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View Full Version : Sharpening Set , Anyone?



Dennis
25-04-2010, 03:35 PM
If ever you see these in the tool section of your local pound shop, they are brilliant for finishing the edge of a piece of metal, or trueing the sides of a ring. My old ones are a bit worn after five years and today I found this replacement at Lidl for £2.49. (I also got a pack of 100 6”x5” inkjet photo paper for £3.99).
Your shophound.

Ominicci
25-04-2010, 05:58 PM
So do you use them in place of a file, or a largish piece of flat sandpaper? I can see lots of uses if so.

Dennis
25-04-2010, 09:47 PM
So do you use them in place of a file, or a largish piece of flat sandpaper? I can see lots of uses if so.

Yes, to finish edges after sawing.For instance on bezels and rings made of flat sheet, or hammered from washers. I'm not a skilled filer, so I put them flat on the bech and rub the work on them. There are three useful grades inthe set. Kind regards, Dennis.

elliboo
26-04-2010, 10:27 AM
Thanks Dennis - picked up a set of these this morning, they look really useful. I also grabbed a digital caliper for 8.99 - no idea how well calibrated it is, but got to be better than me guesstimating with a ruler!

Jayne
26-04-2010, 10:30 AM
Did you get digital calipers in Lidl?

elliboo
26-04-2010, 11:00 AM
yep, right next to the diamond sharpeners - I'd been waiting for them to come back at Aldi, but grabbed these when I saw them - glad I went now :)

Dennis
26-04-2010, 11:13 AM
I think you will find them very accurate. But for jewellery making they need only be consistant and measure the same every time, for instance to fit a bezel to a stone, or choose two stones for earrings.

Ominicci
26-04-2010, 11:32 AM
Thanks Dennis - am off to get some!

Already have digital calipers from Tchibo (when they used to be in the Somerfield stores) £9.99, and I wouldn't be without them.

lesley
26-04-2010, 12:15 PM
I'm sure I've seen these in our local "rubbishy old tat" shop. Will check them out - cheers.

disorganised
26-04-2010, 01:12 PM
I have the aldi digital calipers, and have found them to be reasonably accurate, but not always perfectly consistent. They're good enough for the kind of things I'm making, but for very precise work they might be less good. For example - my 1.2mm round wire from cooksons last night measured between 1.15 to 1.24 on repeated measurings. So, fine to the nearest 0.1mm but unreliable after that.

Dennis
26-04-2010, 02:01 PM
Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but when that happens they need to be closed firmly and zeroed before going on(?). D.

Jayne
26-04-2010, 03:17 PM
Just bought myself a pair of digital calipers & a sharpening set, thanks chaps! (feels a bit like Christmas lol)
J x

Ominicci
27-04-2010, 12:55 PM
Got my sharpening set - looks like it will be very handy indeed! :Y:

disorganised
27-04-2010, 04:33 PM
Sorry if I'm stating the obvious, but when that happens they need to be closed firmly and zeroed before going on(?). D.

Not obvious to me! Thanks. Will give that a go.

Ominicci
29-04-2010, 08:29 AM
Just got my Jewelry Artist mag and the very same sharpening set is pictured in there as a 'grinding and sanding essential for lapidary' - presumably as an aid for flattening the base of cabs or rough shaping.

Di Sandland
29-04-2010, 02:58 PM
cheers, Dennis, you're a diamond ;)