Knives
The knife is one of the earliest tools of all and has played an important part in the tool kit of man, either as hunter or craftsman, from the Old Stone Age to the present day. Most Finns have two knives: "a small one for eating and a large one for working", identical in all respects except for size.
Most of the rest of us have a different one for almost anything that requires cutting or shaping; the shape and size of the blade and handle and the relation between them depending on the material to be cut and the control needed to do the job properly. Some ''knives" such as the putty knife, do not, in fact, cut anything: they just happen to resemble those which do.
Although in modern times various types of draw knife have been used all over western Europe by many tradesmen, particularly coopers and wheelwrights, the tool appears to have been unknown to the early civilizations of the Mediterranean area.
One of the earliest known forms is the Russian skobel, with a curved blade from 4 to 5-1/2in. wide with a tang at each end to take wooden handles. These were found at Novgorod and date from the twelfth to the sixteenth century, the larger tools being the later. Plumbers' shaves of a similar type are shown in Felibien, but the first straight bladed draw knife occurs in Moxon's carpenter's kit (London, 1685).
Trimming Knife
OTHER NAMES: Shopknife, Stanley knife
MATERIAL: Various
ACCESSORIES: Special purpose blades for cutting linoleum, plastic Laminates, wood and metal.
USE: To trim various materials
Many types of general purpose trimming knives are produced. They all have disposable blades, which come razor sharp from the manufacturers. These can be dangerous if misused and so blade guards are often supplied to protect the user, as well as the cutting edge, from damage. Some blades retract into the body of the knife for safely. Blades are replaced either by inserting a new blade: or, in some eases, by snapping off the end of a continous blade to produce a new cutting edge.
Types of blade
Special purpose blades are supplied for cutting specific materials or for better control.
STRAIGHT GENERAL PURPOSE BLADE
Used for trimming leather, paper, cardboard, plastic sheets and ceiling tiles. It can also be used to mark out wood.
HOOKED BLADES
Ideal for trimming linoleum or vinyl floor coverings. The hook, which is sharpened on the inside of the curve only, is less likely to slip out of the cut when working this kind of material. An exaggerated hook with a blunted point can be used to trim sheeting without damaging the surface beneath.
CURVED BLADES
Can be used for general trimming but are particularly useful when working materials at different angles.
PLASTIC LAMINATE BLADES
Special blades made to score this material. As the blade is pulled across the laminate the cutting edge works like a tiny "V" chisel, scoring a line in the hard surface. Use a straight edge to keep the blade true.
SERRATED BLADES
These convert the knife into a saw for metal and wood.
Modellers Knives
SIZE: Handle length: 5in.
MATERIAL: Blades: steel; Handle: aluminum alloy, plastic
USE: To trim wood plastic or cardboard for the construction of models or other fine work
Cutting irregular shapes
A set of modeler's knives comprises a group of handles of varying size made for different purposes, and a selection of blades to fit them.
In addition to the slimmer handles, the set also contains a handle for heavy duty work. It takes the larger knife blade, a series of gouge blades and mmtature saw blades. The same handle will take miniature "scorp" blades, which cut by scooping material with a pull stroke.
The blades are held in the holder by a clamp type chuck which is tightened by turning the knurled collar.
Use the slim pencil handle, which turns easily in the fingers, for cutting odd shapes freehand or around a template.
Sheath Knife
SIZE: Various
MATERIAL: Blade: steel; Handle: hardwood, plastic, leather, steel
USE: General purpose knife
All sheath knives have a fixed. wedge shaped blade sharpened on one edge. The blades must be as sharp as possible, and consequently are protected by a leather or plastic sheath which is normally hung on a belt around the waist.
Sheath knives are versatile tools which can carve, shape and trim wood. The larger knives have strong blades which can chop and split lumber, and are indispensable to the woodsman or hunter.
Keep the blade sharp by stroking both sides of the cutting edge on or with an oilstone or slipstone. Use a circular motion. Finally strop the blade on a leather strap.
Folding Knife
OTHER NAME: Army knife, Swiss army knife.
SIZE: Various
MATERIAL: Blades: steel: Handle: various
USE: To pare and slice
There are many versions of the folding knife, sometimes called the army knife, all of which provide a safe means of carrying a bladed tool. Some folding knives incorporate additional tools such as screw-drivers, cap lifters, bottle and can openers, reamers, files, scissors, saws, tweezers, corkscrews, and even toothpicks.
