Whats the best way to sharpen a scribing tool? Got it from Micromark and it finally needs resharpening. Any tips would be greatly appreciated[tup]
If you’ve just used it for scribing styrene it probably just needs re-honing (as opposed to a thorough grinding to restore the shape). Pay a visit to your local Lowe’s or hardware store and see what it has to offer in the way of sharpening stones. My guess is that either a hard Arkansas stone or a small diamond hone would do the trick in a few minutes. Pay particular attention to the stone manufacturer’s recommendations on lubricants. If you get an Arkansas or other natural stone, pick up a bottle of honing oil while you’re at it. Diamond hones can be lubricated with water.
I’ve heard of people using a fishing hook sharpener… look in the sporting goods section.
I have sharpened tools a variety of ways. One easy technique is to use progressively fined pieces of wet/dry sandpaper, held to a nice flat piece of glass with a bit of water underneath. You can get to around 2000 grit at auto body stores, and the combination of water lube and the various grits makes the process very quick. Do a Google search for “Scary Sharp” and woodworking for more information.
Kurt
I would use a Dremel. Most Dremels when you buy them include several sharpening stone attachments.
It seems the dremel would get the tempered blade hot, which unless quenched would render the steel softer than when you got it. We have guys at work bring in lawn mower blades all the time and sharpen them on the big belt sander and grinding wheels, and then have to go buy a new one because the temper is gone and the edge just folds over.
Not trying to shoot ya down Ron, but the dremel is going to get pretty hot on the small steel area, going red quickly…and losing the tempering. Id go with the hone and lubricants on this one…
HTH
David
I have a sharping business, and do all my modeling tool sharpening by hand so as not to take the temper out of the tools. I first use oil stones to shape the tool and take out knicks. I than use ceramic blocks and rods (depending on the tool shape) to finish sharping and ploishing the cutting edge of all my modeling tools. This will put a very sharp cutting edge on the tools. I use alot of different dential tools when modeling, and keeping them sharp is very important. You can find oil stones and blocks and rods at any good woodworker supply store (Woodcrafters ETC…), they are a little costly, but if want sharp long lasting cutting edges on your tools this is the way to go.
About dential tools; I first received some from (guess) my dentist, who at times had old tools he would longer be using. These tools, with a little time and effort where resharpened. And what’s makes it nice dential tools can be shaped to specific needs but it’ll take time.
Now I order tools directly from a dential supply company ("Oh - YES you can" - just about anything but drugs). You can’t imagine the different shapes scribing tools can come in. The company I order from is Sullivan-Scheir they have a web-site it’s;
Good Luck with your sharpening, Big Biff