This
saw sharpening process can be handled quickly
and simply by professional tool sharpeners,
saving you up to 50% over buying a new blade.
You can probably expect to pay a few dollars
per blade. But you have to be careful to find
a dealer who will follow safety guidelines
to prevent accidents or damage to your equipment
in the process of saw blade sharpening. Then
you will need to mail your blades in secure
packaging and take care to insure them for
the postal delivery and return.
Oilstone or Ceramic Stone
Many experts use an oilstone, which is a whetting
stone used to sharpen dull metal with the help
of oil. Some dealers use a ceramic sharpening
stone that do not require the use of oil. The
dark stone, about 800 grit, shapes the blade,
while the white stone polishes the blade. You
can purchase one for about $50 or less. Another
popular tool of this type is the hand-held stick
version, using a substance like Mylar film with
micro-abrasives on two sides and includes chromium
oxide for polishing.
When
sharpening a saw blade at home using a tool
you have purchased, be careful to wear gloves
and eye guards, and follow all instructions to
avoid problems with metal grit or dust, or the
possibility of broken tool parts chipping off
and hurting someone. Clean all debris afterward
and store the tools in a safe position so kids
and pets can’t get hurt with them.
Take your sharpening tools in for service at
least once a year to be sure they are doing the
job you need them to that will keep your saws
and other blades working safely and efficiently.
When you find a dealer whose work you trust,
keep his or her telephone number handy in case
you need it at the spur of the moment in the
future. You never know when you will need unexpected
help with saw blade sharpening.
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