Another Modeling Medium

[chuck]

That Laskey knife sharpener is nice because it uses crossed pieces of honing material.

I'll have to look for one of those. I needed a pair of really sharp scissors to make face masks back when there was nothing available. My wife had a pair of sewing shears that were close to 50 years old. Cloth is very unforgiving of a not so sharp blade. I tried to sharpen them with wet stones using techniques I found on YouTube. Nothing worked. A couple of the videos recommended Laskey but I wasn't sure of the "veritas" of the claims. Thanks for the vote of confidence in the product.

I have a couple of el-cheapo paring knives that I just use the honing steel for my chef's knives on. They seem to come out sharper than when they were new after a few strokes on the steel. Thought about trying the X-Acto on this but the blades are so small.

As far as cutting tools are concerned I've been very impressed to a razor saw I picked up on MicroMark. The double sided blades are size of a two sided safety razor blade but have 70 teeth per side (~ 1 inch long) and are .005" thin. They are great for removing plastic parts from runners/sprue. They are also kink of dangerous as they are so sharp and thin. Use with caution.

[Jim K]

Well, correct me on the name. It is spelled Lansky. Even simpler.

Jim K

[chuck]

Google fixed it!!!

I found it and ordered it. Should be here Sunday. Thanks!!!

I will try to repair Deb's shears when it arrives. I've since bought a rotary cutter which actually works better for material cutting as you don't have to work your hands and I can easily cut +24" in a single swath. Another tool that you need to keep your finger/wrist out of the way.

This sharpener should be good for my kitchen knives, scissors, hatchet, hobby tools.

[Jim K]

Chuck,

I was really just sharing information. Sharpening
scissors is very difficult. My old Knife Ace at work
was hesitant to do those. But any knife was fair
game. Best of luck!

Jim K

[chuck]

Well, they're useless know so I can't make them any worse than they are

I looked at em with a 5x loupe and I can't see whatever is wrong. It's possible that the rivet holding the blades together has loosened over the years and the blades don't line up like they should. While it can't cut cloth it does a pretty good job on paper. Cest le vie.

[chuck]

It worked!!!!. Shears are sharpened! The ceramic honing "edge" plus this web site http://www.sharpeninghandbook.info/GT-Scissors-Sewing.html allowed me to "fix" the shears. The diamond guides are not used on scissors. I will try an Xacto on those shortly.

The web site provided the key, scissors are nothing like a knife, angles are too extreme, either close to 90 or less than 10 depending on how you look at the blade. About 10 minutes of stroking (5 minutes per blade) and they are cutting almost like new. I need to do a little more work on the last 1/8" (aka the tip of the blade) but they are more than useable even now.

Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!!!!!!!

[Jim K]

Chuck,

Great. Glad to be of some help. I will have to read about the scissor sharpening.
Man, you got that Lansky fast!

Jim K

[chuck]

Man, you got that Lansky fast!

Supposed to come in tomorrow! I actually stepped on the box going out to start up the sprinkler! Sharpener was supposed to come in tomorrow and a BluRay on Monday. Box was barely dented.

[Jim K]

Well, these photos aren't so good but then again the paper models weren't so good either. Text is from my book.

This lightweight switcher used mechanical transmission, similar to that used in motor vehicles, to convey power to the wheels from its eight cylinder diesel engine. More than 230 of these hardworking locomotives were built between 1957 and 1961. They worked marshaling yards and docks across the UK and one was still in use in 2013.


New York City's subway is one of the world's most celebrated underground networks. Its cars are powered by a third rail on the track with 600V of DC current. The R32s were introduced in 1964 and some are still in use half a century later.


Jim K

[healey36]

Paper models are brilliant. I have one around here somewhere that recreates a Lionel prewar bungalow. Need to dig that out and build it. Meanwhile, thanks for posting.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I have Ellison's Oblong Box to build on the shelf - think I need some foam board behind it for support - maybe an expedition to Michaels...

[chuck]

Somewhere I have a paper model of Voyager. This is/was a pretty nice kit with the exception of the main dish which was styrofoam?

a) If I can find the kit and b) make up a decent dish from really thin styrene (like paper thin) I'll try to build it. The most challenging part looks to be the nuclear power supply boom. That's crazy long and probably real fragile.

That paper model switcher looks straight out of Thomas the Tank Engine. Dang is I can remember his name. Subway car looks great.