When we published “Sharpen This,” some readers were disappointed that the book’s cover wasn’t the slightly naughty “Sharpen This” image we printed on a sticker in 2017.
Had we used that image, which I adore, we would have faced complaints from some readers, and I suspect the image would have prevented some people from buying the book. As the book is supposed to remove your barriers to sharpening, an off-putting cover seemed a bad idea.
Or maybe I’m just a wuss.
In any case, Chair Chatter Rudy Everts suggested we offer a free downloadable dust jacket for the book that used the 2017 image. And so I made one today. It prints on 11” x 17” paper, which is easily found in most photocopiers. Or you can take it to your local print shop to print it out.
Then you just have to cut it out and wrap it around the book’s hardcover boards. And then – instantly – problem solved. Mischief achieved. And all that.
Another Video Tip
I am working on a few videos that will advertise the book and offer up some of the hard-earned sharpening knowledge and time-saving techniques I’ve learned through the years. You can see the latest video above.
— Christopher Schwarz
As a bibliophile, I appreciate dust covers on books; they certainly serve a worthwhile purpose. I appreciate that your book, “Sharpen This,” does not include your chosen dust cover. Thank you for that. Perhaps it’s better to be thought “a wuss” than it is to not keep a tether on that inner seventh-grader.
Right On Schwarz!
I’m going to carve it on my pine coffin I will be making soon 😊.
Hey, how about a special edition with that imposed cover?
Now there’s a poster that would sell! Or an engraved bookmark.
Got “Sharpen This” today in the mail. Every shipper should pack like you do – fantastic job!! But I am curious – you’ve created an 11×17 file as a book jacket. The book is 4.25 x 6.75 (approx). What am I missing regarding the download size?
It’s not an 11×17 file. The file is 12.75″ x 6.75″. It might work on some copiers that have legal paper. But I know it will print out on 11×17 with no cropping. The dust jacket has to wrap around the both boars, the spine and create flaps to keep the dust jacket in place.
Both boars? As in piggies? I now want something bacon wrapped. Thank you for that.
(I know it was an autocorrect from boards, but I still want bacon wrapped something)
Ahhh – thanks for the clarification!
I agree with Dave B. Some “potty” type humor is OK but it’s like anchovies: a little goes a long way.
Well, call me a prude or whatever, but I agree with Dave B. Thanks for not putting it on the front of the book.
Where do you get those cool grandad shirts you wear in this and the stick chair videos? I thought I was the only person with enough for every day of the week, I am importing mine from Ireland.
The chapter on grinding was pure gold to me. Thanks
J. Peterman. They carry quite a few.
That cover is the cat’s pajamas. Thanks for making it available.
I guess I’m a prude too…
Nice video, thanks! I have a persistent problem when polishing plane irons and wide chisels, even when they’re freshly ground on a CBN wheel. It’s quick to get a consistent secondary bevel with a 1000 grit diamond stone, but on my follow-up stones (3000 and 8000 Shaptons, flattened judiciously) maybe two thirds of the bevel in the middle gets a nice polish in under 10 seconds, but then I have to spend up to 5 minutes or so to get the last third (split more or less evenly to both sides) up to the same level of polish.
It seems like there’s some issue with the consistency of the geometry that appears past 1000 grit, where the sides of the bevel are just barely ”lower” than the middle and take way longer to polish.
If the book covers this, I’m buying it instantly. If not, I’d greatly appreciate some advice.
Stuff like this is hard to diagnose remotely. So all I can do is guess based on past experience.
My guess is that your stones aren’t really flat. It’s very easy to introduce a convexity to the stone when flattening it with another stone. Just like it’s easy to create a convexity on a board with a handplane.
Usually this convexity is created one of two ways. If you are using a diamond stone for flattening, it may be that the middle of the diamond stone is cutting slower than its edges (a common wear pattern). When you rub the stones together in-line you get a (very slight) convexity across the width of your sharpening stone. The convexity can also be created with inconsistent hand pressure.
The solution (which is covered in the book) is technique when flattening stones. I first flatten the middle section of the stone, creating a hollow. Then I use long, elliptical strokes (not in-line strokes) to finish the flattening.
Or I could be totally wrong about your problem and all this typing was a waste of your time.
Much appreciated. The other thing that came to mind is that when grinding, I’m somehow touching the sides ever so slightly more as I move the wider-than-the-wheel blades sideways – not enough to affect the 1000 grit stone but enough to affect the finer ones. Glad to hear your book has that bit on flattening – I’ll have to check when Rubanks Verktyg gets it in stock! I’ll at least rule out one possible cause with the help of the book.
If you don’t know if your bevel is straight and flat then yes. That’s something you should definitely investigate
I have an 11×17 printer, but I’ve only used regular copy paper and 110lb card stock in it. Is there a paper that would be nicer for a cover like this?
Probably one of the premium papers used for color copies. Hammermill has a 28# paper that’s 100 brightness in 11×17 that isn’t too expensive.
Great idea !
I thought one of the links would take me to a download button.
It does. You must have missed it. Click on this and the pdf will go in your downloads folder:
https://blog.lostartpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/ST_Dust-Jacket.pdf
Ever considered a pdf deal for your loyal international customers? All the books are such quality that I’d always want the physical copy (from the great Classic Hand Tools when they get stock) but it’s been great having the pdf versions of ATC and AWB alongside the physical copies…
We have tried to work with out international retailers so they can offer the pdfs to their customers. Two problems:
We don’t have the staff to be able to handle a program where people buy our books elsewhere and come to us for the pdfs. That is a lot of admin. Sorry. We will continue to encourage our retailers to offer the pdfs to their customers.
Thanks for the speedy and considerate reply. On a Sunday. Hopefully not long before we get some copies this side of the Atlantic!
Thanks, it’s lovely! Nice and sharp!
I’m glad you didn’t because I got this book for my 10yo daughter who’s been wanting to learn to use my tools. Sharpening is the first step I’m teaching her and she is excited about this book. Having the middle finger on it would have not been something I want to give her.