SHARPENING KIT FREEHANDCLEAN UP YOUR EDGE WITH THE WASHBOARD SHARPENING SYSTEM! WHAT ITS: The Washboard is a heavily textured 2°x8(6)"x1/4" acryic plate bonded to a wood base (custom sizes available). It sharpens and polishes using any abrasive thet can be epplied to a thin substrate. It can be used to sharpen and maintain 2 wide variety of cutting tools. WHY USE IT: Its versatile and easy. The ridges and relief cuts work to increase the pressure exerted by abrasive particles without an increase in overall pressure, they also compress the paper and make it much more dense - the edge doesn't sink in, rounding the cutting edge as it might with 2 more compliant surface. Even with relatively heavy pressure the surface remains unyielding, yet burr formation is still mild compared to grinding on a fixed abrasive. Edges stay crisp and ‘catchy", even when stropped many times. The ridges and relief cuts also provide much greater tactile and auditory feedback - one can tellf they are on the bevel, the shoulder, or if they are just beginning to ride the cutiing edge (if one isn't at the proper angle it will ‘eel like theyre moving the cutting tool over @ washboard. The amount of feedback increases as one gets further from the ideal or targot angle. This makes it a much nicer too! than many other choices when one is trying to quickly touch up an edge, or is doing a moderate amount of work restoring a wom edge. This characteristic can also be useful for maintaining angle control when working with sandpaper ot lapping films. It can be used to polish larger areas and to maintain overall blade geometry during maintenance sharpening, touch up battered edges, do crisp work on V bevel, convex, Scandi ete, all wth a minimum of steel loss, burr formation, and fuss. Best of all pethaps, its characteristics only change when you want them to - itis unaffected by Icading, glazing, contamination, nicks in the surface. Due to its light weight and flexibility, one can carry a complete sharpening setup that woighs only ouncas yot has the feel and convenience of a full sat BEST PRACTICES: It was designed to work with 20# Bond, 50H text, 75GSM copy paper - those are all different designations of the same basic copy paper. Lined writing paper found in most spiral notebooks is the same base weight as well. Using it with other papers or materials is possible and can yield good results, but care should be taken. If the paper is somewhat thicker than spec’d, it can be pre-compressed by wrapping it around the Washboard, and rubbing it vigorously with a clean dry rag or papor towel using pressure, This is actually a good practice for all weight papers. Additional sheets of paper can be used if an even softer surface is desired, such as for Scandi grinds and full convex edges, oF for general polishing Do not store or use the board with the working surface in direct contact with a stone or other hard surface - if the teeth become damaged or smoathed out, the Weshboard wil stil work, but not as efficiently, and there is no way to repair it The Washboard can be used with a wide variety of abrasive compounds, simply make cortain the