Putty Knife
OTHER NAMES: Stopping knife, glazing knife
SIZES: Blade length: 4 to 5in.; Blade width: 1-1/2 to 2in.
MATERIAL: Blade: steel; Handle: rosewood
USE: To apply putty when glazing windows
A putty knife is used to shape and smooth putty once the window glass is in place. The knives are available with straight, spearpoint or clipped point blades. The shape of the blade is a matter of choice. depending on the preference of the user. Some older knives have notches cut in the edges of the blade to "nibble" off small pieces of glass, but this feature is now obsolete.
Replacing a broken window
1. Wear gloves to prelect your hands. If the glass is only cracked score a line with a glass cutter approximately 1in. away from the frame and carefully remove the window in sections.
2. Still wearing the gloves, remove any remaining broken glass from the frame by gently tapping it out from behind with a hammer.
3. Using a hacking knife or an old chisel, chip out any old putty from the frame and remove all glazing sprigs. Apply a thin layer of putty to the frame rabbet and press the new sheet of glass in to it.
4. Secure the glass with glazing sprigs and remove excess putty with the putty knife. Roll more putty into a rope and press it into the frame with your fingers and the knife.
5. Occasionally dip the putty knife in water and shape the putty into an angle sloping from the glass down to the edge of the rabbet.
6. Mitre the putty at the corners; an angled or "clipped" blade putty knife is particularly useful at this point. Allow the putty to dry as manufacturer recommends before painting.
Hacking Knife
OTHER NAME: Chipping knife
SIZE: Blade length: 4 to 4-1/2in.
MATERIAL: Blade: steel; Handle: leather
USE: To chop out old putty from a window frame
The hacking knife has blade, sharpened along the bottom edge and thickened along the top edge to withstand hammer blows. The blade has an extended point to get right into the corner of the frame. The handle is leather and riveted to the tang with brass rivets.
The only difference between a hacking knife and a chipping knife is the angle between the handle and the blade.
Using the knife
Hold the knife in one hand against the putty and tap the back with a hammer to move it along the frame rabbet. Wear goggles to protect your eyes.
Filling Knife
SIZE: Width: 1 to 4in.
MATERIAL: Blade: steel: Handle: rosewood
USE: To spread fillers in wood or plaster
A filling knife has a flexible blade to enable it to psh the filler down into the cracks or hole. Even new plaster cracks due to shrinkage and should be filled before decoration. Damp down the crack with water, If you are going to use a plaster base filler.
Filler applied in this way will often protrude slightly from the surface. This should be left, as it often contracts when drying and any irregularities can easily be sanded down afterward using fine sandpaper wrapped round a block of wood. Larger holes should be filled in stages to allow the filler to dry out thoroughly between applications.
Removing loose material
Use the corner of the knife to scrape out any loose material from the crack.
Applying filler
Scoop the filler on to the square end of the knife and run it down the crack.
Palette Knife
SIZE: Length: 4 to 12in.
MATERIAL: Blade: steel; Handle: rosewood
USE: To mix paints
The palette knife has a long flexible blade used to mix and fold pigments on a board.
Wallpaper Trimmer
SIZES: Cutter diameter: 2in.; Straight edge length: 6ft.
MATERIAL: Housing: zinc alloy; Blade: steel; Straight edge: aluminum
ACCESSORIES: Zinc backing strip
USE: To trim the edge from wallpaper
Although most modern wallpapers are ready trimmed to width, more exclusive papers still need to have the selvedge trimmed from their long edges before they can be butted together. This can be done with scissors or a straight edge and a knife, but as these wallpapers are so expensive professional paper hangers sometimes use a special purpose trimmer.
This is a circular blade fitted in a cast housing which runs along a straight edge track. A zinc strip is placed under the paper which protects the table top while being soft enough to maintain the sharp edge of the cutter. The paper can be trimmed dry or pasted. The trimmer should face die near side edge of the table running from left to right.
The wallpaper trimmer is a relatively expensive tool and should be maintained. Clean any paste from the track or trimmer immediately after use and dry them thoroughly. Oil the moving parts and lightly grease the track.
