[rick-in-seattle]

Nancy,

I turned your handles; just waiting for the tools to put in them. The wood is "Spalted Winter Banana" an heirloom apple originating in Cass County, Indiana in 1876.

I was given some from a pioneer homestead here in the northwest just before it was bulldozed and paved over.

Rick

[Nancy_G]

heehee -- bet you didn't turn ENOUGH.
I mailed the box yesterday .... I think it contains a bag with 7 for sharpening and new handles, a bag with 28 for just sharpening and a bag with maybe 20 to give or throw away.

But I really, really don't want you to use GOOD wood for my handles --- when you see what happens to my handles, you'll understand that. Can't you find any wood SCRAPS on your floor? Want me to send some?

I think the Knotts knives I sent for sharpening are too far gone, thanks to my rotten treatment. Don't put yourself out -- if they're too bad, just toss 'em. Just toss any tools that are too far gone. Not all but lots of the tools in the sharpening bag are from the box I haven't tried to use in years because they're in such bad shape.
Al Longo tells me he's never "worn out" a tool in his life and I can wear one out in a year.
Rick, you're a real sweetheart for doing this for me, but I'm hard on tools.

[rick-in-seattle]

Nancy, I can hardly wait to see the tools.

I have to lean in Al Longo's direction about wearing out tools; it is difficult to do. Not counting knives, I have probably worn out two tools.

Don't worry about the wood, I either have to use it up or build another garage.

[rick-in-seattle]

Nancy,
This is a Pfeil in the turned palm handle.

[Nancy_G]

Rick - that looks mighty fine ..... maybe too fine. You'll see tomorrow when my box arrives.
I wear out my tools trying to sharpen them, not by carving the life out of them. I end up just slowly, slowly grinding them away to stubs.

[Donna_T]

Nancy,
Have you ever tried paper wheels for sharpening? They run cooler don't eat up the metal on your tools as quickly as the traditional stone/emery cloth covered ones. I started with them cause I kept burning my good tools and, like you, ground too much metal away. The only time I use anything more abrasive is when I have to regrind the end because of a nick in the blade.

The cleanup/stropping I do with the leather wheel or hard felt or rag wheels, if I'm using power. I still do quite a bit by hand.

Donna T

[Nancy_G]

Donna - I have the John Burke set-up and I've added a hard felt wheel to the bottom tier (I can't remember what I took off). I only very rarely use the sanding wheels and NEVER on a knife. I stick pretty close to the leather and that hard felt wheel. I also use a diamond stone for nicks and the good old leather strops.
I'm just rough on tools. Back in the days before computers and email I bought my knives from Alan Knotts - what a guy - and sent stuff to him when I couldn't handle it anymore. He phoned one day and said, "Nancy, you have to stop using knives to open paint cans".

And I chew up paper wheels in no time at all
My avatar should be a self photo in a red circle with a diagonal slash.

[Kenny_S]

Nice looking handle Rick.
Nancy, I recieved the leather wheels for Christmas and love them. Since I started using them(well, I didn't get all my presents opend), I haven't had to grind down any tools. However, I did loan some tools out to a so called friend and well, I have one V tool that I can't get back to it's original shape and sharpness.

Maybe you are like me in one respect, My tools were never sharp enough for me.

Doona, seen those paper wheels used and they are great also.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Nancy...you don't use them for taking hubcaps off either!

[al.rudd]

I just carry my tools in a cigar box with three different grades of sandpaper. If I am doing a lot of carving, I just shake the box more often. Also keeps the handles smooth.

al.rudd