The drawknife is among the most useful and versatile
tools in boatbuilding and general woodwork, but is also
frightening, because it can behave like a power tool and
get the beginner into a lot of trouble very quickly.
Overcoming that trouble, however, is merely a matter of
sharpening the tool and learning to read the grain of
the wood.
As my stones live their life out on the bench where they
belong for daily use, they are filthy from saw and metal
dust and need cleaning. A simple stiff parts-cleaning
brush and a pan of kerosene does the trick. I’ll relube
them generously with cutting oil as I use them.
