_Freedom, Mo._, July 5, 1870.
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[For the American Bee Journal.]
How we made a Honey Knife.
Some of our readers will perhaps remember the trouble which we had last
season in uncapping cells preparatory to the use of the Honey Extractor.
In justice to Mr. Baldridge we will say that the knife which we received
from him was found, upon trial, to work very well--much better, in fact,
than we expected. Our only trouble with it, was to keep it in cutting
order. Still, we find that a knife for this business does not need to be
kept so extremely sharp, if it be kept _hot_ while in use, by
occasionally dipping it in hot water. In _shape_ we think this knife
about what is wanted.
As _two_ knives are found very convenient, one to be heating in the
water while the other is in use, we concluded to try our hand at making
one and succeeded so admirably that we will give a description of it,
and the manner in which it was made.
We first took an old _scythe_--an article which can usually be found on
every farm--and, with a cold chisel, cut a piece out of the straightest
part, of such length as we wished the knife to be. This was then laid
upon a block and cut lengthwise about three-fourths of an inch from the
cutting edge. It was now taken and ground down smooth upon the back and
ends, and the edge ground off at the ends a little in order to
straighten it. It is then fitted into a suitable handle. You thus have a
knife of whatever length you choose to make it, which may be ground very
thin and will yet hold an edge well. The whole time occupied in making
it, need not exceed an hour, provided the assistance of a second person
can be had in cutting out and grinding. It will present a much neater
appearance than one would think possible when commencing the job, and
will I think give perfect satisfaction.
Of course the style will be governed much by the ingenuity of the maker.
Since writing, the above, we have received the August number of the Bee
Journal, and in it notice the advertisement of the National Bee Hive
Company, of which Mr. Baldridge is Secretary. It says--“no _wrought
iron_ knives for sale, in fact never _kept_ them, nor _sold_ them.
_Liars_ will please to take the hint.” Indeed! I sincerely hope they
will. Now, in justice to _myself_, I must say a few more words in regard
to that knife, which we have already spoken about in this communication.
When we received the knife last fall, it was shown to a person whom we
thought a competent judge of metal, and was unhesitatingly
pronounced--well, anything but _spring-steel_, as it could readily be
bent into almost any shape, and would _so remain_. However as its
quality was not mentioned before the purchase; and as it has been found,
on trial, to work well enough for all practical purposes, when rightly
used, I suppose we ought not to have said anything about that part of
the transaction. The difference between the “best quality of wrought
iron” and the lower classes of steel is so slight that, to separate
them, would be like naming the hour that sweet cider becomes sour. Iron
is used in three states; as crude or cast iron, as _steel_, and as
wrought iron, the difference only depending on the relative amount of
carbon with which the metal is combined--cast iron containing a larger
proportion of carbon than steel, and steel more than wrought or
malleable iron.
I have nothing whatever against Mr. Baldridge, this being my first
dealing with him; and my only excuse for writing as I did (A. B. J., vol
V., page 18,) is that, after waiting, and watching the post office, so
long as I did, and finally receiving a knife--too late for use--which
did not then come up to my expectations, I felt considerably out of
humor, and told the whole story, when perhaps I should have kept _mum_
and “swallowed” it all, as he had not advertised knives for sale, his
reason for not being more prompt, may be that he was obliged to invent
and manufacture it, after it was ordered. I have no doubt that parties
ordering of him now, will receive knives that will give perfect
satisfaction.