L & H cutter help please .. bent?

[xtal_01]

Hey!

So I got my L & H bamboo cutter in the mail today ... $30 ($20 + $10 shipping)/

Gave it a try .... hmmmm ... would not cut all the way through .... just about but not quite.

I "think" what happened is over the years the top plate has bent. The two fingers that push down (formed as part of the top plate) have bent and no longer push all the way down.

I took it apart ... figured out if you push on the cutter bar the top flips up ...

Now I can put a piece of metal under it and re-form the top flat.

I also might want to sharpen the blade (just a light touch up on the back side I am guessing).

BUT ....

Before I touch it, I want to make sure of what I am doing.

Am I right?

Do I need to bend down the top to make it flat?

Do I take just a few swipes on the back of the blade to sharpen it?

Thanks !!!

[Pathe Logical]

Deleted.

[JerryVan]

Yes. Bent...

[xtal_01]

Awesome! Well, not awesome that it is bent but awesome that I was correct and that is the issue,

I must have some 1" square tubing around here ... use it as a form and hammer or push the metal back down.

Chrome finish is great on this so I will put painters tape and also a rag on it when reshaping.

Any advice on sharpening? Not even sure if it need it but I can just take my honing stone to it.

Thanks!

[Inigo]

If you examine the blade you'll see how to sharpen it, be delicate and with short strikes, testing on one triangular bamboo needle to see if the cut is straight, clean and full.

[xtal_01]

Thanks ...

The blade seems in decent shape (no major nicks). I do see the front is flat with a hollow in the center.

I took a small honing stone and gently stroked the back (angle) of the blade.

I carefully made one or two strokes on the front (the entire flat surface) to get rid of any burr.

I also make a few strokes (again the entire flat surface) on the part the blade rides against (felt with my finger nail like there was a slight burr on it).

Just making a form to put under the handle so I can have the correct shape to push down against with straightening the top.

[xtal_01]

Well ...nothing is simple.

So, I made a form .... straightened the top

Bent down the two fingers.

Sharpened the blade.

cleaned and lubricated.

IT WORKS!!!

Thanks for the pictures and advice !!!!!!!!

[JerryVan]

Nice job! You do good work