White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1872-02-01
fpr the fariuer.
TEE GRxND STONE.

The grind stone ID, in an eminent degree. an in
dex to the farmer, 80 far ss thoroughness and ef-
cheney 10 concerned. in executing his farming
operations. Show MS miserable old grind stone,
that wabbies like drunken wagon wheel, and 10
full of hard spots, and We will tell you where
YOU may find rickety old wagons, and harness
tied together with to strings, and Implements
generally in kind of slip-shol condition, simply
be poor oneSvery hard or full Of hard spots
better mako fence block, or something else of
it, than to ever attempt to grind even . broad
hoe, or meat axe on IL. poor grind stono 10 an
farmer knows too we'll, as such stone will shor-
fly consume an unnecessary amount of valuable
time, fully equivalent to the yalue of first rate
stone. Besides all these considerations, it is ut
terly impracticable to put tools in good order
with poor stone in had condition.
If the stone does not run true at the periphery,
"unhang" it and prepare q substantial journal,
having neatly turned bearings well fitted to the
boxes, friction rollers The Journal should ex-
tend at least three feet from the stone, side,
where the crank is attached as to not interfere
with scythe OF axe helve, when the edge is be-
ing ground. If the stone be already well hung,
the end Of a short journal may be made longer, by
removing the crank, boring hole in the end Of .
piece of hard scantling and driving it the end
Of the journal. Then the crank can be secured
to the end of the wooden portion. The crank on
a short journal is always in the way, when one is
grinding scythe-
IL the periphery OF Inc stone runs very untrue,
the most expeditions way to put it in order is to
dress it off with shap. cold chisel Then let
blacksmith draw out the end of heavy bar of
soft iron, small the end Of the little inges
and turn mp the end. With this rude chisel, turn
off the periphery smooth and true. Soft iron is
far more effective for turning off grind stone.
than steel made ever hard. Indeed, bar of
soft iron, with the end drawn out as just stated,
is the chief style and form of turning tools for
dressing of grind stones, when they are made.
LII I<,<T
so that the corners are square, stone will be in
suitable condition for grinding tools.
When grinding tools of any kind, the workmen
should always keep in view the condition of the
stone, well as the manner Of grinding the tools
When grinding grass scythe, or cradle scythe,
for example the blade should always be held
nearly square across the periphery Of the grind
stone, for the double purpose of keeping the face
Of the stone true, and not following, as well for
holding the scythe in the right position. If a
scythe be held iengthways of the stone, the sur
face of the grind stone will be made following
and the scythe will not be ground right.
The true position for holding grass scythe is,
to take the heel in the right hand with the blade
right side up, and the left hand hold of the blade,
and hold it on the stone, as it revOlves from the
person grinding little diagonally, so that the
serrature on the cutting edge may stand in a
hooked position towards the point, instead Of to-
wards the heel of the blade. Ground in this man
ner, the cutting edge can be kept sharp with far
less whetting than if the serrature point towards
the heel of the scythe; and the tool when in use,
will cut much better. Let it he borne in mind,
that the best scythe that can be made cannot be
put in good order on a stone that does not run
true.
When grinding any other kind Of edge tools,
aim to keep the stone true, and not hollow out
the surface Coarse, rongh, ragged substances or
tools, that will gouse out the surface, should new
er be allowed on fine stone, where edge tools are
to be ground. Plow points, cultivatOr teeth, and
other portions of implements that must be ground
bright, should be polished on rough stone hav
ing coarser grit than the stone for sharpening
edge tools.
When we were on the farm no man was permit
ted to grind anything rough and ragged ON the
stone for edged tools, any more than we would
allow person to use our razor for pairing his fin
ger nails.
Keep knives of moving machines sharp, and
whet the edge with gne gritted oil stone; and
the machine will run almost one horsepower
easier. Grind all other edge TOOLS sheep shears,
chisels, plane iron, aves aud pocket knives, Oh q
fine gritted stone, and whet the edge with an oil
stone, which may be obtained at most hardware
stores for two dimes, less, and your edge TOOLS
even when not very good ones, will cut like o
razor.