Back to Life

[Foozer]

Had this stone, one that Pop gave me back when I was a Cub Scout near 60 years ago and you know what happens when you give a kid something to play with . . . Needless to say it carried the marks of usage like an old mule swaybacked but not broken. Either getting old or sentimental or both - dug it out, got a diamond gizmo and in short time brought her back to life. If the bride learns that I did the business in the kitchen sink . . . Made a simple little box [almost done] for it to sit in mayhaps for another 60 some odd years . . .

 

[ShopShoe]

Coincidently,

Tom Lipton did one of these not too long ago:



Was that your inspiration?

I have worked stones against each other to improve flatness in the distant past: Not as good as the diamond gizmo, but better than they came.

I was inspired, back in the day, by Gus's description of the Japanese water stones and their conditioning and use.

There is nothing like the satisfactory sharpening of a cutting edge and the following use of a newly-sharpened tool. But then, I use a bench stone to touch-up flat screwdriver blades and have been known to spend an evening sharpening and setting a (wood) handsaw.

Thank You for posting,

--ShopShoe

 

[Foozer]

Pop was on my mind and I came across that video. Swayback description made me chuckle . . .Then 'membered all the fun I had has a kid sharping everything in sight. Dug it out and went for it. What not to do - don't just start attacking the dirty stone with the gizmo, clogs up instantly. Worked for me was a handful of Orange Power hand cleaner, just sort of rubbed the entire stone over for a few minutes [hands needed cleaning] rinsed it off and she was perty clean. Enough water in the sink to cover, few minutes of easy back and forth and she was back to flat. Put it into the over on warm < 200F for an hour or so to drive out any water, gave it a good soaking of WD40 and let er dry.
Right - Nothing like a good clean stone to get an edge, course in the hands of a ten year old more often than not the edge, rather than sharp ended up dull.

Today shall finish up the box to hold it - If I remember right, when Pop gave it to me was just two pieces of wood to cover with a rubber band to hold them together.

Sentimental - Yup I'm getting Old . . .
Robert

 

[Foozer]

Call her done - Did a hatch pattern on the top and found a perty pink band to hold the box together . The Old Mule Stone looking sharp in her new attire . . .

 

[Wizard69]

I’ve picked up more than a few old stones at auctions. Some of them could use this treatment. On the other hand s concave/convex surface is good for gouges and other curved tools.

 

[JimDobson]

Its good for the soul to use old tools with history.