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The system cutters, if used as designed, should not need frequent sharpening, but when such sharpening is required, it should be undertaken with
great care, following the guidance given below.It is recommended that a small diamond hone or slip stone be used for sharpening. The hone should be used along the circumference of the cutting ring. The
action should be to rock the hone from toe to heel, in an arc, as it is slid forward along the circumference. Those familiar with filing curved shapes will know that the smoothest curves are NOT produced by
following the shape of the curve, but rather by moving the file in a "reflection" of the desired surface shape. Exactly the same principles apply here: if you're not sure, get an experienced metalworker/bench
fitter to show you, or practise first with a file and a piece of 1/8" (3mm) plate steel. Learning to sharpen is every bit as much a skill as is learning to use the tool - indeed any tool - itself.
There are a couple of definite NO-NOs to observe:
- DO NOT attempt to hone, file, sharpen, fettle or do anything else to the inside of the hole which forms the cutting edge. This is carefully and specifically shaped and meddling with it will, in all
likelihood, damage the shaping.
- DO NOT attempt to sharpen the ring by honing or stoning across the narrow edge of the cutter (i.e. do not hone in a direction perpendicular to the face of the cutter - see diagram below.)
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