Useful Items From Thrift And Dollar Stores For The Shop

Mike Paulson wrote:

Might want to try a hacksaw blade next time.

Wrap masking tape around one end to form a handle.

Lew

I do that, too, occasionally, for single sheets. But for cutting through

4 sheets of sandpaper at once, which is what I usually do, I like my big, heavy, $1 scissors a lot better.

the proper way to sharpen scissors is to cut sandpaper

That BS has been going around for years. Do you sharpen your plane by planing concrete?

In the case with scissors it works to an extent. I suspect what it really does is put micro serrations on the edge from the sand, and it feels like it is sharper because it cuts (certain materials) better.

It's never worked for me ... AAMOF, the dullest pair of scissors in the shop is always relegated to cutting sandpaper, where they immediately get duller and worthless for anything else.

This IS the way to sharpen scissors - cut sandpaper few times. So you are sharpening yours every time...

It always worked for me. But result is only good on good pair of scissors (not loose ones) and kind of not lasting - this is not the permanent solution.

Actually the way to sharpen scissors is to hone the bevel on the outer side of the arm. What we are really saying here is cutting sandpaper will keep a pair of scissors sharp enough to cut sandpaper. Seems reasonable; the grit of the paper will leave minor abrasions on the edge that will leave a cutting surface until they abraded by the next sheet that will leave abrasions on the edge and so on. What the first person described was to cut four pieces at a time. that would abrade both inner and outer surfaces of the arm, again keeping it sharp enough for sandpaper. Time to turn wood.

The REAL way to sharpen scissors is to use one of those small diamond sharpening stones you can mount in a dremel tool. "Looks" like a chain saw sharpening stone. Run that across the bevel edge of the scissors and they cut like new. I start on the heel of the bevel and when I make contact you can see where you are sharpening. Then I angle it down till I hit the cutting edge. This establishes the angle and I proceed along the entire cutting edge. SHARP!

I cut lots of Sandpaper with scissors and It does in fact dull the blade.

PS I use the same bit in my dremel to sharpen my 3TPI band saw blade. About

12 m> > From the dollar store, a large scissors that I use to cut sandpaper sheets

sharpening yours

sharpening yours

Ok - here is how to do it.

Find a board or a 1/4" sheet of steel in the shop (metal shops hate wood due to dust - ask me!). Get a hacksaw blade - the hand type not machine type - but both would work.

Pre-fab so the length of the blade easily fits across the material. Cut the other dimension to 1/4 sheet or 1/2 sheet above the flat (back) edge. (that is the cutting edge. Scribe 1/4 if 1/2 sheet size is used. Have 1/2 sheet 'under' the blade...

Place it across said sheet of material over a sheet of sand paper and center punch holes in the two stretching eyes.

Pilot drill each and then drill for a typical fine pitch thread (keeping metric in here :-) )

Bolt said blade onto the material.

Place sheet under the blade and using the back edge as a shear line, pull down and across the back, the top left or right corner - that of the 1/2 or 1/4 sheet dimension.

Martin

Martin H. Eastburn @ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net TSRA, Life; NRA LOH & Endowment Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot"s Medal. NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member.

Lew Hodgett wrote:

I used to use one of those (large size) for chainsaw bar oil... Ken.

It is also about the ONLY way to add power steering or automatic transmission fluid to a '94 TransSport 3.8