| Since the first stone tools were used centuries | | | | One example of a quality knife and scissor |
| ago, man has tried to find the best way to keep | | | | sharpener is the Tormek, a bench-top grinder that |
| cutting edges sharp. As good metal blades were | | | | uses water in small amounts to reduce heat and |
| developed in more recent years, knife sharpening | | | | friction. When this equipment is purchased, the |
| became a critical part of tool maintenance. Only | | | | individual will find a leather strop included. (Some |
| with a very sharp blade could our ancestors cut | | | | experience craftsmen recommend a paper wheel |
| and trim the things they needed to survive from | | | | for honing blade edges.) |
| day to day. | | | | Those with some years of experience in |
| Colonial-period residents often created | | | | craftsmanship that requires blades will urge the |
| communities around a mill that processed grain | | | | shopper to look for versatility in blade sharpening |
| and made sure that the village had a blacksmith. | | | | equipment. The sharpener must be large enough |
| Chief among the tasks for many craftsmen was | | | | and durable enough to handle large blades and |
| tool sharpening, a practice that has continued | | | | some provision must be made for strop and |
| today. Those early settlers often used very hard | | | | honing blade edges. Buying from a reputable and |
| stone to sharpen their blades. In many cases, the | | | | stable company is important as well, since there |
| stone was round and worked on the same | | | | may come a time when it is necessary to get |
| principle as a grist mill, with the stone turning | | | | replacement parts or service. All these factors |
| slowly while the individual held a blade against the | | | | are important when purchasing sharpening |
| stone surface. | | | | equipment that can cost several hundred dollars. |
| Today's sharpening equipment has more power | | | | Sharpening equipment comes in a wide variety of |
| than the old foot-driven or water driven wheels. | | | | sizes, from the smaller items used occasionally in |
| In addition, the electrical sharpening wheels are a | | | | the workshop to the largest commercial grinders |
| great improvement over the whetstone that was | | | | and specialty sharpening equipment. The smaller |
| used by hand. Modern knives and other tools can | | | | equipment will work well for the home craftsman |
| be sharpened in much less time, with less effort, | | | | and handyman, especially because they are less |
| because of the modern power sharpener. | | | | expensive and quite portable. |
| For the person who is setting up an efficient | | | | Some home handymen prefer to sharpen knives |
| home workshop, or the professional who makes | | | | and small blades by hand, using a whetstone. |
| his living with tools, a sharpener is an essential | | | | Others opt for the small, electric wheel for their |
| piece of equipment. A knife sharpener and/or a | | | | sharpening needs. These wheels are made of |
| blade sharpener from one of several quality | | | | very tough abrasive materials that provide years |
| suppliers can be a welcome addition to the | | | | of service. For those just beginning to work with |
| workshop. For example, the small but efficient | | | | blades and knives in the workshop, several |
| bench grinder is excellent for sharpening tools | | | | companies provide brochures, manuals and videos |
| used in woodworking and for gardening/lawn tools | | | | that help the amateur become more proficient at |
| as well. | | | | keeping those essential blades clean and sharp. |