Carpet or drywall work is tough on utility-knife blades. Rather than go to the trouble and expense of replacing the knife blades, I touch them up with a couple of strokes on my disposable strop. Literally, in seconds, I can put a serviceable edge on a utility knife.
As shown in the drawing above, I staple strips of 220-grit wet/dry sandpaper to a length of wood lath. When I’ve worn out the top layer of paper, I tear it off and let the next layer take its place. The stacked abrasive paper cuts very aggressively, and the padded effect caused by the layering creates a tapered edge on the knife blade that is both strong and sharp.
You can use the same system with 320-grit or 400-grit wet/dry paper for honing plane irons and chisels. For an even keener edge, strop the tool on a strip of leather with a bit of jeweler’s rouge rubbed into its surface. I glued a length of an old belt onto the back of my disposable strop for this purpose.
Mark White, Birmingham, AL
Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products
Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Milwaukee Cordless Tablesaw (2736)
Hitachi Pin Nailer (NP35A)
Metabo HPT Compact Cordless Miter Saw (C3607DRAQ4)
