Machine Art

Admittedly this grinder is not tight enough to put an edge on a fine knife or chisel, but most of my cutting tools are “rough duty” so it gets a lot of use anyway, touching up ax and adze heads, mower blades, and knock-around cutters. It’s pedal-powered, so I can pop on an edge in a few seconds, and never have to search for an extension cord or an unused outlet.

I bought the grinder from a local antique shop. As I loaded it into the car the seller asked where I intended to put it, which sounded like an odd question until I realized she considered it a decorative item. When I told her the grinder would be put to use sharpening things, she was surprised, and also very pleased. Up to that point she had not suspected what the grinder could do, which seemed kind of a shame since she obviously appreciated the tool’s plain, mechanical beauty, and would probably have used it herself had she understood its function, and would certainly have seen and enjoyed even more beauty in its operation.