Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-09-12
EVENING STAR.
TINE USE AND CARE OF EDGE TOOLS.

TINE USE AND CARE OF EDGE TOOLS.
1t is said hat the YANKEES are the most in
veterase whittiers in existence, and we once
the most valuable and indispensable Of hrs pos
sessions were his pocket knife, pocket comb
and watch. with true national or natural ln-
stinet placing the knife at the head Of the IN
slider the pocket knife necessary adjunct
seem 70 understand its care. IL IS seldom
one can borrow sharp knife from
an acquaintance. II Is either LETT a.
IL csme from the manufacturer, or has its edge
founded so its cross section is a conicsl wedge,
or IT is sbrSded 20 tenuity by the action Of the
coarse stone Of the street grinders machine.
ore OF the most ruinous contri vanc-e for
sharpening knives or raxors. Bot BESIDES the
neglect OF the edge OF a knife blade. the heel,
which acts on the back spring, aud tue rvet in
winch the blade turns, are seldom oiled, ard Il
also to close il. -
As the pocket-knIte comes from the manu-
factory or store its edge unit for use: Il may
cut butter or cheese, possibly soft wood, but IL
viii not pare finger nails nor sharpep lead men,
eils. II needs the hone and strap 20 produce
an effective edge. And in the proper use of
The hone, or ell stone, many are quite ignorant
fIrst, nothing but a good oil stone a. III Tor
sharpening a knife blade. Ordinary 1whet.
stones, mere sandstones 20 be used with water
or dry, are too coarse they are but fixed grind
stones, and rapidly abrade the substauce OF the
olade without giving it an edge. The pbt'oS-
ophy OF whetting or honing Is 8 gradual and
mutual abrasion Of the ps,ucles OF the stone
with those Of the steel. The OIL, with its giu-
unous quality, holds these COR mingled parti-
Giles, so that by the movement OF the blade they
act on the steel, and abrade II very gradual.
~. II the stone rs too hard, az quickly
glszes. and the blade slips over a perfectly
smooth surface, prc0ucIng no action on the
haroeued steel, " too SOFT, the stone allows
the edge OF the blade 20 disintergate its SUR
face and heap mp ridge of quartz-Iike or
nnty particles, which produce a round OF
.'stubt edge, that m time must be removed
by the action Of the grindstone. One accus-
toned TO sharpening knife blades can easily
tell when the operation OF hoping is going on
properly, and only experience can fully tech
the process. There should be a certain feeling
of resistance in the operation. The motion for
whett'ng or honing should he circular; not as
IN stropping razor, merely blSk aud forth.
The educated fingers will readily feel when
the bears properly on the surface Of tire stone,
snd will guard sgainst the mere abrasion OF
the back and The cutting in of the edge This
art can only be acquired by practice.
Few can hone q razor. Some BARRIERS have
me hsppy faculty, but generally IL IL an art
little understood. The stone should be a fine
Inrkish STONE. perfectly clean, and the oil used
should be punficd porpose or nice sperm oil;
pure olive oil Is good. The 'sde of razor rs
eoncave. The wedge-like edge extends in II
beNel but little way back. In honing a razor
the fingers should feel the back as well rs the
edge of the blade bearing; the beck prot acts the
edge. The motion should be the same a. in
honing KNIFE blaze, circular. Few can hone
razor properly on the first trial.
IN stropplng razors most people fail. They
Will use a too yielding medium, which ri e
suddenly as the edge passes over II ana undoes
what has Just been done. Many turn the razor
or knife blade on its edge. Unle-T the blade is
lifted clear from the strop, Just before turning,
the tendency is 10 strop OF the edge Ire sdy on
a blade should be drawn IRON b. Il TO point
starting AZ the heel and drawing it diagonslIy
10 the point, and should be always turned on
it, hack.
Oil stones, as seen in the shops, are frequent
ly worn concaye. Its unnece-sary 70 say that
stones in this form will not produce a trne
edge II the workman has not acquired skill
enough 10 wear the stone evenly, as mucE at
the ends a in the middle, he should occa-
sicrally grind the oil stone and reduce its
surface TO level. In the machine shop
and carpenters shop-wherever edge tools
are u.ed-tbe oil stone is Invaluable. 1t
should, however, be used with discretion.
III the tool is soft a short beveI should
be given 10 the edge; il hsrd. il will
stand very thin edge, but the practice of
producing a temporary edge by honing or
whettng will not give even the bcst present
result, and will necessIr1te a frequent resort To
The grindstone, the office of which is only pre-
paratory 10 the production Of a good cutting
edge. The use OF rapidly abradirg subst-uc~s,
AS fine quartz, emery, &c, is ruinous TO good
tools: and the continual employment of the
gTindstone not less so; while a ludIcious use of
good oil stone will keep tools in order until
they are almost worn out.