When sharpening tools such as chisels and plane irons, it is imperative to keep the blade held at the necessary angle on the sharpening stone to keep the optimum cutting edge. Honing guides are designed to make this process easier by providing a preselected angle to rest the tool on, ensuring perfectly aligned results every time. The honing guide is simply adjusted to grip the tool (check the stated capacity before purchasing) and then rolled over the sharpening stone until the desired results are obtained.