All How-To Topics
|
|
Get a Sharp Edge on Knives, Chisels, and Planes with a Homemade Strop
comments (2) July 14th, 2011 in Blogs
Chuck Miller, editor at large
Video Length: 1:54
Produced by: John Ross, Edited by: Mike Dobsevage
Keep this simple tool in your nail pouch and you'll never have an excuse for working with a dull blade again.
Drywall and carpet work are really hard on utility knife blades, you could change out the blades all the time or try to muddle along with a dull edge, but there’s a better way.
Other Video Tips
Make a Custom Holesaw to Remove Stripped Screws
Plane Doors More Easily with a Shopmade Jig
Keep Your Truck Tailgate Clear with a Simple Gravel Shield
How to Hang Drain Lines so they Stay Straight and Secure
This tip comes from Mark White from Kodiak, Alaska. He created a disposable strop that allows you to put a really sharp edge on a utility knife blade in a couple of seconds.
Starting out with a standard strip of 8x11 sandpaper and using a utility knife with a sharp blade, soon to be dull to cut strips the width of the stick you’re using. Staple the pieces of sandpaper to the end of the strop. You now have a handy surface where you can touch up the dull utility knife blade.
In no time at all you’ll have a serviceable cutting edge on your utility knife. When the sand paper gets dull, simply tear it off and there’s another sheet underneath ready to go.
300-grit or 400-grit sandpaper will work well for plane irons. Also, gluing a piece of leather to the backside of the strop will allow you lay down some jewelers rouge and use it to put a sharp edge on a plane iron or chisel.
posted in: Blogs
|
|
|
|
-
How to Paint Fiber-Cement Siding
Painter Jim Lacey shares some tips for caulking and painting fiber-cement siding. read more
|
|
Are you a Tipster?
We're on the hunt for great reader tips to demonstrate online and include in the magazine.
If you have a tip that you would like to share, visit our new Readers Quick Tips blog to post text, photos, and links to videos. Or, send us an email at: quicktips@taunton.com
About this Blog
Have your ever been frustrated building something and mumbled to yourself, "There's got to be a better way."
Well, thanks to the contributions of our great Tipsters, and the talent of Fine Homebuilding Special Issues editor, Chuck Miller, help has arrived.
Each week, Chuck demonstrates a tip sent in by readers like you or something he learned on a jobsite.
So enjoy, and don't forget to come back each week for a new tip.
From the Store
Other Fine Homebuilding Blogs
The Deans of Green Inside the Magazine Tool Hound The Daily Fix Chalk the Line
Comments (2)
Posted: 3:21 pm on July 19th
Posted: 11:28 am on July 17th
You must be logged in to post comments. Log in.