Of course all cutting tools must be provided with a keen edge, and this is obtained by grinding them to a proper bevel on the grindstone and afterwards rubbing them on the oil-stone. Among striking tools the adze and hatchet will require sharpening on the grindstone.

For sharpening or rather for grinding edge tools such as plane irons and chisels, the grindstone is also necessary, finishing off on an oil-stone. It is necessary that the cutting edge should be made as straight and true as possible.

The following directions are for grinding edge tools, which the amateur will do well to follow implicitly, as it is given by a practical workman of great experience. " In grinding plane irons, chisels, and similar tools, the stone should turn towards the operator, and the tool should be held very firmly and quite squarely upon the stone, at a point sufficiently near its upper part to allow the tool to be in a nearly horizontal position, while its bevel lies flat upon it. If it is held too low, so that its handle points downwards, the water from the stone will run down the hands and arms, which is decidedly disagreeable, especially in winter." In addition the tool cannot be so firmly held nor the work so readily seen. Keep the edges of the stone in use by constantly traversing the tool across its face, and never try to hurry the work by grinding to a more obtuse bevel than that made by the manufacturer. This is, indeed, generally rather more obtuse than it ought to be, and carpenters reduce this angle, and then the second bevel, formed by the oil-stone, restores it correctly. In grinding planes and chisels, especially the first, it is as well for the amateur to make use of a square to test the correctness of the edge, otherwise the latter may not be truly at right angles to the side of the tool.