A bench grinder is the ideal tool for all those sharpening jobs around the house, but if you don’t own one you might find a belt sander works as well. Invert the sander and clamp it to your worktable, so that the belt is facing up. Lock the trigger switch “on” and you’e in the sharpening business. With an axe, for example, angle the blade slightly down to the oncoming belt and rotate the axe back and forth following the arc of the blade. And always remember to wear your safety glasses.

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Joe Truini

Radio Show Co-Host

Joe Truini is a contractor, author, and the host of “Simple Solutions” on Today’s Homeowner TV and the weekly Today’s Homeowner radio show. He has worked on both large commercial projects and residential remodeling, and has written for national publications such as This Old House and Popular Mechanics. He has also written eight books, including three best-selling shed-building books. Joe lives in Connecticut with his family and enjoys hiking, traveling, and baseball in his spare time.

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