Old mitre cutter

[Eric The Viking]

Look for a local-ish branch of Swemco - they sharpen knives for the printing industry, i.e. several metres long, with razor edges.

I have a small-ish printer's guillotine probably made around 1900 (I haven't researched it), but it will do a 2" stack of A4 lengthwise with ease and it's about as safe* as a hand grenade with the pin out. I keep it in a dismantled state with vital parts hidden in different places, but even so the mech itself could probably amputate bits off the unwary, even without the blade!

Anyway, I have a pair of knives for it and Swemco sharpen them as needed -- they have to be very sharp, and very straight, which is impossible for me (you need the right kit to get a dead straight edge). They are shipped bolted to wooden keepers for safety, and the results are excellent. They also keep the rubbery anvil strip used by printers' guillotines, but I don't think that's relevant in this case.

If you have a branch near you, go see them with the knives and ask if they can do them in a spare moment...

E.

*No guards, no safety interlocks, and heavy cast bits which move and have squared-off edges! And even the wooden handle can drop on your head. DAMHIKT.

 

[scrimper]

Excellent stuff!

I bought the one in the thread, and have only just put it on my bench to have a play with.

I can't decide whether the wheel should go to the front, back or side. At the front, it is easier to turn, but holding the timber being trimmed is more fiddly. The reverse is true with it at the back. I could put it on a workmate, but that would take up a lot more space if I needed access to front and back.

Any thoughts?

It is a lovely tool/machine to use, very satisfying, sometimes I just 'have a go' with it even when I don't need to.
I always have the handle at the back, never thought of using it any other way if I am honest. Has anyone got a manual? Lol

 

[thetyreman]

this is so cool

 

[Dangermouse 2nd]

I have a R J Lines cutter, great bit of kit, so over engineered and works a treat. Photos are of when I got it. Haven't got round to taking any of it restored yet.