I learned a fast meathod of sharpening tools from my uncle who was Alexander Weygers who wrote The Modern Blacksmith and The Making Of Tools,etc. Once the bevel was ground, he used a rubber abrassive wheel that created a fine burr that was polished off with a cloth wheel impregnated with tripoli. The resulting edge was sharp enough to shave with and only took seconds to achieve using the two wheels, and unless nicks needed to be ground out only the two wheels were needed to re sharpen. Someone cut up my rubber abrassive wheel and when I tried to replace it, I found they were no longer made and that there were wheels made of neoprene or some such rubbery impregnated plastic and I bought 2 different grits, niether of which put on as fine a burr as the rubber abrassive wheel did. I have tried sand paper down to 1500 grit and found it much slower and it did not give me as good an edge. I also tried the sandpaper in electric sanders. I run my wheels with washing machine motors. Comments on putting the final edge on tools using a neoprene wheel or another power run abrassive to give me a good burr that I can polish off for the final edge with a cloth buffing wheel impregnated with tripoli or another abrassive compound would be appreciated.
Edited 11/9/2003 5:30:12 PM ET by steve
Replies
Steve, look up CRATEX WHEELS they made and still make rubber wheels. I,ve used them for years as they sharpen and polish knives and cutlery.
Also use them to smooth the threaded ends of cut off bolts. The wheels run quietly and cool and conform to any concave area or depression.
To touch up gouges and molding knives, they sell round/flat/barshaped and round tapered sections to polish by hand with.. Also mounted cones for fine work with a Dremel type motor tool. Stein.
Interesting concept for sharpening knives. Do you have a source for Cratex Wheels. Doesn't seem they have a web site under that name. Thanks.
Ron, McMASTER-CARR has rubber bonded abrasive wheels.
Page 2128 in the catalog. Four inch diameter wheel with 1/2" hole x 1/2" wide $16.25 ea.
Fine 120 grit #4824a63
Medium 80 grit 4824a64
Coarse 46 grit 4824a65
Also on the same page ,they have the little ones used in Dremel tools That fit onto a small 1/8" diameter pointed mandrel
In various shapes cone, ball/ bullet etc.
E-Mail [email protected]
Ron, they have smaller and larger wheels too.
When you inquire, specify Cratex wheels, so they'l know what you want. The product in their catalog may be another manufacturer. Stein
Edited 11/23/2003 2:29:19 PM ET by steinmetz
Here is there link
http://www.cratex.com/ This above all, to thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night the day, Thou cans't not then be false to any man Hamlet
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