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[SillyShilly]

Just a quick question to the batmakers on the forum (or carpenters, or any other random bloke who likes sharpening metal tools)
Can you get blades sharpened professionally and where is best  - is it worth it and will they do a better job than me labouring away on a grindstone for hours on end? I'm guessing the answer is yes to all of the above:)
I only ask as i purchased a nice old 7" drawknife yesterday and just toying with the idea of getting it done professionally - cheers!!!

[Talisman]

Get a whetstone and learn to do it yourself, you seem to have plenty of time on your hands.....

[SAF Bats]

quick search to give you an idea maybe able to find them cheaper

http://www.rutlands.co.uk/hand-tools/sharpening/stones---diamond/86M/8%22-x-3%22-diamond-stones
 
 
edit: To answer your question - people that sharpen Garden blades may able to help
 

[SillyShilly]

Little bit pricey - i'm sure the diamond stone would be best, but the old man has plenty of whet stones around the garage and a decent grinder.  Out of interest, would you sharpen an old and slightly wonky blade by hand or would you send it off to get sharpened professionally and then maintain the blade yourself after this? This is my predicament, i think i should be able to restore the blade and get a nice bevel on it, but it might be best to get it done by the pro's first then try my best to keep it sharp using the stones and grinders?

http://www.rutlands.co.uk/hand-tools/planing/spoke-shaves/P5001/pullshave
I like this, looks like a scoop makers dream

[SAF Bats]

Pullshave aren't really usable because of the grain orientation of the clefts

Wonky as in not flat or wonky on the cutting edge?

[SillyShilly]

wonky cutting edge, not a wonky blade Had the blade itself been wonky i wouldnt have bought, it's just the edge of the blade that needs the work on.
The more you say wonky the stupider it sounds.

Bad news on the pull shave - i was hoping it would be the next stage on from the travishers!!!

[SAF Bats]

Pop in and see me one day for the best tool for concaving [well I think]. Wonky cutting edge, if it is alot then it will involve a fair ammount of grinding / filing to straighten it enough. So best to get someone to straighten it and then you finish the edge of it if isnt sharpe enough
 
 

[Beachcricket]

Axminster do diamond stones that are cheap and do a great job of sharpening blades. I have a pullshave and I agree with SAF, very awkward tool to use. G and M tools have travishers but I have no idea what the radii on them are?

[Ayrtek Cricket]

Right got a couple of clefts on the way and am hoping for some very kind sole on here to be willing to lend me a travisher got the rest of the tools required i think in terms of spokeshaves, rask, drawknife etc but nothing to concave the back of the bats with

Anybody willing to loan out theirs in return for much merryment in return i promise to look after it and will return it to them afterwards....

[SAF Bats]

get hold of Sillyshilly for a short term loan if he isn't working on one of his masterpieces at the moment

[Ayrtek Cricket]

Cheers Andy.....will have a word as maybe around Zzzzomerset tomorrow debt collecting, what would you recommend to use given that its my 1st outting?

[SillyShilly]

An artist never ceases to work andy
No problem, i'd go with the 4 if i was you - the 5 tends to take a lot of wood out and quickly

[Ayrtek Cricket]

cool thanks dom....Matt at H4L has very kindly offered to loan me one if your still using Andy's...lets hope i dont bodge everything up too quickly!

[SAF Bats]

good stuff.... Sillyshilly can make some classic shaped bats in the short term

[SAF Bats]

cool thanks dom....Matt at H4L has very kindly offered to loan me one if your still using Andy's...lets hope i dont bodge everything up too quickly!

Pray to the great god of willow and then approach the willow from down wind.  Attack with drawknife and plane then the travisher, if you need Oscar let me know