Using the trimmer
With the zinc strip under the paper, align the straight edge along the cut line. Locate the rollers at the extreme lefthand end of the straight edge just before the end of the paper. Hold the straight edge in place and gently depress the thumb piece, moving the trimmer forward at the same time. Excessive pressure will damage the zinc strip and dull the cutting edge. Move the strip every few strokes. Use both sides of the strip regularly.
Paper Hanger's Knife
SIZE: Approximately 6in.
MATERIAL: Blade: steel; Handle: hardwood
USE: To trim the edge from wallpaper
Another method of trimming selvedge from wallpaper is to use a paper hanger's knife and a long straight edge. It is not a common tool today as most wallpapers are sold ready cut to width, and it is more convenient to use a trimming knife with a suitable blade than to buy a special purpose knife.
Casing Blade
OTHER NAME: Casing wheel
SIZE: Wheel diameter: 1-1/2in.
MATERIAL: Blade: tool steel; handle: hardwood
USE: To trim excess wallpaper
Once the wallpaper has been hung, any excess can be removed by the casing blade, a sharpened steel wheel which revolves between a pair of forks. It is fitted with a handle so that it can be run along a junction of the baseboard and the wall, around light switches, light fittings and door and window frames to remove unwanted wallpaper.
A toothed wheel is available which is more suitable for delicate wallpapers.
Slater's Ripper
OTHER NAME: Shingle nail remover
SIZE: 23 to 27in.
MATERIAL: Steel
USE: To cut through the nails holding shingles or slates to the roof timbers.
Removing a single slate for repair is a difficult job as each row of roof slates overlaps the previous one, at the same time covering up the nails that fix them to the roof timbers. The ripper makes the job easier. It has a long thin blade terminating in a sharpened hook on either side.
Using the ripper
Feed the tip of the blade in under the bottom edge of the slate until one of the hooks locates over the fixing nail.
Draw Knife
OTHER NAME: Drawing knife
SIZE: Blade length: 5 to 13in.
MATERIAL: Blade: steel; Handles: hardwood
USE: To rough shape straight and curved lumber sections
The draw knife has existed for many years in a variety of forms to suit various trades, but its main task is to shape lumber sections roughly to size before applying a plane or spokeshave to the work.
The common form of draw knife has a flat blade, beveled on the top front edge only. The blade may have parallel back and cutting edges, or one curved blade, or only the cutting edge may be curved for slicing. This kind of knife is sometimes known as the English draw knife. However shaped, the blade is formed with a tang at each end which is bent round in die direction of the cutting edge, either at right angles or flared slightly outwards.
Fitted to these tangs are hardwood handles which may be roughly cylindrical or spherical and egg shaped. The choice is a matter of personal preference. The knife must be kept as sharp as a chisel to work efficiently. Rest one handle on a bench and hone the cutting edge with an oilstone.
For convex curves use the tool bevel uppermost, but for concave work turn the knife over, so the bevel faces downward. This will prevent it cutting too deeply into the wood.
Always pull the knife toward you controlling the depth of the cut by the angle at which the blade is presented to the work. Cut with the grain to avoid tearing the work.
Scorp
OTHER NAME: Round shave
SIZE: Blade diameter: 2 to 4in.
MATERIAL: Blade: steel; Handle: hardwood
USE: To cut deep hollows in lumber
The scorp is a draw knife that has been bent completely into a circle with both tangs fitted into one handle. It is used to hollow out objects such as wooden bowls, and is operated one handed, being pulled toward the worker like a regular draw knife.
Inshave
OTHER NAME: Round shave
SIZE: Blade diameter: 2 to 4in.
MATERIAL: Blade: steel; Handle: hardwood
USE: To cut deep concave shapes in lumber
The inshave is like a regular draw knife bent into a tight curve. It is beveled on the outside face to enable it to cut deep hollows for bowls and chair seats. It is used two handed, pulled toward the worker like a draw knife.
Wood Carver's Hook
SIZE: Overall length: 8in.
MATERIAL: Blade: steel; Handle: hardwood
USE: Multi-purpose carving knife
The blade of the woodcarver's hook has a pronounced curl at the tip, which is sharpened to form a scoop to rough out hollows in lumber. The blade is also sharpened on both long edges. The hook is pulled toward the worker, like a scorp.
Chip Carving Knives
SIZE: Overall length: 5 to 6-1/2in.