compound is rated ‘or steel or stainless steel, and understand if itis for heavy cleaning or final polishing. Water-based abrasives should be allowed to dry on the paper before use. The Washboard excels when used with sandpapars and lapping films, simply secure around the board the appropriate grit paper and it becomes a full-service sharpening system. Make sure to use silicon carbide wetldry sandpaper, available at most auto parts stores. Remove debris from the sandpaper with a large eraser or crepe rubber. Water can be used with this sandpaper as well if desired. For maintaining edges, paper with compound is all that should be required. Ifthe paper becomes damaged or loaded, simply recycle itNi Tv REPAIR: How! DOEF HOLDING ee nV se A SWEFPING moniont OR wor SMALLER OVERLAPPING AREAS USE Your THUMB FoR ADDED STABILITY, APPLY FINGERTIPS WHERE THE EDGE, (5 CONTACTING THE WASHGOARD, SLIDE THEM ALONG AS You Go IF USING A SWEEPING MOTION. STOP AND MOVE THEM IF WORKING THE BLADE IN SECTIONS- CAN BE LEFT IN ONE SPOT NEAR THE TIP For SMALLER KNIVES. wc pus /PULL MOSTLY WITH THE FINGERTIPS, OTHER HAND CONTROLS ANGLE. BOTH CONTROL PRESSURE,ELEVATE TWE WANDLE To HIT THE TIP, LOWER ITAS You MOVE ACROSS THE CURVED AREA (BELLY), LeveL IT UT AS js You REACH THE FLAT AREA, Move IT NALLY ACROSS THE BOARD. ie pe ay ae : > ai MAKE A Few TRIAL PASSES ON PLAIN PAPER, CHANGE THE ANGLE TO GET A FEEL FOR WHERE THE EDGE IS MAKING CONTACT: eee CONPITION AND INTENDED Use. R THE KNIFE, PRO c ae TRESS FROM comnse To See, Taso yaabe . Sour ea : . PAPER VSE ROUGHER WET/Dty SANDPAPER FoR VERY DULL EDGES, FINER PAPER FoR Less meaL EDGES, POLISHIND COMPOUND ON PAPER Foe ToUCH-UPG AND PLAIN PAPER To FINISH AND DEBURA, STOPPING AT THE ROUGHER PAPER WILt LEAVE AN EDGE WITH More BITE FoR MEAVY SLICING, FINER EDGES WILL CHop AND SHAVE BETTER, CHECK FoR THE FORMATION OF A BURR, BUD STEEL THAT FORMS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF A GROUND EDGE, THIg TELLS YoU YOUVE REMOVED ENOUGH! STEEL To Form & NEW CUTTING EDGE. FLIP TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE AND REPEAT, LARGE GuRRS CAN BE SHRUNK, REMOVED BY REPEATING ALTERNATING PASSES ONTHE WASH BAC D AND LIGHTLY DRAGGING THE EDGE ACRos> A PIECE OF Worp- TRE CORNER OF A CUMING BOARD Ere, SMALL BURRS CAN BE REMOVED BY Using THE COMPOUND ON PAPER O©R PLAIN PAPER IF SMaLL ENOUGH,BurR REMovAL AFTER CREATING A BURR AND FLIPPING \T, PASS THE EDGE OVER THE WASHBOARD, DRAG IT ACROSS WOOD, PASS THE OPPOSITE EDGE ON WASH BOARD, DRAG ACROSS Woop. REPEAT 10-20 TIMES, INSPECT OFTEN MORE TIPS - BURR REMOVAL I LARGE OR STUBBORN BURRS CAN BE REMOVED BY GENTLY PUSHING THE EDGE ACRoSs THE SANDPAPER, THE BURR SHOULD FIRST BE WoRKED TO ONE SIDE OF THE EDGE, AND VERY LIGHT PRESSURE USED- VERY EASY TO CUT THE SANDPAPER, CHECK EVERY PASS OR TWO. IF OVERDONE, A NEW BoRR WILL FORM OR THE EXISTING ONE MIGHT FLIP UP. SToP WHEN NO LONGER VISIBLE AND Move ON TO FINER ABRASIVE OR FINISH WITH PLAIN PAPER. MORE TIPS - EDGE ANGLES FOR CONVENIENCE ONE SHOULD RESHARPEN THEIR EDGES AT THE SAME ANGLE THE FACTORY USED,HOWEVER, A LARGE IMPROVEMENT IN CUTTING EFFICIENCY CAN USVALLY BE