All About Pocket Knives

So, I have this old wheel, actually came off our family farm, but it really has no bigtime sentimental value to me, it's mostly just an old stone - if it were in good shape maybe that'd be different, but it ain't. Anyway, any good ideas what to do with it? Didn't know if taking the wheel and making a sharpening table out of it or what??? What would one sharpen on it?

Council Tool has said that one of these works well, but they are hard to find these days. Faster than using a file and stones, but not so fast that it produces a ton of heat.

I'm sure you will likely need to true it, but I am not sure how.

Those were handy on the farm in byegone days, used for sharpening agricicultural tools like hoes, axes, mower blades, scythes, shovels, and similar. They weren't meant for sharpening knives. I have one with a smaller diameter wheel.

Ken

cody6268 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 19, 2024 10:51 pm Council Tool has said that one of these works well, but they are hard to find these days. Faster than using a file and stones, but not so fast that it produces a ton of heat.

I'm sure you will likely need to true it, but I am not sure how.

It'd need a lot of work to get it back to spinning - it is in much rougher condition than it looks in this picture.

I'd say it might be more valuable left as is and as an art decoration/designer piece for the right setting.

Might try to sell it on eBay as a local pick-up. Maybe some place
of business may want it as a display.

Bob

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Fri Jan 19, 2024 11:14 pm Those were handy on the farm in byegone days, used for sharpening agricicultural tools like hoes, axes, mower blades, scythes, shovels, and similar. They weren't meant for sharpening knives. I have one with a smaller diameter wheel.

Ken

Ken
Do you know what the grit equivalent would be? I would think it would be very coarse.

no clue - I can look at some point, but I'd also think it'd be coarse - but, it also make a good table and no need for a coaster and it'd also hold a regular stone pretty good and not slide around.

I passed one up a few years back for $50, and kicked myself for it later.
If it were mine I would try to mount a gear motor to it, something that would turn at 4 or 5 RPMs. That would be perfect for putting a hollow-grind without heating the blade.

[quote="OLDE CUTLER"
[/quote]
Ken
Do you know what the grit equivalent would be? I would think it would be very coarse.
[/quote]

Those I have seen were fairly course, but some were less course than others. Mine has two wheels, one more course than the other. See picture of it below.

I inherited it from my dad, but sorry to say I don't know much of its history except that he had it in his shop, along with his forge, anvils and blacksmithing tools. It may have belonged to my paternal grandfather. He had a propensity to paint things John Deere green - it's the paint he had at hand!

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Sat Jan 20, 2024 3:04 am [quote="OLDE CUTLER"

Ken
Do you know what the grit equivalent would be? I would think it would be very coarse.
[/quote]

Those I have seen were fairly course, but some were less course than others. Mine has two wheels, one more course than the other. See picture of it below.

I inherited it from my dad, but sorry to say I don't know much of its history except that he had it in his shop, along with his forge, anvils and blacksmithing tools. It may have belonged to my paternal grandfather. He had a propensity to paint things John Deere green - it's the paint he had at hand!

Ken
[/quote]

That's really cool Ken.

My grandfather had one of those old grinder wheel devices. The grinding stone was way out of round. It would still roll if you peddled it, but with the out of round stone, it would have been highly inefficent as a sharpening device. He told me he had used it in days gone by to sharpen axes, hoes and other tools. No mention of sharpening any knives.

I still think I may do something different with it, the wheel on this thing may not be turning but my brain is....

I have a similar one in my driveway. It’s just an ornament now. But it’s not going anywhere. I believe they work pretty well for axes and such even if not round. They turn very slowly. You hold the axe steady and you will skip over the low spot.

A lot of them have a flat spot. There would be a tin tray like a bread pan hung under the blade to keep it wet. If it froze the part of the stone submerged cracks off.

The old timer that gave me mine said it already had the flat spot when he was a little boy and his father and uncle used it anyways.

enuf wrote: ↑Fri Jan 19, 2024 10:16 pm So, I have this old wheel, actually came off our family farm, but it really has no bigtime sentimental value to me, it's mostly just an old stone - if it were in good shape maybe that'd be different, but it ain't. Anyway, any good ideas what to do with it? Didn't know if taking the wheel and making a sharpening table out of it or what??? What would one sharpen on it?

If it were mine, I’d get it spinning, or make a new stand. Then I’d dress the wheel and get it true. Then I’d use it to sharpen my sickle that’s in bad need of a sharpening! They’re the cats meow for sharpening sickles on. Unfortunately they’ve become collectible lawn art and the prices for a good one have gone way up.

ya, I just have a 1-acre lot, John Deere 316 and a weed-wacker is about all I need.

enuf wrote: ↑Sat Mar 23, 2024 3:47 am ya, I just have a 1-acre lot, John Deere 316 and a weed-wacker is about all I need.

I like my John Deere mower too!

If you decide to take the wheel off you could always sell it and use the proceeds to pay for your sharpening table build. Depending on how big it is, some of them bring a decent price.

I was thinking of making a table out of the wheel. Maybe I ought to see what it'd bring as it. I have no clue what it'd be worth.

enuf wrote: ↑Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:00 am I was thinking of making a table out of the wheel. Maybe I ought to see what it'd bring as it. I have no clue what it'd be worth.

I’m a little thick! I get what you’re saying now. When you said make a sharpening table I was thinking of the frame.

Using the wheel as a sharpening table, now that’s a neat idea! I like it!

oh I can see how you'd have gotten that - I should have been more clear. Ya, I was thinking of pulling the stone of and making it as a tabletop for the back porch. I could scratch some knives on it, and it'd make for a great built-in coaster for a cold beverage like a Kool-Aid or something.