X-Acto issues

Hi
Fiskers sells some with different shaped handles. A bit pricey but easier on the old paws and no rolling.
I used to have a patch on most every new plane before it got off the bench. I bought my first arf a few years back and the @*#& knife rolled off and went right through the wing.

http://www2.fiskars.com/Products/Crafting/Craft-Knives/Softgrip-R-Detail-Knife

http://www2.fiskars.com/Products/Crafting/Craft-Knives/Fingertip-Swivel-Detail-Knife

[quote="proctor"]

dinsdale wrote:...I have resharpened scalpel blades but found it interrupted my creative
flow
john

Once they are sharp and you only need to occasionally strop them, you can do that while your creative is flowing.

George

gcb wrote:Once they are sharp and you only need to occasionally strop them, you can do that while your creative is flowing.
George

You may need to explain yourself to the young'uns on here.

andrew wrote:

gcb wrote:Once they are sharp and you only need to occasionally strop them, you can do that while your creative is flowing.
George

You may need to explain yourself to the young'uns on here.

OK. Stropping is a process where you use a leather (usually) surface with some fine metal polishing compound (I prefer white aluminum oxide, but all work) applied to it...which is usually refered to as "charging" the strop (strap). My strops are leather from belts on a piece of pine board for support.

You pull the knife blade opposite the direction of the cutting edge at the same angle used to sharpen it. this produces an even finer edge than most sharpening stones. Once sharpened, you should only need to use the strop to "tune" the edge unless you knick it with some hard surface.

Many of my knives are carbon steel. For these I always start by stropping to remove any oxide layer that will cause drag on the cutting surface. Remember that only a few hundredths of an inch is the cutting edge. All the rest is just support for that edge.

All this takes a bit to learn, but once learned takes less than a minute to accomplish. Note also that you may prefer a more course edge like the one you get using a light touch on a very fine stone, without stropping. This provides a fine "saw tooth" edge that cuts light balsa well.

Now, what did you think I meant?

George

gcb wrote:Now, what did you think I meant?
George

Having watched my grandfather sharpen his straight razor many times, I was quite familiar with a leather strop (plus having been threatened with bodily harm with a razor strop ), I knew exactly what you were doing. But, I suspect some of our younger readers have never seen a leather strop or used burnished leather for setting a really fine edge.

Maybe old age does have some advantages, I just can't remember many.

Yes I've used the strop but just for sharpening, another way for
quickness is to sharpen by stropping the blade on another blade
as if you were about to carve the thanksgiving turkey.
Takes the glue off your blade too. John

Picked up one of the Xacto X2000 blades On sale at Micheals crafts yesterday. Not a bad setup, snap cap for the end, rubber grip handle, no roll by way of a rubber bump on the handle, semi contour grip for my big club fingers. Now I can load different handles with backup blades and shapes, with my collection.
http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/822403/X-Acto-X2000-Precision-Knife-Black/

andrew wrote: Maybe old age does have some advantages, I just can't remember many.

That's a good one!!!

All my stropping is done with leather over pine. I have never had opportunity to master a razor strap.

If you watch a REAL barber (or perhaps your grandfather) you will notice that they strop away from the cutting edge, then roll the razor over its back, and strop in the other direction. thus stropping the other side of the edge. They make it look so simple. BTW, my grandfather used a straight-razor too.

George

My barber still uses a straight razor for the edges of a haircut on the back,and around the ears.

He starts flicking that thing around my ears and it gets a bit tense. He has only nicked me one time. Then it became a on-the-house haircut.

I remember to shut up about politics when he picks that thing up,, don't want to get him all riled up when he is wielding that thing.

In today's world, people often "multi-task" when shaving which would NOT be adviseable when using a straight-edge razor which requires concentration with dire consequences for the careless shaver.

I blame it all on the advent of the cordless electric shaver. Drivers drive when shaving, eat breakfast, talk on their cell-phones, women put on their makeup. I've even seen people reading a book when shaving and driving!

Yikes! What a crazy world in which we live!

SuperDave wrote:

Drivers drive when shaving, eat breakfast, talk on their cell-phones, women put on their makeup. I've even seen people reading a book when shaving and driving!

The most astounding thing I have seen during my 20 yrs of driving professional and many miles was a old grey haired lady,,in the fast lane, Seattle semi-rush hour traffic moving very fast,,,driving with BOTH knees while knitting a sweater,,,,big long knitting needles.

And then there is the stuff I wish I could unsee. I will leave it at that.

PV Pilot wrote: I remember to shut up about politics when he picks that thing up,, don't want to get him all riled up when he is wielding that thing.

There's an old saying...

Two people you don't argue with - your barber and your auto mechanic.

George

The legendary SD Exacto knife set is a Model 87 tool chest in a nice original wooden box with period-correct Exacto decals. The set was complete and everything was in good condition. Over time, I've added to it.

All this for three dollars at a garage sale some years ago. I'm guessing the set dates back to the fifties. I use it regularly for all sorts of household and modeling tasks.

I've just been sent this link, X-acto style blades at a VERY good price

http://www.havalon.com/hobby---craft-blades.html

Just in case you X-acto fans don't know about it.

Ivanhoe wrote:I've just been sent this link, X-acto style blades at a VERY good price

http://www.havalon.com/hobby---craft-blades.html

Just in case you X-acto fans don't know about it.

Good one Wilf.
Thanks, had not seen this before.
Bob

Widget supply never lets me down, just about every conceivable shaped blade out there,, a good selection of scalpel stuff, for the scalpel crowd.
http://www.widgetsupply.com/page/WS/CTGY/knife

They have the new Zirconium nitride #11's
http://www.widgetsupply.com/page/WS/PROD/knife-blade-no-11/BEW19