I remember years back at my grandfather's place in northern Minnesota there was a foot-pedaled device, like a stationary bicycle, with a large (like 16 inch diameter) grinding stone that was powered by pedaling. As a young boy I enjoyed pedaling this old-fashioned blade grinder. Yesterday I mentioned this device to a man at a blade-sharpening shop. He told me he had seen such a device years ago and that this was the BEST device for sharpening because it did not heat up the blades. Heating is the main problem with blade sharpening today. I have searched some on the internet but have not yet found even a picture of this device, but I think this would be an extremely practical device today.

Has anyone out there seen such a thing in recent times?

Is such a thing available today anywhere?

Can someone manufacture such a device?

I'm using a real email.

Thanks

-- Rick (doc_u_ment@hotmail.com), June 04, 1999

Answers

Yes, there is one in my neighbor's shed. It runs like a treddle sewing machine but has two offset rods instead of a belt.

-- FLAME AWAY (BLehman202@aol.com), June 04, 1999.

check antique shops. I know of one shop here that had 3 of them. They were priced at $75 to $100 depending on condition of stone. We had one when I was a kid too. Some years back I bought a hand crank one with a stone thats about 8 inches in diameter in an antique shop in Australia. I use it to sharpen knives, hoe, etc. Hubby's runs on power, needless to say.

Taz

-- Taz (Tassie @aol.com), June 04, 1999.

I guess you can add me to this list of old-timers (????only 33!) who had one of these at home as a child. It didn't work well - needed repair but sure was fun to mess with. Haven't seen one since - sure would be handy.

-- Kristi (securx@succeed.net), June 04, 1999.

I saw one in an army surplus and they were asking $150 Canadian and it was not functional.

I would recommend files.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), June 04, 1999.

I picked on up for my husband at a farm sale (auction) for $40. I have also picked up a Daisy churn, flat irons, hand crank corn sheller and other things this way for much less than an antique shop. Many farm or estate auctions have lots of goodies for very reasonable prices.

-- beckie (none@nomail.com), June 04, 1999.

The only problem with it is that it is usually a sandstone stone and therefor VERY coarse.

C

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), June 04, 1999.

My grandfather had one of those things. They were usually a bit hard to get started - he would give it a push and then use the pedal.

The solution for the heat problem with an electric grinder is simple - get one that will let you use water on the stone. The water drip cools the blade you are sharpening. Of course, you have to have water proof stones as well. And if you get one that has a water reservior under the stone, so that the stone runs in the water, you should empty it out after using it. Otherwise, the stone will become impregnated with water on the down side, and no longer be balanced properly. The rig will dance all over the table until the stone spins out the excess water.

-- Paul Davis (davisp1953@yahoo.com), June 04, 1999.

Yes,I have one from a country auction and got it for about $5 ! Nobody seems to want them around here (northern Indiana). I'll watch for another one, if you like? Shipping would be pretty high tho depending on where you are.

-- Sue (deco100@aol.com), June 04, 1999.

If you can't locate one, why not convert a clay potter's wheel with treddle?

-- (snowleopard6@webtv.net), June 05, 1999.

I'm looking for a sandstone wheel to use in my lambskin tannery for poliching the hides, they work very well. Does anyonee know where I can get one not too far from Victoria British columbia Canada

Thanks

-- steve (sleeapo@hotmail.com), September 21, 2004.