ZoSharp, LLC

Sharp is Safe. Sharp is Affordable. Sharp is Green.

Recent Articles

Drill Bits

Date: 1/11/2018 2:44:43 AM

Blenders and Food Processors

Date: 12/4/2016 1:35:00 AM

Wood Chisels

Date: 1/23/2016 10:47:00 PM

Handsaws

Date: 1/13/2016 12:18:39 AM

More on Chains

Date: 10/31/2015 7:02:28 PM

Reel Style Lawn Mowers

Date: 8/12/2015 1:14:14 AM

Working with chainsaws

Date: 8/9/2015 10:18:53 PM

Old Tools Need Not Be Forgotten

Date: 8/5/2014 1:42:00 PM

Rust

Date: 11/24/2013 2:40:00 PM

Winter is Coming

Date: 10/18/2013 1:39:00 PM

Rummage Sales

Date: 9/27/2013 1:38:00 PM

Farmers Market

Date: 6/3/2013 1:38:00 PM

Kitchen Knive Sharpening

Date: 5/16/2013 1:37:00 PM

Farmers Market

Date: 5/13/2013 1:36:00 PM

The Great Outdoors

Date: 5/7/2013 1:35:00 PM

Lawn Mowing Blade Sharpening

Date: 4/25/2013 1:35:00 PM

Mini Blades

Date: 4/20/2013 1:31:00 PM

Chisels

Date: 4/14/2013 1:22:00 PM

Playing with Sharp Objects

Date: 4/5/2013 1:04:00 PM

Shovels and Trowels

Date: 4/4/2013 1:02:00 PM

Stay Sharp

Drill Bits

Date: 1/11/2018 2:44:43 AM

DRILL BITS   In the past few weeks I have been getting a lot of inquiries about sharpening drills. I will try to explain the way we sharpen them and why there are times when I will suggest another service to do the work. First there are

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Blenders and Food Processors

Date: 12/4/2016 1:35:00 AM

Blenders and food processors work better and with less strain on the motor when the blades are kept sharp/

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Wood Chisels

Date: 1/23/2016 10:47:00 PM

Wood Chisels   With modern technology, many of the old school woodworking tools have become less used and often left to sit rusting on a shelf or hung on the wall above the tool bench. One tool that is still used by many craftsmen today is the

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Handsaws

Date: 1/13/2016 12:18:39 AM

Hand Saws   The two types of handsaws are the Crosscut and the Rip saw. They both use the same means to determine how they cut through the wood.  Most homeowners will have only the crosscut style in their arsenal of DIY tools. Very people

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More on Chains

Date: 10/31/2015 7:02:28 PM

When changing a chain on your chainsaw, there are a few things you can do to help save a little in the future. The first thing would be to clean all the debris out from behind the chain cover. This is easily done by taking a stiff bristled brush, such as a chip brush and brushing all the junk out. Make sure to remove the guide bar and clean the area where the bar oil comes out of the motor head. Because of the oil flowing in this area, it tends to build up with dust that can plug or restrict the lubrication to the chain. Once you have this cleaned out it will be easier to see what is going on when you reassemble the saw. It is also good practice to check the drive sprocket for wear. This is important as if the drive links of the chain do not fit correctly into the sprocket, it will damage the links, when the links are damaged, they will wear the groove in the guide bar sometimes opening it up a little which could allow the chain to slip out during use. Make sure the chain you are putti ...

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Reel Style Lawn Mowers

Date: 8/12/2015 1:14:14 AM

                        Several years ago there was a push for people to go green and cut back on the natural resources we use in our d

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Working with chainsaws

Date: 8/9/2015 10:18:53 PM

            When I am out in the field sharpening or making deliveries, I get the opportunity to talk with people about many different things that we do in the shop. When asked if we sharpen saw chains, I always say yes. This will lead to questions about why chains act the way they do. Recently, I was asked why a new chain would not stay on the bar. The chain was tensioned according to the paperwork that came with it, but as soon as he squeezed the trigger on the saw the chain would fly off. The original chain would no longer cut in a straight line, so he bought another chain. He said he picked up the same size chain for the bar, but it seemed to be too tight when he took the slack out of it.             I had him bring the saw over so I could check a few things for him. As soon as I took the chain off I realized what the problem was. Although the chain was for a 16” ba ...

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Old Tools Need Not Be Forgotten

Date: 8/5/2014 1:42:00 PM

Every so often we come across something that we find interesting and think about bringing it back to a useful life. Recently we found just such an item in a garage. Leaning against the wall as if forgotten and slowly rusting away, was a two man cross cut saw. The handles were missing, but it seemed to be in fairly good condition, overall.

