CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
A metal sharpening device is a metal working and wood working tool used to cut find amounts of materials from a work piece. It is commonly referred to as a hand tool style which takes the form of a steel bar with a case hardened paralleled teeth.
Sharpening, therefore refers to as the process of heating or refining a sharp edge of appropriate shape on a tool or implement designed for cutting sharpening is done by grinding away material on the implement with an abrasive substance harder than the material of the implement, followed sometimes by processes to polish the sharp surface to increase smoothness and to correct small mechanical deformation without regrinding.
Most metal sharpening tools have a narrow pointed tang at one end to which a handle can be fitted. A similar tool is the rasp. This is an older form with simpler teeth. As they have larger clearance between teeth, these are usually used on soften non-metalic material (Ambrose etal 2007).