That Tandy #@$)(*&%@ Splitter!

[pete]

For any of you who might have bought the Tandy splitter I have news.

After trying to sharpen it myself and taking it to a "professional" sharpener here in town I almost threw it in the garbage for the third time. NOT Tandy's fault entirely- it's just that the blade that they provide is not shaped correctly and will never be sharp enough.

Took it to my friend Luke Roberts- a yet to be appreciated world class knife maker- He took the blade and sharpened it from the tip of the blade to the top on a straight line- not the small 2 step bevel that it came with.

I put my recent order for a guitar strap(9/10 oz) and split it in one pass to 4/5 oz. ONLY USED 3 FINGERS TO PULL IT THROUGH!!!. It cut like butter.

Get the blade properly sharpened! I love it now.

If you are interested- Luke is at --- frogwithawrench@hotmail.com.---

He said that he would be glad to sharpen others for a small fee and will pay return shipping in the U.S..

Apologies to all here who mistake this for an excuse for "advertising for a friend"- just passing along the information As I had a hard time finding someone who knew what they were doing and had the equipment.

pete

Mt Home, Arkansas

[Tree Reaper]

I hope you send this to Tandy head office, maybe they'll get it right and save others the same problem.

[xecretaznman007]

I've also just used Luke's services (the man in OP's post), thing works like a charm now. It's really a shame that they don't supply us with a blade in working order, but at least it gives honest men like Luke some business to show off his skills.

[shtoink]

I think they use a hammer to insert the blades on all of their tools that are designed to cut.

[bullrope braider]

thanks for posting his contact info, I've tried different bevels with my splitter blades using my scissor sharpner grinder but would like to know what blade angle he prefers

[bullrope braider]

it would help also if Tandy used good hard steel for their splitter blades, when I run mine on the scissor grinder it acts like it's no harder than a lawn mower blade. too soft to be a splitter blade. I can get it sharp and honed with a slight burr on the back side then run it on the strop but it stays good for only a few sessions then need to re hone again. aggravating doesnt explain it

I keep a pan with cold water close and never let the blade get hot, warm to the touch only

Edited August 4, 2012 by bullrope braider

[pete]

thanks for posting his contact info, I've tried different bevels with my splitter blades using my scissor sharpner grinder but would like to know what blade angle he prefers

I don'T know what angle- he just sharpens it from the tip to the back on one plane.

Send it or get ahold of him at frogwithawrench@hotmail.com.

does a great job

pete

[bullrope braider]

thanks

I don'T know what angle- he just sharpens it from the tip to the back on one plane.

Send it or get ahold of him at frogwithawrench@hotmail.com.

does a great job

pete

[bullrope braider]

not so much the angle but it's a little convex according to Luke. I couldn't get it as I was using a scissor grinder which makes it concave, I'm using a belt driven sharpner with a 220 grit belt to develop the shape and finished with a 600 grit till I get the burr on the bottom side. I hit it with a flat scissor hone enough to remove the burr keeping the stone completely flat. you could do the same with a good strop. Since Luke explained this method to me my tandy splitter works much better, with my spare splitter blade I stropped it both flat then the top side staying with the shape as I pulled it across the leather strop. now that i have both blades like this it only takes a little work on the strop occasionally to keep the edge sharp. it's still a Tandy splitter and will never be perfect. I've bought one of Steve's new Leather splitter and cant wait for it to ship