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For centuries, woodworking tools have been made of cast steel. But as time progressed, and the needs of woodworkers were more demanding, newer innovations were produced and the tool materials evolved. Tool companies started using different mixes of alloy steel. The alloys became even more complex until the most popular alloy - A2 - hit the market. The A2 holds an edge sharp and remains tough and strong under wear.
If you took a shop class in school you are probably familiar with this motto: "A sharp tool is a safe tool."
The good news is that the means of sharpening tools hasn't changed all that much over the centuries. Hand tools, such as wood chisels ,can be done on sharpening stones. But there are a number of different kinds of sharpening tools for different jobs.
Sharpening a tool on a special stone is called "honing an edge." At the very edge of the blade there is a bevel. This is where the front and the back of the blade meet. A tool becomes dull when this edge, or point, moves away from each other. Or if the tool edge is damaged by a nail or a really hard imperfection in the wood. Lastly, if a tool is just not handled properly it can be dull quicker and you will constantly need to sharpen it.
Over the years there have been some cool innovations in tool sharpening methods, including the chisel and planner jig. This device fits over a sharpening stone that is about 2” by 8”, and the blade fits inside of it, allowing it to be placed at the correct angle needed for sharpening. By hand sharpening, we run the risk of changing the blade bevel angle. Of course, there are machines that a hobbyist may buy to sharpen his or her own drill bits. This works on the same basic principle as the stone.
The method of using a sharpening stone involves a number of simple but important steps.
Sharpening a chainsaw with a round file free hand is not easy. That's why most people who do this type of sharpening in the field or in the shop rely on a depth and angle gauge. This jig fits over the chainsaw chain and can mount to the chainsaw bar itself, and tooth by tooth it does the same basic job as the chisel and stone to return the beveled edge to the of metal or steel. To help ensure a good job, you can tighten the blade - just don't forget to loosen it afterwards. Next, check and see that the file fits the jig and the tooth of the blade. Replace the file after every 10 uses. The file gauge should come with instructions on the mounting procedure and use for that model of jig.
Before we can set out to sharpen anything, we need something to sharpen tools on. That's where the stones come in. Here is a quick list of the different types of stones available:
Thanks to mainstream manufacturing, there are sharpening services for everything, including tools, blades and knives. Today's sharpening shop's offer a wide range of details services and can sharpen one blade or hundreds at a time. Sharpening services can help you extend the life of your tools instead, of replacing them before their prime. The pricing for tool sharpening services is very reasonable for every pocket book, and their work is guaranteed in most cases.
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