SHARPENING KNIVES 17 



rapidly remove the inequalities from an exceedingly dull razor. A 

 Turkish hone will be best for. finishing. For large knives we 

 use a third very soft and fine stone. 



Let the corundum slip be placed on a level support (or be 

 fitted into a block like the carpenter's oil-stone), and cover the 

 surface liberally with water.* The hones should always be worked 

 wet. Place the knife flat on the stone near the right hand, as at 



A, Fig. 10. Draw steadily in the direction of the curved dotted 

 line i.e., from right to left holding the blade firmly on the stone, 



B, with slight pressure until the position C is attained. Rotate the 

 razor on its back vide Fig. 11 so as so bring the other side on 

 the stone, and draw from left to right. Observe that as the knife 

 is drawn from side to side (the edge invariably looking toward the 

 draw) it is always worked from heel to point. The amount of 

 pressure may be proportioned to the condition of the edge. If it 

 be badly nicked, considerable pressure may be employed ; while, as 

 it approaches keenness, the pressure is to be lessened, until the 

 weight of the blade alone gives sufficient friction. 



Repeat the process fifteen or twenty times, and examine the 

 blade. If the nicks are yet visible, continue honing until they can 

 no longer be seen. Then draw the edge across the thumb-nail. 

 Do this lightly, and the sense of touch will reveal indentions 

 which the eye failed to recognize. Continue the use of the coarse 

 stone until the edge is perfect, so far as the thumb-nail test 

 indicates. 



The knife is then to be carefully wiped, so as to remove any 

 coarse particles of corundum, and applied to the wetted Turkish 

 hone with precisely the same motions as were employed in the first 

 process. After a dozen or two strokes, examine the edge by 

 applying the palmar aspect of the thumb, with repeated light 

 touches, from heel to point. This looks slightly dangerous to 

 the novice, but it is an excellent method of determining the con- 

 dition. Of course actual trial with a piece of hardened tissue is 

 the best test. 



A fine water -stone or the Belgian hone of the hardware shops 

 may be used instead of the corundum hone. 



It is best to finish with stropping, and often a knife may be 

 sharpened by stropping alone. The leather of the strop should 

 be glued to a support of wood to keep it flat. The movement is 



*A few drops of glycerin added to the water retard evaporation, and appear to keep the 

 surface of the hone in good condition. 





