how to sharpen a beading blade?

[Matthew N. Masail]

http://www.axminster.co.uk/veritas-veritas-hand-beading-tool-prod798737/

I'd like to buy some blades and make my own beading tool, I just love the idea of putting decorative touches like that. are these sharpened to an edge or like a scraper? and what files would you recommend in order to shape them?

Thank again (-:

[Derek Cohen]

Hi Matthew

Sharpen like a scraper.

I use chainsaw files to shape the round sections, then polish on slips.

For steel I use old 3/4" wide bandsaw blade. This needs to be flattened first.

There is related information in this pictorial: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/Improving%20the%2066%20Hand%20Beader.html

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Zach England]

I sharpen the blades from my LN 66 by lapping on water stones then sharpening the contours with some very fine abrasive paper wrapped around a dowel, but I think those blades are quite a bit thicker than other beading tool blades.

[Matthew N. Masail]

Thanks guy (-: I can get a bunch of blank LN blades fairly inexpensive. Derek - that helps a ton!