Do you believe in Father Christmas? by John Adamson

John asked members “Do you believe in Father Christmas?”

Four Romantics raised their hands , and John assumed that the rest were Realists, or Don’t Knows

He had some bad news, there were other myths that were not true.

• There are NO Self Sharpening carving tools
• There are NO Tool Sharpening Fairies
• There are NO Tool Sharpening Elves
• The tools, that they had  bought as  pre-sharpened and honed razor sharp ready to use, get blunt the same as any other tool.

So Members have

• Sharpen their own tools
• Get someone else to sharpen them
• Or use blunt tools which is dangerous

For some months, John had watched the use of the grinding machines.   Often he was the only person using them.     Sometimes the machines are not brought out!!    That’s no excuse as management says members have only to ask!

He thought that there are two reasons for this sorry state of affairs

1. That Members don’t know that your tools are not as sharp as they should be.
2. That although members  have had Nick’s talk about using the machines, but they just lack confidence.

He thought that he could help with both of these.

When he asked about the state of member’s carving tools, few have a valid way of assessing sharpness.  His way is to run your thumb along the edge.  If it starts to cut into the skin it is sharp.    There was a general reluctance to take up this practice   There is an alternative.

An ordinary plaster stuck to a block of wood.  Run the edge of the tool along the padded bit of the plaster.

• If it just polishes the plaster – it is Blunt.
• If you have to put a lot of pressure on the tool to get it to cut – it is Not Sharp
• If just the weight of the tool is enough to cut the plaster – it is Sharp.

For those not confident with the grinding machines he offered to stand with them as they used the machines to provide guidance if required.