knife sharpening – Page 6 – Peachey Conservation

February 25, 2014February 25, 2014

Old Horse Butt

Detail from: Frederick W. La Croix The Leather Specimen Book (Milwaukee: Pfister and Vogel Leather Co., 1915) Winterthur: TS965 L14. Courtesy Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library.

This small sample of horse butt is interesting because it is the earliest dateable horse butt I have seen, almost 100 years old. Also note it is called a “Razor Strop Butt.” The skin itself looks much like the modern horse butt strops that I sell in my tool catalog, though it is almost twice as thick, suggesting an older animal. I haven’t found any material that works as well for stropping leather paring knives, which at 13 degrees approach the acute angle of a straight edge razor blade, which are often around 10 degrees. Horse butt has the right combination of elasticity, durability, firmness and density to make the perfect strop. It always cheers me up a bit to see a natural material—like hog hair bristles for our brushes—that hasn’t been supplanted by an artificial invention; perhaps because they subtly challenge unspoken assumptions of our technophillic culture.

November 19, 2012November 25, 2012

New! Aluminum Plate Sharpening System II

I’ve made three significant improvements to the aluminum plate sharpening system. First, the plates themselves are now a half of an inch thick, rather than a quarter. This aids in their stability if used without the holder. Secondly, the plates are now machined with a flycutter, which results in a flat surface and regular pattern. Thirdly, the plate holder has been redesigned. Now, a knurled adjustment knob allows quick and easy flipping and switching of the plates without tools. It now only takes 3 seconds, even if you work slow. The stand is all aluminum with stainless steel screws so there is nothing to rust.

These plates are used the same as any sharpening stones. The plate holder has four rubber feet to keep it from sliding around. I generally use water as a lubricant to keep the metal particles from glazing over.

This is the system I use to make and sharpen all of my knives. People often ask how long each abrasive sheet lasts, and although there are many variables, I’d guess I can generally sharpen about 10 knives on each one. Of course, if you are trying to reshape a bevel angle or repair a major chip you might use up an entire sheet. When a sheet is exhausted, simply peel it off and stick a new one one. You must trim the edges of the edges of the finishing film when you put a new sheet on, so that it does not overhang the edges. Otherwise it may give you one of the nastiest, dirtiest, slow-healing cuts you have ever had, DAMHIKT. 80 micron replacement sheets are available from Rio Grande; the 40, 15 and 5 micron from Tools for Working Wood.

I’m convinced it is the easiest, quickest, and most convenient way to resharpen and keep all your knives and edge tools in peak condition, from scalpels to scimitars. This system is a lightweight, easy to store and unbreakable. Perfect for travel and classroom use.

The system comes with four 11 x 2″ strips each of 80, 40, 15 and 5 micron #3M PSA micro finishing film, a 12 x 2″ Genuine Horsebutt Strop, and 1 oz. bar of green chromium oxide buffing compound. The entire system is 13 x 3 x 2.5″, 3 lbs. 4 oz.

ITEM #SS2: Introductory price $225.00

Tips on sharpening are located here, and tips on stropping here.

October 23, 2012October 23, 2012

Hand Stropping

Above: The Art of Preserving the Hair, On Philosophical Principals. By the Author of the Art of Improving the Voice. (London: Septimous Prowett, 1825), 250-251.

Before you try this, think of the way your strop gets to torn up in use! I have tried hand stropping—very carefully—but didn’t notice much difference in the sharpness of the blade as compared to stropping on an undressed vegetable tanned hair side skin, to be honest. Hand oils may give the steel a bit more resistance to rusting. Needless to say, hand stropping is performed slowly. I still prefer a Horse butt strop, available here.

Hand stropping lives on in various guises, however. Shaving enthusiasts have a thread titled Hand Stropping Really WORKS!. A youtube video demonstrates the stropping of a single edge razor blade. Bill Carter, a plane maker from the UK hand strops a plane blades. To be clear, he is pulling the blade away from his hand.

Below: The tough hands of Bill Carter.