HOW TO GRIND AND SHARPEN TOOLS
CARE OF TOOLS.--Dull tools indicate the character of the workman. In an
experience of over forty years, I have never known a good workman to
keep poorly sharpened tools. While it is true that the capacity to
sharpen tools can be acquired only by practice, correct habits at the
start will materially assist. In doing this part of the artisan's work,
it should be understood that there is a right as well as a wrong way.
There is a principle involved in the sharpening of every tool, which
should be observed. A skilled artisan knows that there is a particular
way to grind the bits of each plane; that the manner of setting a saw
not only contributes to its usefulness, but will materially add to the
life of the saw; that a chisel cannot be made to do good work unless its
cutting edge is square and at the right working angle.
FIRST REQUISITE.--A beginner should never attempt a piece of work until
he learns how the different tools should be sharpened, or at least learn
the principle involved. Practice will make perfect.
SAWS.--As the saw is such an important part of the kit, I shall devote
some space to the subject. _First_, as to setting the saw. The object of
this is to make the teeth cut a wider kerf than the thickness of the
blade, and thereby cause the saw to travel freely. A great many
so-called "saw sets" are found in the market, many of them built on
wrong principles, as will be shown, and these are incapable of setting
accurately.
[Illustration: _Fig. 10._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 10a._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 11._]
HOW TO SET.--To set a saw accurately, that is, to drive out each tooth
the same distance, is the first requirement, and the second is to bend
out the whole tooth, and not the point only.
In the illustration (Fig. 10), the point is merely bent out. This is
wrong. The right way is shown in Fig. 10_a_. The whole tooth is bent,
showing the correct way of setting. The reasons for avoiding one way and
following the other are: First, that if the point projects to one side,
each point or tooth will dig into the wood, and produce tooth prints in
the wood, which make a roughened surface. Second, that if there are
inequalities in setting the teeth (as is sure to be the case when only
the points are bent out), the most exposed points will first wear out,
and thereby cause saw deterioration. Third, a saw with the points
sticking out causes a heavy, dragging cut, and means additional labor.
Where the whole body of the tooth is bent, the saw will run smoothly and
easily through the kerf and produce a smooth-cut surface.
[Illustration: _Fig. 12._]
Our illustration (Fig. 11) shows a very simple setting block, the
principal merit of which is that any boy can make it, and in the use of
which he cannot go wrong in setting a tooth.
SIMPLE SAW SETTER.--Take a block of wood, a 4 by 4 inch studding, four
inches long. Get a piece of metal one-half inch thick and two inches
square. Have a blacksmith or machinist bore a quarter-inch hole through
it in the center and countersink the upper side so it may be securely
fastened in a mortise in the block, with its upper side flush with the
upper surface of the block. Now, with a file, finish off one edge, going
back for a quarter of an inch, the angle at A to be about 12 degrees.
[Illustration: _Fig. 13. Rip-Saw._]
FILING ANGLES.--In its proper place will be shown how you may easily
calculate and measure degrees in work of this kind. Fig. 12 shows an
approximation to the right angle. B, B (Fig. 11) should be a pair of
wooden pegs, driven into the wooden block on each side of the metal
piece. The teeth of the saw rest against the pegs so that they serve as
a guide or a gage, and the teeth of the saw, therefore, project over the
inclined part (B) of the metal block. Now, with an ordinary punch and a
hammer, each alternate tooth may be driven down until it rests flat on
the inclined face (A), so that it is impossible to set the teeth
wrongly. When you glance down the end of a properly set saw, you will
see a V-shaped channel, and if you will place a needle in the groove and
hold the saw at an angle, the needle will travel down without falling
out.
[Illustration: _Fig. 14. cross-cut._]
FILING.--The next step is the filing. Two things must be observed: the
pitch and the angle. By pitch is meant the inclination of the teeth.
Note the illustration (Fig. 13), which shows the teeth of a rip saw. You
will see at A that the pitch of the tooth is at right angles to the edge
of the saw. In Fig. 14, which shows the teeth of a cross-cut saw, the
pitch (B) is about 10 degrees off. The teeth of the rip saw are also
larger than those of the cross-cut.
THE ANGLE OF FILING.--By angle is meant the cutting position of the
file. In Fig. 12, the lines B represent the file disposed at an angle
of 12 degrees, not more, for a rip saw. For a cross-cut the angle of the
file may be less.
SAW CLAMPS.--You may easily make a pair of saw clamps as follows:
Take two pieces of hard wood, each three inches wide, seven-eighths of
an inch thick, and equal in length to the longest saw. Bevel one edge of
each as shown in A (Fig. 15), so as to leave an edge (B) about
one-eighth of an inch thick. At one end cut away the corner on the side
opposite the bevel, as shown at C, so the clamps will fit on the saw
around the saw handle.
[Illustration: _Fig. 15._]
When the saw is placed between these clamps and held together by the
jaws of the vise, you are ready for the filing operation. Observe the
following _filing suggestions_: Always hold the file horizontal or
level. In filing, use the whole length of the file. Do the work by a
slow, firm sweep.
Do not file all of the teeth along the saw at one operation, but only
the alternate teeth, so as to keep the file at the same angle, and thus
insure accuracy; then turn the saw and keep the file constantly at one
angle for the alternate set of teeth.
Give the same number of strokes, and exert the same pressure on the file
for each tooth, to insure uniformity. Learn also to make a free, easy
and straight movement back and forth with the file.
