- Joined
- May 28, 2003
- Messages
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I posted this info on the HI forum, but thought it might be of interest here too.
I made a block to hold strips of abrasive paper or cloth out of 2 pieces of 3/4" LDF glued together with pieces of mouse pad contact-cemented on the top and bottom. The top piece produces the right amount of 'give' to form the convex edge. The bottom piece makes it non-slip on the bench.The clips on the ends are standard spring clips from the office supply store that hold the paper in place. I made mine 1 1/2" wide to use with the abrasive cloth I buy in rolls. The length should chosen be so that you can use strips torn from sheets either the short way or else the long way. Long strips would be better for longer blades like a CT or BR.
I put several coats of lacquer on the exposed LDF so I could drip some water (with a bit of dish detergent) on the paper to wet sand.
Abrasive paper (wet or dry type) can be found in grades as fine as 2,500 grit (or I'm told, even finer) in auto paint stores. however, the 400, 600 and sometimes 800 grit available in hardware stores puts a very sharp edge on. The beauty is, you can start with coarse grit (100, 150) to reshape the edge, finer grit (180, 220) to clean up a really dull edge and then slowly work up to the finer grits to razor it up. Finish with a leather strop. be careful, you now will have a scary-sharp blade.
I made a block to hold strips of abrasive paper or cloth out of 2 pieces of 3/4" LDF glued together with pieces of mouse pad contact-cemented on the top and bottom. The top piece produces the right amount of 'give' to form the convex edge. The bottom piece makes it non-slip on the bench.The clips on the ends are standard spring clips from the office supply store that hold the paper in place. I made mine 1 1/2" wide to use with the abrasive cloth I buy in rolls. The length should chosen be so that you can use strips torn from sheets either the short way or else the long way. Long strips would be better for longer blades like a CT or BR.
I put several coats of lacquer on the exposed LDF so I could drip some water (with a bit of dish detergent) on the paper to wet sand.
Abrasive paper (wet or dry type) can be found in grades as fine as 2,500 grit (or I'm told, even finer) in auto paint stores. however, the 400, 600 and sometimes 800 grit available in hardware stores puts a very sharp edge on. The beauty is, you can start with coarse grit (100, 150) to reshape the edge, finer grit (180, 220) to clean up a really dull edge and then slowly work up to the finer grits to razor it up. Finish with a leather strop. be careful, you now will have a scary-sharp blade.