Good gravy, I hope I dont get a bunch of incredulous angry responses
to this question, but here goes...
I have been thinking about hammering down the sharp corners on my
tools including my rosewood mortise gauge and Starrett combo square. I
have found the corners to be so damned sharp that just brushing them
in my apron accidently gives me scratches. They are also a
uncomfortable to hold. I knocked down the edges of my wooden mallet
and now I love to toss it in the air and catch it! I probably wont be
doing that with the Starrett...
What is wrong with this idea? If I did go for it, on what areas or
tools should I NOT ease the corners? Has anyone else tried this?
Thanks, please be kind.
Bob
On 19 Apr 2004 17:25:41 -0700, [email protected] (Bob) wrote:
>Good gravy, I hope I dont get a bunch of incredulous angry responses
>to this question, but here goes...
>
>I have been thinking about hammering down the sharp corners on my
>tools including my rosewood mortise gauge and Starrett combo square. I
>have found the corners to be so damned sharp that just brushing them
>in my apron accidently gives me scratches. They are also a
>uncomfortable to hold. I knocked down the edges of my wooden mallet
>and now I love to toss it in the air and catch it! I probably wont be
>doing that with the Starrett...
>
>What is wrong with this idea? If I did go for it, on what areas or
>tools should I NOT ease the corners? Has anyone else tried this?
>
>Thanks, please be kind.
1. No hammering, please.
2. Look at the tool. Does the sharp corner serve any purpose? If not
it is relatively easy to soften the impact with a stone or piece of
sandpaper.
I've eased corner on lots of different tools (and other things) over
the years. All it really takes is a bit of thought to determine if the
corner or edge is actually sharp (square) for a reason. I don't have a
Starrett combo square, but I did take all the sharp corners (not the
edges) off of my cheap combo square. Those corners don't actually
serve a purpose, so it didn't hurt anything. The edges, on the other
hand, need to be square so it is easier to use it for measuring and
marking.
YMMV
Tim Douglass
http://www.DouglassClan.com
On 20 Apr 2004 09:08:16 -0700, Bannerstone
<[email protected]> wrote:
>>Good gravy, I hope I dont get a bunch of incredulous angry responses
>>to this question, but here goes...
>>
>>I have been thinking about hammering down the sharp corners on my
>>tools including my rosewood mortise gauge and Starrett combo square.
>>Thanks, please be kind.
Sure. Just make an adult decision; whatever turns your crank.
Dan.
Well, first off, I would try to file/sand off the corners to avoid possible
killing the tools accuracy (Starrett combo square fir instance) or smashing
it to bits (rosewood mortise gauge for instance).
Just running around banging things willy-nilly with a hammer may be fun, but
not smart.
codepath
"Bob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Good gravy, I hope I dont get a bunch of incredulous angry responses
> to this question, but here goes...
>
> I have been thinking about hammering down the sharp corners on my
> tools including my rosewood mortise gauge and Starrett combo square. I
> have found the corners to be so damned sharp that just brushing them
> in my apron accidently gives me scratches. They are also a
> uncomfortable to hold. I knocked down the edges of my wooden mallet
> and now I love to toss it in the air and catch it! I probably wont be
> doing that with the Starrett...
>
> What is wrong with this idea? If I did go for it, on what areas or
> tools should I NOT ease the corners? Has anyone else tried this?
>
> Thanks, please be kind.
>
> Bob
well, I don't think I would knock the corners off any saw blades, chisels or
planer blades and flippin them in the air to catch.
Ya gotta be kidding - right ? If this question was for real, then I suggest
you give all your tools away before you really hurt yourself.
"Bob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Good gravy, I hope I dont get a bunch of incredulous angry responses
> to this question, but here goes...
>
> I have been thinking about hammering down the sharp corners on my
> tools including my rosewood mortise gauge and Starrett combo square. I
> have found the corners to be so damned sharp that just brushing them
> in my apron accidently gives me scratches. They are also a
> uncomfortable to hold. I knocked down the edges of my wooden mallet
> and now I love to toss it in the air and catch it! I probably wont be
> doing that with the Starrett...
>
> What is wrong with this idea? If I did go for it, on what areas or
> tools should I NOT ease the corners? Has anyone else tried this?
>
> Thanks, please be kind.
>
> Bob
It's not the tools. :)
But if you absolutely must, just use a stone to take off any burrs or even less
invasive would be to buff them off with a buffing wheel and rouge.
David
In article <[email protected]>, Bob says...
>
>Good gravy, I hope I dont get a bunch of incredulous angry responses
>to this question, but here goes...
>
>I have been thinking about hammering down the sharp corners on my
>tools including my rosewood mortise gauge and Starrett combo square. I
>have found the corners to be so damned sharp that just brushing them
>in my apron accidently gives me scratches. They are also a
>uncomfortable to hold. I knocked down the edges of my wooden mallet
>and now I love to toss it in the air and catch it! I probably wont be
>doing that with the Starrett...
>
>What is wrong with this idea? If I did go for it, on what areas or
>tools should I NOT ease the corners? Has anyone else tried this?
>
>Thanks, please be kind.
>
>Bob
[email protected] (Bob) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Good gravy, I hope I dont get a bunch of incredulous angry responses
> to this question, but here goes...
>
> I have been thinking about hammering down the sharp corners on my
> tools including my rosewood mortise gauge and Starrett combo square. I
> have found the corners to be so damned sharp that just brushing them
> in my apron accidently gives me scratches. They are also a
> uncomfortable to hold. I knocked down the edges of my wooden mallet
> and now I love to toss it in the air and catch it! I probably wont be
> doing that with the Starrett...
On some tools, a blocky or sharp edge is a sign of poor craftsmanship
(i.e. a saw handle) but on other tools it's a sign of fine
craftsmanship. Starrett went to great lengths to grind well-defined,
perpendicular faces and you want to change that? And your method of
choice is hammering?
> What is wrong with this idea? If I did go for it, on what areas or
> tools should I NOT ease the corners?
I would suggest that, under no circumstances, you ease the corners on
the rule (blade) portion of your combo square. Just my $0.02.
> Has anyone else tried this?
Not yet but I plan to (maybe) file some sharp edges off of my bench
vise.
> Thanks, please be kind.
Hehehe. Never hurts to ask. :-)
Cheers,
Mike
> Bob
i know you're gonna catch hell for this post, but ive had to do it on a
couple of my tools over the years. a piece of 400 grit meant for use on
metal is all you need.
randy
"Bob" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Good gravy, I hope I dont get a bunch of incredulous angry responses
> to this question, but here goes...
>
> I have been thinking about hammering down the sharp corners on my
> tools including my rosewood mortise gauge and Starrett combo square. I
> have found the corners to be so damned sharp that just brushing them
> in my apron accidently gives me scratches. They are also a
> uncomfortable to hold. I knocked down the edges of my wooden mallet
> and now I love to toss it in the air and catch it! I probably wont be
> doing that with the Starrett...
>
> What is wrong with this idea? If I did go for it, on what areas or
> tools should I NOT ease the corners? Has anyone else tried this?
>
> Thanks, please be kind.
>
> Bob