GAINED BY MAKING THE CUTTING EDGE THINNER. IF You GO ToO THIN, THE EDGE WILL BECOME. DELICATE, BUT SINCE MOST KNIVES COME WITH VERY BROAD CUTTING EdGES, A LOT OF STEEL CAN BE REMOVED BEFORE THIS BECOMES AN ISSUE, USE VERY Roublt SANDPAPER, 120-220 GRIT AND USE A LARGE ERASER TO CLEAN THE SANDPAPER WHEN IT GETS DIRTY, ALSO INSPECT CONTACT AREAS AND Move THE PAPER ON THE WASHBOARD IF IT STOPS GRINDING WELL AND CLEANING DOES NOT Yl "Wilk NEW ANGLE cs} GETTING LARGER — crunp,) CAN GRIND IN GOTH DIRECTIONS TILL A BURR FoRMs, UNTIL THE NEW AND FLIP AND REPEAT. WILL ANGLE REACHES THE TAKE SOME TIME TD AccomPLisy EDGE. ONE CAN ALSO CHANGE THE STANDARD "\/" BEVEL TO A convex BEVEL . THE PROCESS 1S SIMILAR “TO CHANGING THE CUTTING ANGLE. THIS 15 PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE For TooLS wiTH THICK BLADES AND CHOPPING TOOLS, WORKS BEST TO GRIND WELL UP THE BLADE. KB ‘ | IN GENERAL, 4 EVEN '\V" Bevel \ EDGES SHOULD BE THINNED PERIODICALLY ROCK THE BLADE ei \ Z A Tiny Bir TO TUE BLADE. ® ITH LE pg Beare THe CAN BE COLORED wr CURVE A MARKER - MAKE A FEW PASSES Eicpin! Poxssis a ES AND 5 >| ANd STOP To SEE WHERE 175 BEEN CUTTING EDGE. REMOVED.THE WASHBOARD CAN BE HELD AND USED LIKEA FILE ON LARGER TOOLS OR WHEN A FLAT SURFACE /TABLE 1S UNAVAILABLE. ON AXES AND MACHETES, AFILE I$ A G00D Toor. FOR STOCK REMOVAL, SWITCH TO THE WASHBOARD “To FINISH, HOLD THE Tool AND REST (T ON YouR KNEE, THIS WILL GINE You TWO PoINTS OF SUPPORT FoR BETTER CONTROL. USE CAUTION! BE AWARE OF FINGERTIPS WKEN MoyING TowaRD THE EDGE. WORKS FOR, SMALLER TOOLS AS WELL, INSPECT OFTEN. More TIPS — + INSPECT THE TOoL AND DEUDE WHAT NEEDS To BE PONE, GOOD PLANNING AND AWARENESS OF WARPS, UNEVEN FACTORY GRIND JOBS, DAMAGE ETC CAN SAVE A LoT oF TIME LATER. + STOP OFTEN AND INSPECT YOUR RESULTS, BELIEVE YouR EYES AND EXERCISE PATIENCE. + USE STRONG OVERHEAD LIGHTING WHEN PossiBLe. * STOP AND CLEAN THE SANDPAPER FREQUENTLY,MORE TIPS ~ + THE COMPOOND INCLUDED WITH THE WASHBOATD 15 GOOD FOR TOUCHING UP A SLIGATLY WORN EDGE AND FOR FINISHING AN EDGE FOLLOWING MORE INVOLVED WORK. IT 1S FORMULATED TO WoRK WELL ON DRY PAPER - ITCAN BE APPLIED OVER ITSELE SEVERAL TIMES, CHECK FOR DAMAGE TO THE PAPER. “ FOLLOW IT WITH SOME PASSES ON PLAIAL PAPER AT A SLIGHTLY STEEPER ANGLE ‘SAUD PAPE / COMPOUND PLNN PAPER. ° RECYCLE THE PAPER WHEN 'T BECOMES LOADED UP 0 DAMAGED, Pw FINAL THovGHTS - 2 PRACTICE GCOD ANGLE CONTROL, LISTEN AND FEEL FoR WHERE THE EDGE 15 MAKING CONTACT ON THE WASHBCARD. * ADDITIONAL WET/DRy GiLicon CARBIDE) PAPER CAN BE HAD FROM THE ALTO-PARTS STORE, * CREATION , FLIPPING, AND REMOVAL OF THE BURR IS THE GoaL OF THE GRINDING GAND Paper) PHASE, ° PLAIN PAPER CAN BE USED TO FINISH A COARSE EDGE (RIGHT OFF THE SANDPAPER) oR, A FINER EDOE, IT IS THE FINAL. STEP INN EITHER CASE,SUPPLEMENTAL * FINE-Tuninc THE GRIP THERE 1S A STRONG TENDENCY TO ELEVATE THE SPINE FOR [MPRovED “FEEL” ON THE ABRASIVE SURFACE, THIS IS MORE. ComMON WHEN DOING QUICK TOUCHUPS AND MAY PASS UNNOTICED, A GOOD WAY TO COUNTER THIS, ISTO “PRE-LoAD' THE WRIST A BIT. SIMPLY HOLD THE TOOL, To BE SHARPENED SO THAT A SMALL BIT OF MUSCULAR EFFORT !5 NEEDED TO OBTAIN