount:
- Three grades in wide strips: cut each A4 sheet into thirds and mount one strip from three different grades side by side. This provides space for sharpening bevels and flattening blade backs.
- Four grades in quadrants: cut each A4 sheet into quarters and mount one piece from four different grades in a two-by-two layout.
- Four grades in narrow strips: cut each A4 sheet into four vertical strips and mount one strip from four different grades side by side. This suits bevel sharpening when you don’t need to flatten blade backs on the plate.
Follow with the 3M Fine Sharpening Film Pack, working through 15, 9, 3 and 1 micron to hone and polish the cutting edge.
Included in the pack:
- One Dead Flat Glass Plate (Large): a reusable base for your sharpening film.
- 100 micron film: the coarsest grade in the range, for initial bevel work.
- 80 micron film: continue coarse sharpening and begin refining the surface.
- 50 micron film: reduce scratches left by the coarser grades.
- 30 micron film: refine the bevel ready for fine sharpening.
A practical starting setup for a glass-plate “scary sharp” sharpening system. Replacement film is available individually as each grade wears out.
Fine sharpening film sold separately.
A Dead Sharp sharpening bundle combining custom-specified glass plates with abrasive films manufactured by 3M. The glass is made to our specifications by a specialist glass supplier; Dead Sharp assembles the bundle.
Grit to Micron Conversion
| Micron | ≈ Grit |
|---|---|
| 100 | ≈ 150 |
| 80 | ≈ 200 |
| 50 | ≈ 350 |
| 40 | ≈ 400 |
| 30 | ≈ 600 |
| 15 | ≈ 1,200 |
| 12 | ≈ 1,500 |
| 9 | ≈ 2,000 |
| 3 | ≈ 8,000 |
| 1 | ≈ 16,000 |
Grit equivalents are approximate (≈).
Dead Flat Glass & Fine Sharpening Film Pack (1-15 Micron)
Pair Dead Flat Glass with sharpening films for your lapping setup.
Dead Flat Glass & Fine Sharpening Film Pack (1-15 Micron)
Pair Dead Flat Glass with sharpening films for your lapping setup.
Full product details
Dead Flat Glass (Large) and Fine Sharpening Film Pack
Refine, hone and polish your chisels and plane blades with a reusable glass sharpening surface and four fine abrasive grades. This pack combines one Dead Flat Glass Plate (Large) with one sheet each of 15, 9, 3 and 1 micron sharpening film.
Begin with a coarser waterstone, diamond stone or the 3M Coarse Sharpening Film Pack to establish your bevel and remove damage. Once that initial sharpening is complete, move onto this pack to refine the bevel and finish the cutting edge.
Arrange the film to suit your sharpening routine
Choose from three layouts for each 10mm-thick large float glass plate. For each layout, cut a piece from each abrasive grade you want to mount:
- Three grades in wide strips: cut each A4 sheet into thirds and mount one strip from three different grades side by side. This provides space for sharpening bevels and flattening blade backs.
- Four grades in quadrants: cut each A4 sheet into quarters and mount one piece from four different grades in a two-by-two layout.
- Four grades in narrow strips: cut each A4 sheet into four vertical strips and mount one strip from four different grades side by side. This suits bevel sharpening when you don’t need to flatten blade backs on the plate.
Work through 15, 9 and 3 micron before finishing with 1 micron, reducing scratches at each stage to develop a smoother bevel and a polished cutting edge.
Included in the pack:
- One Dead Flat Glass Plate (Large): a reusable base for your sharpening film.
- 15 micron film: begin refining the bevel after coarse sharpening.
- 9 micron film: reduce scratches and develop a finer finish.
- 3 micron film: hone the edge and smooth the bevel further.
- 1 micron film: finish with fine honing and polishing.
A practical finishing setup for a glass-plate “scary sharp” sharpening system. Replacement film is available individually as each grade wears out.
Coarse sharpening film sold separately.
A Dead Sharp sharpening bundle combining custom-specified glass plates with abrasive films manufactured by 3M. The glass is made to our specifications by a specialist glass supplier; Dead Sharp assembles the bundle.
Grit to Micron Conversion
| Micron | ≈ Grit |
|---|---|
| 100 | ≈ 150 |
| 80 | ≈ 200 |
| 50 | ≈ 350 |
| 40 | ≈ 400 |
| 30 | ≈ 600 |
| 15 | ≈ 1,200 |
| 12 | ≈ 1,500 |
| 9 | ≈ 2,000 |
| 3 | ≈ 8,000 |
| 1 | ≈ 16,000 |
Grit equivalents are approximate (≈).