MATERIAL: Blade: steel: Handles: hardwood
USE: To carve low relief decoration in wood
Chip carving knives are made in various forms to produce the low relief carving popularly known as "chip" carving, usually a series of geometrical shapes. Some blades are sharpened on both edges for cutting toward and away from the carver; there are also chisel-like cutters, usually with an angled end, which are suitable for chip carving.
Producing a cut
A typical motif used in chip carving is the reverse Three-sided pyramid. A chisel type knife with an angled end is ideal for this type of cut. The first cuts are always the vertical cuts along the lines A-D, B-D, C-D. These must meet in the centre at the required depth and should run out to the surface at the points of the triangle. The sloping pyramid sides are then sliced out to produce a clean face.
Marking Knife
SIZE: 6in.
MATERIAL: Blade: steel; Handle: hardwood
USE: To mark lumber for cutting
Most marking knives are ground on one side of the blade only so that the flat face can run against a try square when marking across the work. Hold the knife as you would a pencil and make firm strokes. The cut is square on the finished side of the line and beveled on the waste side which results in a square shoulder, but leaves a clear line for the saw to follow.
Round Knife
OTHER NAMES: Half round knife, head knife, half moon knife
SIZE: Diameter: up to 6in.
MATERIAL: blade: steel. Handle: hardwood
USE: To cut leather
The round knife is a versatile tool to work thick leather, it's curved blade, sharpened along the entire edge, produces an ideal slicing action. Smell trimming jobs can easly be executed by simply rocking the blde across the leather.
Using the round knife
1. Lift the edge of the leather and push the round knife along the cut line keeping the centre of the curved blade in line with the edge of the leather.
2. Or pull the knife through leather holding it the other way around and standing to one side of the work. This is useful for long cuts.
3. Use the edge of the bench as a straiqht edge guide to cut a narrow strip. Keep the bottom half of the blade pressed against the front bench edge.
4. Reducing the thickness of a hide is called "skiving". Reverse the leather amd line up it's edge with the bench edge. Hold the knife at the angle of the required bevel and push.
5, Skive the ends of the straps by supperting the strap on the bench and pushing the knife away from you, resisting the pull on the strap with your other hand.
6. Shape the ends with a similar action. Turn the knife on it's edge and rest the lower end of the blade against the edge of the bench. Guide and pull the leather against it.
Plow Gauge
OTHER NAMES: Strap cutter, saddler's plough knife, draw gauge
SIZE;- To cut straps up to 5in. wide
MATERIAL: Steel, sometimes fitted with a hardwood handle.
USE; To cut straps from thick leather
The plow gauge jigs a knife and fence to cut parallel strips of leather from a hide to make straps, Some models are designed to be pushed through the leather, while others, known as draw gauges, are pulled toward the worker.
In either case the blade is held firmly by a locking screw. The fence slides on a calibrated arm and can be locked in place by a turn screw, The arm on a draw gauge passes. through the body of the tooland is locked by a turn screw in the nose.
Using the plow guage
Cut one edge of the leather straight. Set the fence to the required width.
Push or pull the blade through the hide insuring that the fence runs against the straight edge.
Shoe Knife
OTHER NAME: Bevel point knife
SIZE: 4-1/2in.
MATERIAL: Blade: steel, Handle rosewood, beech
USE: To trim leather
The shoe knife was originally for trimming the leather sole of a shoe, but has remained in modern catalogues as a general purpose knife. It can be used with a straight edge to cut leather to shape and makes a reasonable skiving knife with the edge of the leather supported, flesh side up, on the edge of the bench.
Edge Shave
OTHER NAME: Edge beveler
SIZE: Width of cut: 1/4 to 1-1/4in.
MATERIAL: Blade: steel; Handle: hardwood.
USE: To bevel the edge of leather
The working end of the edge shave is like a blunt two-pronged fork which is sharpened in between. it is used to finish the straight edges of leather work by cutting a bevel. This finishing bevel can be cut on both flesh and grain side of the leather.
Using the shave
Hold the tool at the angle of the required bevel and push away from you along a straight edge.
Lawn Edging Knife
SIZE: Length: 36 to 38in.
MATERIAL: Blade: steel, Handle: hardwood, tubular steel, aluminium
USE: To cut back the edge of a lawn
Untidy or overgrown lawn edges can be cut back with a spade but a better tool is the edging knife. The curved cutting edge will slice through the turf leaving a crisp edge.
Using the edging knife
Set up a straight line with two stakes and a length of string and cut along this line by pressing down on the tool.