THE FILE.--In order to experiment with the filing motion, take two
blocks of wood, and try surfacing them off with a file. When you place
the two filed surfaces together after the first trial both will be
convex, because the hands, in filing, unless you exert the utmost
vigilance, will assume a crank-like movement. The filing test is so to
file the two blocks that they will fit tightly together without rolling
on each other. Before shaping and planing machines were invented,
machinists were compelled to plane down and accurately finish off
surfaces with a file.
In using the files on saws, however small the file may be, one hand
should hold the handle and the other hand the tip of the file.
A file brush should always be kept on hand, as it pays to preserve files
by cleaning them.
[Illustration: _Fig. 16._]
THE GRINDSTONE.--As most of the tools require a grindstone for
sharpening purposes, an illustration is given as a guide, with a diagram
to show the proper grinding angle. In Fig. 16 the upright (A) of the
frame serves as a line for the eye, so that if the point of the tool is
brought to the sight line, and the tool (C) held level, you will always
be able to maintain the correct angle. There is no objection to
providing a rest, for instance, like the cross bars (D, D), but the
artisan disdains such contrivances, and he usually avoids them for two
reasons: First, because habit enables him to hold the tool horizontally;
and, second, by holding the tool firmly in the hand he has better
control of it. There is only one thing which can be said in favor of a
rest, and that is, the stone may be kept truer circumferentially, as
all stones have soft spots or sides.
IN THE USE OF GRINDSTONES.--There are certain things to avoid and to
observe in the use of stones. Never use one spot on the stone, however
narrow the tool may be. Always move the tool from side to side. Never
grind a set of narrow tools successively. If you have chisels to grind
intersperse their grinding with plane bits, hatchet or other broad
cutting tools, so as to prevent the stone from having grooves therein.
Never use a tool on a stone unless you have water in the tray.
[Illustration: _Fig. 17. Correct manner of holding tool._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 18. Incorrect way of holding tool._]
CORRECT WAY TO HOLD TOOL FOR GRINDING.--There is a correct way to hold
each tool; see illustration (Fig. 17). The left hand should grasp the
tool firmly, near the sharp edge, as shown, and the right hand should
loosely hold the tool behind the left hand. There is a reason for this
which will be apparent after you grind a few tools. The firm grasp of
the left hand gives you absolute control of the blade, so it cannot
turn, and when inequalities appear in the grindstone, the rigid hold
will prevent the blade from turning, and thus enable you to correct the
inequalities of the stone. Bear in mind, the stone should be taken care
of just as much as the tools. An experienced workman is known by the
condition of his tools, and the grindstone is the best friend he has
among his tools.
INCORRECT WAY TO HOLD TOOL FOR GRINDING.--The incorrect way of holding a
tool is shown in Fig. 18. This, I presume, is the universal way in which
the novice takes the tool. It is wrong for the reason that the thumbs of
both hands are on top of the blade, and they serve as pivots on which
the tool may turn. The result is that the corners of the tool will dig
into the stone to a greater or less degree, particularly if it has a
narrow blade, like a chisel.
Try the experiment of grinding a quarter-inch chisel by holding it the
incorrect way; and then grasp it firmly with the left hand, and you will
at once see the difference.
The left hand serves both as a vise and as a fulcrum, whereas the right
hand controls the angle of the tool.
[Illustration: _Fig. 19._]
These remarks apply to all chisels, plane bits and tools of that
character, but it is obvious that a drawknife, which is always held by
the handles in grinding, and hatchets, axes and the like, cannot be held
in the same manner.
A too common error is to press the tool too hard on the stone. This is
wrong. Do not try to force the grinding.
Then, again, it is the practice of some to turn the stone away from the
tool. The stone should always move toward the tool, so as to prevent
forming a feather edge.
THE PLANE.--Indiscriminate use of planes should be avoided. Never use
the fore or smoothing planes on rough surfaces. The jack plane is the
proper tool for this work. On the other hand, the fore plane should
invariably be used for straightening the edges of boards, or for fine
surfacing purposes. As the jack plane has its bit ground with a curved
edge, it is admirably adapted for taking off the rough saw print
surface.
THE GAGE.--The illustration (Fig. 19) shows one of the most useful tools
in the kit. It is used to scribe the thickness of the material which is
to be dressed down, or for imprinting the edges of tenons and mortises.
Two should be provided in every kit, for convenience.
The scribing point should be sharpened with a file, the point being
filed to form a blade, which is at right angles to the bar, or parallel
with the movable cheekpiece.
CHISELS.--I have already pointed out, in general, how to hold tools for
grinding purposes, this description applying particularly to chisels,
but several additional things may be added.
Always be careful to grind the chisel so its cutting edge is square with
the side edge. This will be difficult at first, but you will see the
value of this as you use the tool. For instance, in making rebates for
hinges, or recesses and mortises for locks, the tool will invariably run
crooked, unless it is ground square.
The chisel should never be struck with a hammer or metal instrument, as
the metal pole or peon of the hammer will sliver the handle. The wooden
mallet should invariably be used.
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.--If the workman will carefully observe the
foregoing requirements he will have taken the most important steps in
the knowledge of the art. If he permits himself to commence work without
having his tools in first-class condition, he is trying to do work under
circumstances where even a skilled workman is liable to fail.
Avoid making for yourself a lot of unnecessary work. The best artisans
are those who try to find out and know which is the best tool, or how to
make a tool for each requirement, but that tool, to be serviceable, must
be properly made, and that means it must be rightly sharpened.