THE TARGET ANGLE. SHOULD YoU BECOME INATTENTINE TRE EDGE Wile BECOME MoRE ACUTE RATHER THAN MORE OBTUSE, IN PRACTICE, yOu WILL MORE RAPIDLY NOTICE ANy SLACKENING AND CorReCT IMMEDIATELY = BETTER ANGLE CONSISTENCY.SUPPLEMENTAL’ MovemeNT ACROSS THE BOARD PoInT oF ‘contac oral POINT OF. CUTING EDGE IS | a PARALLEL WITH CROBWWTS = MAXIMUM, Li FEEDBcK, RouGHER ye va FINISH PATH ACROSS PATH ACROSS __ sees i jp BORRRIE _— PoINTOF POINT oF ee ee ee | CONTACT [7 ) contact PERPENDICULAR TO j ¥, > CROESCUTS = REDUCED FEEDBACK, SMOOTHER FINISH. To SOME EXTEOT THIS. PRINCIPLE pene cress | __d [par across APPLIES TO SANDPAPER GeARD AND oTHER GRINDING AND POLISHING MEDIA AS wELL, [= More ANGLE CONTROL - CAN LOOSE AWATENESS OF WHERE ON THE EDGE OCCA ONALLY ONE A. GOOD METHOD TO “ RECALIBRATE * THEY ARE AcTUALIy GRINDING, ON THE FLY IS BY LOWERING THE SPINE Back EDGE) AND LIGHTLY MARE A PASS OR TWO UNTIL THE SHovLbeRr /BACK BEVEL CORNER CAN BE FELT MAKING CONTACT. THIS WILL GINE YOU AN ON+THE-GO CHANGE IN FEEDBACK - SIMPLY ELEVATE THE SPINE ONTIL THE SHARPER FEEDBACK DIMINISHES AND CONTINUE AT THAT ANGLE / LENEL @©F FEED BACK SHOULDER FEELS DIFFERENT. ni ret UI iL wee EDBAC| ALWAYS WORK FROM SHOULDER, THIS BECOMES THIS , K To EDGE , NEVER FROM WILL BE LESSEMED, ALSO WHEN PRocREDING EDGE ‘To SHOULDER. oe De CORRSER. FINISIE To A FINER. it,SUPPLEMENTAL’ Fine toni THE HONING COMPOUND ° MANY OF THE COMMONLY AVAILABLE POLISHING COMPOUNDS FoR CAST IRON AND STEEL WILL WORK ACCEPTABLY GN THE WASHBOARD, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL OPTIONS For FINISHING IF DESIRED, VARYING THE NUMBER AND THICKNESS OF THE PAPER ONE USES CAN CREATE A VARIETY OF Finish RESULTS USING THE SAME COMPOUND, SEVERAL SHEETS OF PAPER CAN BE USED, RESULTING IN A FINER POLIS - USE. LESS PRESSURE TO AVOID MICROSCOPIC: ROUNDING OF THE CUTTING EDGE. THINNER PAPER SucH AS BAKING PARCHMENT CAN BE USED TO GET A’ SOMEWHAT ToOoTHIER, FINISH. SOME STEELS WILL HAVE A TENDENCY TO BURR UNDER THIS TREATMENT- SEE PAGE 5. A FEW DROPS OF MINERAL oR OTHER LIGHT OIL CAN BE WoRKED INTO THE PAPER SURFACE BEFORE OR AFTER APPLYING COMPOUND , THIS WILL PRObUCE A NICE. CLEAN FINISH, 15 NERY GOOD FOR COSMETIC. POLISHING, AND EXTENDS THE LIFE OF THE PAPER. DONOT USE TOO MUCK OIL, IF THE SLURRY 15 TOD THIN THE ABRASIVE WILL BECOME TOO MOBILE AND STOP WORKING. —>A BLEND SIMILAR IN CONSISTENCY TO A THIN FILM OF PETROLEUM JELLY, oR A TOUCH THICKER WILL WORK WELL. USE OF AN OIL-BASED SLURRY HAS THE ADDED ADVANTAGE OF PROVIDING A VISUAL BOuBLE CHECK OF THE CONTACT AREAS, CONTACT HEAVIER, CONTACT HEAVIER EVEN TACT- ALONG CUTTING EDGE" ALONG SHOULDER, NN SPINE Too WIGH TES ON SPIME. Be eon Too Low CuffiNG BEVEL, W5T RIGHT THE SLURRY WILL BUILD UP WHERE CONTACT 1S NGHT, BE WIPED CLEAN WuERE CONTACT [5 HEAVY. THIS PRINCIPLE CAN BE USED ON CONWEX AND FLAT GRINDS ETC TO DETERMINE CONTACT AREAS Witt A HIGit DEGREE oF ACCURACY , IN TANDEM WiTH THE TACTILE FEEDBACK FROM THE. WASHBOARD, MAINTAINING PROPER EDGE GEOMETRY FREEHAND BECOMES EVEN MORE SIMPLE. MANAGING THE SLURRY CONSISTENCY CAN BE TRICKY AT FIRST, BECOME FAMILIAR WITH CONVENTIONAL USE OF COMPOUND FIRST. ®