Author |
Message |
Virtus Rank attained: Hazel Tree

Joined: 31 Mar 2014 Posts: 20
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
tagwex Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood

Joined: 23 Feb 2010 Posts: 5188 Location: Co. Wexford
|
Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 8:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
I am no expert but I do know this much, there is a real art to sharpening with those things. If you get one I suggest that you find some old timer with the knack and learn from them. Failing that just use an ordinary file and feel your way along as you do it, if it is really blunt give it a touch of the grinder and then file it. Use the grinder too often and you will have no blade at all. By doing it right you can literally get a razor sharp finish. _________________ “It’s my field. It’s my child. I nursed it. I nourished it. I saw to its every want. I dug the rocks out of it with my bare hands and I made a living thing of it!”
This boy can really sing http://youtu.be/Dgv78D2duBE |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
tippben Rank attained: Vegetable garden tender
Joined: 15 Jan 2011 Posts: 921 Location: north tipperary
|
Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 12:44 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I would use a grinder to remove the "shoulder" of the edge if it's really bad. My general sharpening kit is flat chainsaw files for the rough work, then a small diamond file for the fine edge, then an old leather belt as a strop. If you clean and touch up the blade after each use, you will end up with a very good blade. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Greengage Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 09 Nov 2011 Posts: 3129 Location: Kildare
|
Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 4:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Them fancy looking stones are just whet stones some need to be wetted before use and some need to be used dry, as mentioned above their is a knack and its all in the rhythm and avoiding slashing yourself, watching someone do it looks easy but its not.Practice practice practice and you will be an expert.
this is a little boring but he does it in slow motion. (Only one i could find)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXgOgjbVoJg |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
My Potatoes Rank attained: Pedunculate oak tree

Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 307 Location: Cork
|
Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 9:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have one of those Felco sharpening stones. It's about 8cm long and I wouldn't use it for anything other than a small hand tool, name my Felco secateurs.
For a crude tool like a shovel, slasher, etc, I use a basic metal file, about 40cm in length, excluding handle.
I'm sure there are a few videos on YouTube. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Good guy Rank attained: Chlorophyll for blood
Joined: 11 Feb 2013 Posts: 2593 Location: Donegal
|
Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 11:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Just the tool you need for cutting those hazel poles for the runner beans. When I was a kid that is what everyone used for hedging and they sharpened them with a dry carborundum stone looking like the one you give a link to or with a wet sandstone one which came from a quarry near Maguire's Bridge. It was quite a knack. I wish I'd learned it! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You can attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
|
Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group
Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2006 - present IrishGardeners.com (part of GardenPlansIreland.com)
|