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Rust

Date: 11/24/2013 2:40:00 PM

Rusty Hedge Shears. This pair of shears came in and sparked a blog entry. Many times we see things like this come in and get excited about the challenge. They were forgotten and left out during the rains we had a few weeks ago. What most would see

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Winter is Coming

Date: 10/18/2013 1:39:00 PM

Now that the gardening season is coming to and end, there are some things you can do to make next years season a little more enjoyable. Before putting all those favorite tools to rest for the winter months, take time to clean all the dirt and grime off them. Look over the cutting or working edges and have the ones needing attention touched up. Lastly but just as important is to put a light layer of oil on the surface. This can be either a light weight oil or spray a little cooking oil on them. This will not only help keep the rust down, but will also make them easier to use next season.

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Rummage Sales

Date: 9/27/2013 1:38:00 PM

While driving around, I sometimes stop and see what there is at yard sales in the area. There are always those gems that people have no use for anymore and they can't think of putting them in the trash. The ones that really get my attention are those who are moving and find they no longer have a need for the older hand tools. I have also seen many people moving into apartments or condo's and will no longer need the gardening tools they collected over the years.

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Farmers Market

Date: 6/3/2013 1:38:00 PM

I'd like to share some of the benefits of shopping at the local Farmers Markets. Not only will you find quality produce and crafts, but you are helping your neighbors make a living, or augment their finances. All the money spent at the markets stays within the communities the vendors sell from. Some of the crafts are unlike any you will find in the big box stores, and in many cases you can order things from these craftspeople and get much better quality at a fair price.

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Kitchen Knive Sharpening

Date: 5/16/2013 1:37:00 PM

If you are one of those people who enjoy spending time in the kitchen trying new recipes or inventing new dishes of your own, Then this article is for you. The one most important tool in ant kitchen is the knife. They come is all sorts of styles and sizes, and each one has a different use. The one thing they all have in common is to preform the tasks they were designed to do they need to have a clean sharp edge.

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Farmers Market

Date: 5/13/2013 1:36:00 PM

We are once again joining the ranks of the Rock County Farmers Market. We will once again be at Natures Touch Garden Center on Hwy 11 just south of Janesville. Check out the website for the market to get full details on the times and dates.

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The Great Outdoors

Date: 5/7/2013 1:35:00 PM

First of all when setting up the camper or camp equipment, start with the cookware you are going to use. If you don't have a box with a cover that protects your camp kitchen knives, make a cardboard sleeve to put them in when they are not in use. Not only will this help keep you from cutting yourself when reaching into a box or drawer full of loose utensils, but it will also protect the cutting edge of the knife. When the knives are sharp, cooking tends to be more enjoyable. Not only the knives should be kept in a sleeve when not in use, but any utensil that has a cutting edge.

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Lawn Mowing Blade Sharpening

Date: 4/25/2013 1:35:00 PM

Most people are not aware that there are many styles and shapes of lawn mower blades as there are brand names of the mowers. Some mowing decks will have only one blade, but there are also many that have two and three blades under the deck. The common things here is that they all need to be sharp in order for them to do a good job at making your lawn look great. A blade is sharp not when it has a razor edge, but when it is ground or filed to about the sharpness of  a butter knife. Although it is preferable to have no nicks along the cutting edge, Some sharpeners, will only remove enough to maintain a good cutting edge. Only the first 1.5 to 2.5 inches of the blade are actually cutting, therefore this is the most critical area on the blade. However even in this area it is not necessary to remove all the nicks and dings. The blade will perform very well if the nicks are slowly removed over several sharpenings, and the need to replace them is also extended when they are sharpened out ...

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Mini Blades

Date: 4/20/2013 1:31:00 PM

  This week we received a challenge from Keith in Janesville. Both he and his wife work with very intricate items, and use some really neat little tools. As you can see from the picture above, this time it was a 2 inch miniature table saw blade

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Chisels

Date: 4/14/2013 1:22:00 PM

A chisel is a fine cutting instrument that needs to have a razor sharp edge. It is useful for counter sinking hinges on doors, as well as cleaning out the corners of several types of wood working joints. When the cutting edge becomes dull or nicked, the finished cut will need extra steps to ensure a proper fit. As these cuts are difficult and in many cases impossible to make with a saw or router, the chisel has always been a handy tool to have in the woodworkers collection.

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Playing with Sharp Objects

Date: 4/5/2013 1:04:00 PM

Every once in a while we get in something we consider a little special. In this case a customer asked if we could re-tip a throwing knife. The challenge here is the knife needs to be balanced when we are done with it. This knife was missing about 1/4" off the tip. The first step was to figure out where the balance point of the knife was and try to keep it in the same place, or as close as possible. 

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Shovels and Trowels

Date: 4/4/2013 1:02:00 PM

With each use the cutting edge gets worn a little more. Hitting rocks and gravel can take a toll on the business end of these trusty ground tools. Before using them each year, take a gook look at them. Check the handles for wear and rot. Although the wooden handles will last for years, they do become weak in time. If there are major cracks in the handle consider a replacement handle instead of replacing the whole shovel. Check the pricing on the handles, sometimes you can get a new shovel for less than a good hickory handle will cost.

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