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Horse/sewing connection. Get your sharpening stone out of your tackbox.
jadamo00 Advanced NY USA Member since 3/13/06 Posts: 1254	Login to reply to this post 4 members like this. Date: 1/1/13 8:27 AM When you work with horses, you always need to keep a sharp knife on you, in case you ever have to cut anyone out of their harness, or do an emergency trache on a newborn, or something. In my day (working with the primitive horse Eohipphus...), a two-sided sharpening oilstone just cost a dollar or two. Keeping your knife sharp was a solitary task, until an old ex-cowboy started hanging around the barn and got us all into the habit of sitting together to sharpen our knives and chat. This man once gave me a better knife than I had. Yet, I digress (I TOLD you I was old...) Anyhow, I dug the oilstone out of the basement where I keep my tack and put it in the kitchen drawer where I've used it several times to knock the burr off a sewing machine needle and even to sharpen an Exacto blade, because I'm too cheap to change to a new one. I guess I wouldn't recommend buying an oilstone just to keep needles in shape because I see that they're now around $25. Was this interesting at all? j. -- Edited on 1/1/13 8:47 AM --
LLC333   Intermediate CA USA Member since 8/21/09 Posts: 9	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/2/13 0:15 AM I'll say it was interesting! Loved it. Who knew, a two-sided sharpening oilstone? Are you still active with horses? What did you do with horses? You said cut out of a harness, newborn or etc. so I am guessing your experience is extensive. Do tell!
SandiMacD   Intermediate FL USA Member since 2/8/09 Posts: 1162	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/2/13 4:25 AM Sharpening used to be something so important. Dad had a great one growing up. The electric ones don't seem to work great. Or perhaps it is the poorly made metal in our blades and needles. DH invested in high quality knives (he's the chef) and sharpening is something he does constantly. You've made me want to get back into it. Thanks! ------ re-living my youth through sewing...
jadamo00 Advanced NY USA Member since 3/13/06 Posts: 1254	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 1/2/13 6:38 AM I wasn't raised with horses. I'm a BROOKLYN girl! But, for some reason, I'm just really good with them. After Barnard, I spent the summer living in the (hay) loft apartment of a 100 horse barn and was lucky enough to have a bent old riding master who trusted me to do all sorts of dangerous, risky things that I'd never done before. Trusted me for no apparent reason -- I never knew what the hell I was doing! I was smart enough to keep my trap shut, soak it all in, and just carry through with whatever insane thing he ordered me to do. When I got back to Brooklyn, I worked 2 years in a hack stable, and then the NYPD asked me to start an Auxiliary Mounted Unit to help patrol Prospect Park. The barn (Troop D) is/was on the other side of the Belt Parkway behind Coney Island Hospital. Now, I'm old. I became a NY Ad writer, and then retired to teach low-income NYC adults how to pass the GED and get their high school credential. I live in Queens NY. My best bridle is in my bedroom closet behind a winter white wool suit. My tack box is at the foot of my bed. The rest of it, including my "teeny butt" Steuben Rex saddle is in the basement, but I just visited it for Christmas because my brother-in-law needs the leather punch for a belt. You are so nice to let me write about this stuff. Really, you indulge me too much! [Or perhaps it is the poorly made metal in our blades and needles.] This could really be it: I have an old carbon steel chef knife that I took into Henry Westphal, NYC, for sharpening with my fabric shears. The tinker came out from the back to tell me they don't make knife iron that like any more, with so much carbon in it, and to NEVER let it go. j. -- Edited on 1/2/13 7:01 AM --
sew4grands   Intermediate BC CANADA Member since 2/23/09 Posts: 57	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/2/13 5:31 PM We gave our son a knife sharpener for Christmas this year and so far he has cut himself three times. He is over 40 years old, so not a kid. He does the cooking at his house. ------ Nancy B. I sew with 4 Brothers and a Featherweight Babylock Serger
LLC333   Intermediate CA USA Member since 8/21/09 Posts: 9	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/2/13 6:26 PM Love reading of your very interesting adventures. You were quite skilled & well thought of to be asked to be part of creating such programs. I strongly suspect you are younger than many 20 year olds! Are your knives & scissors heavy?
jadamo00 Advanced NY USA Member since 3/13/06 Posts: 1254	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 1/2/13 7:02 PM Nancy! Take that gizmo away from him: apparently, he's fine with the knives; it's the sharpener! The knife IS heavy. j.
Al Johnson Beginner MN USA Member since 2/17/07 Posts: 1184	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 1/4/13 1:32 PM I like Arkansas natural stones for sharpening. I use the medium and hard (fine) varieties for kitchen and pocket knives. Work like a charm. Once sharpened an axe enough to shave arm hair, just to see if I could. Then loaned it to my brother in law, who returned it with large nicks in the blade. Grrrr. ------ A sewing machine is just a welder for textiles.
jadamo00 Advanced NY USA Member since 3/13/06 Posts: 1254	Login to reply to this post In reply to Al Johnson << Like this post Date: 1/5/13 10:59 AM Yowzah, shaving with an AXE! Al, how mu$h are these natural sharpening stones? j. -- Edited on 1/5/13 11:04 AM --

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