News

Care of our equipment

Posted by Robert Cornwall on

Our equipment is supplied untreated as is traditional for wooden bookbinding equipment and as recommended by leading conservation bookbinders. The reason for this being that a finish could when under pressure mark a binding. However I do have some customers who varnish their equipment and for that we recommend 2 to 3 thin coats of polyurethane varnish (oil based) allowing each coat to dry thoroughly.  The first cost should be thinned with 10% white spirit. We do not recommend either oil or wax as this can expand the timber and lock the threads.

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Sharpening our Plough blade

Posted by Robert Cornwall on

Our blades keep their edge for a reasonable time dependent on what you are cutting as they are made of tool steel. They blunt fastest when cutting board. Below are the instructions for sharpening our blades. We do also stock replacement blades.  Our blades are secured by bolts which screw into threaded inserts which makes them easy to undo for sharpening. The best way to sharpen the blade is using a water lubricated sharpening stone. The best stones are diamond coated on a metal plate and made by companies such as Eze-Lap. You sharpen the blade by removing it from the plough...

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