knife sharpener

[esantoro]

I know this may not sit well with many people, but here's a tool I just now used with great results to sharpen an old oval punch.

$6 at The Home Depot

Ed

[Art]

Hi Ed,

I object to them calling it a sharpener, but am at a loss as to what else they could have called it other than edge truer. They will generally straighten the edge like a steel will, but on a good hard knife that is really dull, you can use that thing all day and not get very far. I have seen ones made from carbide tool bits that will sharpen a bit, but they have one set angle and it helps if the blade was originally set to that angle, if not, it can take a really good edge OFF the blade.

If you have a dull softer blade, try it. Most punches aren't hardened over HRC 50 so that thing might work if it is small enough to get on the edge.

I guess it depends on what your definition of "sharp" is.

Art

I know this may not sit well with many people, but here's a tool I just now used with great results to sharpen an old oval punch.

$6 at The Home Depot

Ed

[esantoro]

Hi Ed,

I object to them calling it a sharpener, but am at a loss as to what else they could have called it other than edge truer. They will generally straighten the edge like a steel will, but on a good hard knife that is really dull, you can use that thing all day and not get very far. I have seen ones made from carbide tool bits that will sharpen a bit, but they have one set angle and it helps if the blade was originally set to that angle, if not, it can take a really good edge OFF the blade.

If you have a dull softer blade, try it. Most punches aren't hardened over HRC 50 so that thing might work if it is small enough to get on the edge.

I guess it depends on what your definition of "sharp" is.

Art

I used it on the oval punch and then tested it on a index card. The edge was able to slice through the index card with very little force and without the card bending. I know this isn't the way one should probably go about sharpening leather tools, but I was very surprised at the results.

Ed