James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Makita designed the 9820-2 Horizontal Wheel Sharpener to restore the edges of planer blades to perfect condition. The same wet grinding system that sharpens planer blades perfectly true and razor sharp — without danger of overheating — will do the same great job on your best knives, wood plane blades, and chisels.
Created by Japanese engineers familiar with the traditional waterstone sharpening system preferred by that country’s craftsmen, the Makita 9820-2 brings those same concepts to a much more precise machine. At the heart of the 24-pound bench-top grinder is a typical and replaceable aluminum oxide grinding wheel only 7-7/8 inches in diameter. Similar types of grinding wheels fit standard American bench grinders. The Makita works with the side of the wheel instead of the rim. That provides a wide surface which cuts with a flat grind instead of a hollow and produces a stronger blade edge.
A water tank on top of the grinder supplies a steady adjustable stream of coolant while the machine does its work. The water prevents cutting edges from overheating and constantly flushes the stone surface clear of debris. Turning at 560 rpm, the Makita Horizontal Wheel Wet Blade Sharpener can restore the edge of a planer blade 15-3/4 inches long. Working on planer blades requires a special attachment for planers only; another attachment will be needed for the same precision reworking of knives and scissors.
The Makita’s powerful 1.1-amp motor keeps the action smooth and steady even on the longer blades. Blade angles can be set for either the Asian or European standard, but adjustment isn’t quick. All adjustments are screw-driven, not pre-set, and controls on the guides interact. If you have the patience for perfect work, you’ll love the Makita Horizontal Sharpener.
James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Makita designed the 9820-2 Horizontal Wheel Sharpener to restore the edges of planer blades to perfect condition. The same wet grinding system that sharpens planer blades perfectly true and razor sharp — without danger of overheating — will do the same great job on your best knives, wood plane blades, and chisels.
