Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-04-13
for tlle fariner.
How to Use a G-indstone.

use. some little skill in its management is
necessary in order to sharpen tools properly
and keep the stone itself in order. tach
kind of tool requires manipulation peculiar
thereto in grinding down to an edge, ana
the nature of the edge itself IS SO diiferen'
in different cases as to involve the use OF
stones of yerv various grit. One OF inner
texture. but still clear and sharp IN the gram,
will be found best for common carpenter,
millwright. and workshop implements, and,
when possible should be run steadily, rather
slow than fast, and should have just enough
water supplied upon It's face to keep it wet
without ripping over the edge OF the tool
this having tendency to hide the edge from
the keen eye which the grinder must have
upon the progress of the sharpening, ii he
would bring the tool to the condition By
which those of good workman are always
known.
As general rule the stone should turn
toward the operator, as this tends 10 pre-
vent the thin burr or feather edge which
results " hen the stone moves in the opposite
direction. 1t is very common to hold the
tool, especially when the edge is upon the
end, near the top of the stone but it is
better in most cases to hold it lower down,
for example, about midway between the top
of the stone and horizontal line passing
through its axis. In grinding such tool,
for example plane iron, the iron should be
grasped by the right hand in such way as
to guide the tool, while the fingers of the lett
hand are laid upon the back of the same to
keep it In contact with the face of the stone,
at the pressure required to provide the re-
quisite abrasion. The harder the pressure
the more rapid the work, but beyond a
certain limit this will render the hand un-
steady and the beyel will be badly formed.
This angle of the bevel should be about
thirly-fv degrees. in other words, this
DC tIC iliStitidliOu Vi tUc cIlauitT
with reference to the fat surface of the blade
Even more important than this, the getting of
the exact chamier, is the holding Of the tool
SO that the line presented by its edge shall
always be kept parallel with the axis of the
stone This done, if the face of the stone
is true, the edge will not be ground down
at the corners, as is frequently experienced
when this precautiou is neglected. Unless
the grinder has acquired skill By much prac-
ticc, it is good plan in sharpening plane
irons to leave tie top iron on during the
grinding-care being previously taken to set
it back about al eighth OF an inch from the
edge of the iron. The end of the top-iron
will constitute a kind of guide line by which
the operator can see whether the edge is
being made straight and exactly at right
angles to the length of the tool.
There is great deal in the manner of
holding tool to the grind tone. Ii We take
it at arm length, it has kind of leverage
upon the muscles, and consequently wabbles
and the work is not well done. 1t is best to
press the arms, as far as the elbows, closely
against the sides, and in moving the tool
across the face of the stone to do so by a
slight lateral swaying of the body, without
changing the position of the arms with
reference to the tool which by this means is
held steadily in place. This plan of grid
ing plane irons is also applicable to chisels
and the ike, only that with narrow chisels
there is more liability of making the edge
oblique, and, Of course. even more care IS
needed in the grinding. Gouges are ugly
things to grind They are held in the same
manner as chisels, except that the fingers
of the left hand pressing them against the
stone, are so held as to permit an alternating
semi-rotary movement the tool, say within
the limits of one third of Z circle Th
movement is similar to that given brad
awl in boring hole With these tools tn.
stone is turned toward the operator, bu
with gouges used for wood turning. anC
which have elliptical edges, the reverse i
the case. The last named variety of goug,
is turned back and forth on a half circle. 4.
In grinding carpenters gouge, but stimuli
tancously with this should be made TO ira
verse across the stone not" saws Byrpe
in straight line, as in most rectiIinea
tools, but in semi circular path. ike al
inverted arch the sides of the gouee bein,
applied nearer the top Of the stone than til
middle of the gouge." Although this i
not the most clear upon paper, it viii b
perfectly Ineligible to any one who will TT
to follow it in practice and few trials wi
make the operation easy to The tyro Thes
directions for grinding wood cutting tool
are so simple that it is a wonder that the
should not be universally followed but tha
such Is not the case may be seen in almos
any workshop. The angles to which, ulti
mately. the beyels of diEara,,- -.