Re: [nafex] grafting knife/ conference date

[jhecksel@voyager.net]

> Joe wrote:
> >I ... Stongly suggest short knives.  Short
> >tools are stiffer and less whippy than long ones.  Sure, you can
cut
> >with the portion of the edge closest to the hand.  But there is
usually
> >some portion of the edge that is just a wee bit sharper, just a few
> >inches out.  Next thing you know, you are making all your cuts with
the
> >sweetest portion of the edge.
>
> I prefer about a 2- 2 1/2 " blade because it gives a longer  slicing
-
> leveling surface for a cleaner flatter cut. Are you  referring to
length as
> being the principle  "danger factor"?  Or just that some knives are
> flexable?

I see two sources of flexibility.  One source is the length of budwood
sticking out of your fist.  The other source is the knife.
Flexibility is a problem because there is a lot of potential energy
bound up in those springy members.  You cannot predict or control
where that energy will go if something breaks or slips.

I have had people bring fish fileting knives to grafting lessons
"Because it is really, really sharp."  Having that long an edge
pointed at flesh can give me the willies.

*********************************************************************

One of my life goals is to make a graft with a piece of broken glass
or a chip of flint.  I think it would have to be a simple splice
graft.  Do you think the statement would be diluted if I used modern
materials to wrap the graft?  I think I could get the job done with
Basswood or Mulberry inner bark.




------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Buy Stock for $4
and no minimums.
FREE Money 2002.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/k6cvND/n97DAA/ySSFAA/VAOolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->





------------------LIST GUIDELINES----------------------

1) Please sign your posting.  Include climate and location information if relevent.
2) Attached files will be stripped from your messages.  Post attachments on the www.YahooGroups.com website.
3) To unsubscribe send a BLANK message to 
        nafex-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
4) Include only pertinent comments/questions when replying to a posting and NOT the entire message (especially if the initial posting was large). 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/