Sharpening stones
Images and text by Garry
Harrison,
Head, Circulating Collections Conservation,
Indiana
University Libraries Preservation Department
Sharpening stones
Sharpening stones must be used
with a fluid, either water or oil, depending on whether an oil stone or a
water stone is being used. Otherwise, waste metal particles pack up on
the surface of the stone, blocking its abrasive action. The oil or water
keeps these particles in solution so the stones' abrasive surfaces remain
accessible. The ones we use are water stones. What we sharpen with them
most often are chisels, but we have also sharpened the guillotine and
board shear blades with them, with good results. The two sides of both
are of different grits. The coarsest of these removes metal very
speedily; the finest leaves an edge that needs very little further
dressing before use.
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Complete Treatments Manual Table of Contents