From Ed Livingston, Pinellas Park, Fla.
Wooden honing tools, whether they are commercial products or shopmade hones matched to the exact profile of your tools, can quickly hone the inside and outside of gouges and V-tools. Over time, the wood can weaken and deform depending on the amount of pressure you apply while honing. To prevent this, I cover my wooden honing tools with a piece of thin leather, suede, or pigskin.
I attach the leather to the wood using contact cement. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to apply the contact cement. Use a dull pointed tool to force the leather down against all of the wooden surfaces to maintain the shape and contours. Allow the contact cement to dry for 24 hours and apply your honing compound to the leather.
Quick Tool Honing
From Faye Burden, Madisonville, Ky.
Before I started carving, I used a June Tailor self-healing mat when cutting quilt squares with a rotary cutter. After cutting for a long time, I realized that my cutting blade was staying sharp; apparently the self-healing mat was abrasive enough to sharpen the blade.
I tried it with my carving tools and it worked well. I didn’t need to apply any honing compound, water, or oil to the mat. Just make a few cuts into the mat with your tool to quickly touch up the edge. I keep a 5″ by 5″ mini mat in my tool bag so I can use it anywhere.
Inexpensive Paintbrush Holder
From Mark Bevington
Canton, Mich.
Fill a plastic cup with uncooked rice or dried beans. Stick the paintbrush handle down into the rice or beans. The rice absorbs any excess moisture that drips down the handle and keeps the brushes separated, protecting the bristles from damage.
