Question I’ve had from Malcy in Dumfris is, what’s a very easy to use tool to use for sharpening a range of items in his workshop? It could be a chisel, it could be a pair of shears, whether you are using them for cutting wallpaper or for DIY, or even the essential tool in every toolbox is the craft knife. What I would recommend Malcy, is that we actually sell a nice pair of double-sided diamond blades that open up like this to reveal a 400 grit smooth side, and a 200 grit coarser side.

They can be used very easily. I’ll just put a glove on; anti-cut glove here. Let’s take for example the scissors – blunt scissors are no use to anyone, about as much use as a blunt razor, as I find. Here I’ve got the tool. Because it’s diamond, you can put a little bit of water on to lubricate the blade, but actually diamond can be used dry. As against other forms of sharpening stone that you have to use in oil. Literally, on this one you’ve got the coarse side, you’ve got a smoother side, and all it takes, is 1 or 2 strokes down there. Again on the back just to take the burr off. Come to the other side. Again on the other side to take the burr off.

You’ve now got a sharp pair of scissors that will cut through anything. With a craft knife here, these go blunt and yes the blade is quick and easy to change, but if you are halfway through a job, the easiest way is just to sharpen the edge of the blade and because diamond is so hard and so sharp, you now have a very sharp blade for cutting liner or carpet.

Again with the chisel, the woodworker’s favourite, you’ve only got to hit a nail or just drop it and the edge goes blunt. On here, again, you’ve got the 2 edges on it – you can just take any burrs of the back so it’s nice and smooth.

You can buy a special jig for sharpening chisels, but unless you are trying to do a major woodwork job, this is all you need to present a very sharp honed edge. Very useful tool to be folded away when you are finished with it.

Hope that was useful. If you head over to amtechdiy.com you can ask us anything else there.