Sharpen Pricking Iron

[Fowlingpiece]

Yep just a little stoning needed. Not something that's needed often if taken care of but certainly an in-house fix.

[Fowlingpiece]

Wet/dry sandpaper on a popcicle stick for a backer shoul work on 7 or 8. TPI or less.

[Ski]

a little DC diamond stone, or fine sandpaper, or fine file would do it. Put some sort of paint all over the iron, so you can see where the stone/sandpaper/file make contact, so you know your just hitting the tip (or whatever you see fit) Not sure where in the UK you are but if close to me feel free to pop in and I can do it for you.

[edd]

Thankyou fellas for all the suggestions! Sounds like I should give it a go then. I've sharpened plenty of chisels but this just seemed uncomfortably small to me. I have a little Fallkniven stone that would be good for this. I just noticed when laying the pricking iron with one tooth flat on the edge of the stone, that the tooth below rests very close to the side of the stone, so there's some danger of grinding the corner off of it if care isn't taken. Difficult to explain so I've attached a pic. Is this the correct way?

Will give the wet&dry method a go too to see which feels more comfortable. Guess it's just a matter of personal preference.

Nige - I'm sure another of your videos would be gratefully received by all the less experienced members of the forum. There's no substitute for seeing something done up close. Really appreciate all the time you've put into them!

Ski - Cheers mate, I'm down south but kind of you to offer!

[Ski]

If your concerned the other teeth might touch the stone/sandpaper, cover them in isolation tape or something similar.

You don't want it razor sharp, but sharp enough to grip as you say

[electrathon]

Put tape on the side of the stone so it will only cut on the top.

[edd]

Put tape on the side of the stone so it will only cut on the top.

Thanks for the tip. Worked nicely

[vonlogan]

Nigel,

I would love to see you make a video about this. All your other videos are great!

-Von

[Dangerous Beans]

Good point, it's in the videos to do book!

Nige

[OdinUK]

I've used Dixons to sharpen some tools for £10 per tool (exc VAT)

If the prongs arnt bent you should be able to rub the ends down to make them even on some wet and dry on a flat surface. I reconditioned many of my pricking irons by bead blasting, rubbing the ends flat on wet and dry and then painting the handles in Hammerite paint.