A building tip

batjac Mon Sep 02, 2013 12:06 am

I don't remember where I saw this tip. I don't think it was on this site. If it was, oh-well. Somewhere I saw a thread where someone said he used a particular knife sharpener to keep his X-Acto blades sharp. I realized I have the same model of sharpener, but I was skeptical. I decided to try it anyway, since the blade I was using was ready to be disposed of. I am a believer now. I have used that same blade on four planes now, and it's still going strong. I've even made a couple of dozen cuts on an aluminum plate, and sharpened it right up after each time. A couple of draws across the sharpener and its ready to go. I have 50 new blades out of a 100 blade pack, and I'll never have to buy another #11 again.

The ~~Frugal~~ Cheap Mark

roddie Mon Sep 02, 2013 1:57 am

Mark... I have one of those "Smith" sharpeners (sm. one) in the kitchen knife-drawer... "carbide" rods (heavy) on one end... and "ceramic" rods (fine) on the other. I never thought of trying them on my x-acto blades! (the "cheap" Roddie uses sandpaper...) Very Happy

Looks like yours has a "scissor" sharpener too!

batjac Sat Sep 14, 2013 1:38 am

Just finished a fifth plane using the same blade: https://www.coxengineforum.com/t5631-a-traveling-engine-plane. That using the blade to cut all balsa, hacking and carving on some ply, cutting open packages to get parts for the plane, cutting through wood on an aluminum backing plate, whittling holes for screws, and cutting the trim film at the end. As you can see, the trim lines are nice and straight, showing how sharp the blade still is. I just sharpen before starting new cuts. The sharpener is the one with the metal blades.

The Razor Sharp Mark

**RknRusty** Sat Sep 14, 2013 3:22 am

I was throwing blades in the trash left and right recently while hinging the hard balsa flaps on my Yak-9. I wish I had known about this. I have a little sharpener with a ceramic V but not the carbide tool. I think I'll look in the sewing section of my local big box store. I wish I hadn't thrown all of my zirconium nitride #11s out. Those were mean little blades.

roddie Sat Sep 14, 2013 9:38 am

RknRusty wrote:I was throwing blades in the trash left and right recently while hinging the hard balsa flaps on my Yak-9. I wish I had known about this. I have a little sharpener with a ceramic V but not the carbide tool. I think I'll look in the sewing section of my local big box store.
I wish I hadn't thrown all of my zirconium nitride #11s out. Those were mean little blades.

Rusty, You're more likely to find those "Smith's" sharpeners in the "Housewares" section... or where the "kitchen" utensils are. The home-centers (Lowe's/Home Depot etc.) have them as well... (in the tool/hardeware aisle) and usually have more styles to offer. The "Smith's" brand are all the same "orange" color; as far as I've seen.

Mine is small, and has both; ceramic rods on one side, and carbide blades on the other, meant for heavy sharpening (using the carbide blades) and fine-edge finishing (using the ceramic rods).

Have you tried using the one you already have; on the x-acto blades? Maybe you can save yourself some $$$

Roger

ian1954 Sat Sep 14, 2013 9:55 am

I use one of these. Just dip the end in water and ones or two strokes each side produces "razor sharp".

I have a few of these and also use them for a quick hone on the lathe tools. This one is 20+ years old. Difficult to beat a diamond hone and they are not expensive.

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