Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

On Feb 27, 2008, at 6:33 PM, Robert Walton wrote:

> Something to sharpen the saws on and the knowledge of how to do it.

Good point. And pretty good pun, no?

Sharpening tools is one area where I am barely competent. Sometimes  
it's just impatience, sometimes it's not having the right file or  
stone. Thanks for reminding me of the need. I lust for one of those  
old sharpeners where you sit on a tiny seat and push foot pedals to  
power the big stone wheel. I remember a line in, what was that TV  
program where the guy walked through the woods to his shop--The  
Woodwright's Shop, Roy Underhill, I think. In one of his books he is  
talking to an old timer about which way you run the wheel, towards you  
or away from you, which will do the best job. The old timer with a  
straight face says always run it away from you, that way you won't get  
the water in your face.
> I find that auctions, especially if there are Amish buggies parked
> there are a good source for some of this stuff.

I would worry that the Amish might run the prices up. But also suspect  
they are frugal, so maybe not.

Some of my best tool buys have been at auctions in the area around  
Heartwood. It's not hand-powered, but I got a concrete mixer awhile  
back for $45. The seller knew the motor was shot and provided another  
that was good. The bucket had a lot of old mortar in it. I changed the  
motors, knocked out most of the mortar, tossed in stones of various  
sizes and a little water and let it run itself clean. It works  
perfectly and is of much heavier construction than models offered at  
building supply stores.

My recollection, murky memory, you know, is that Helen and Scott  
Nearing rigged their mixer to be hand-powered. Considering all the  
mortar and concrete they mixed, I feel tired just thinking about it.

My grain grinder, which I have set up with an old clothes dryer motor  
on it, has a handle that screws into the pulley wheel. I hand ground a  
couple pounds of wheat one rainy day to see how it went. It went hard  
on my shoulder.

My first choice is usually a gas or electric-powered tool. But it is  
prudent to have the hand-powered backup.