Blade Positioning: For all odd-numbered Gracey blades, point the toe of the blade toward you when sharpening. This positions the lower cutting edge on the right side of the blade, which is your dominant side and will make the sharpening task easier. Instrument Position: Hold the instrument in your non-dominant hand vertically with a firm palm grasp so that the blade to be sharpened will be at the bottom with the toe pointed toward you. Focus only on the terminal shank of the instrument and tilt the terminal shank toward 3 minutes before 12 o’clock. Remember to brace the top shank of the instrument with your thumb. Stone Position: Holding the stone in your dominant hand, position the stone against the right lateral surface of the blade at 12 o’clock and then tilt the top of the stone slightly toward 3 minutes past 12 o’clock. Stone Movement: Initiate sharpening in a fluid up-and-down motion starting at the heel third of the blade then continuing to the middle third and finally the toe third. Failing to sharpen the entire length of the blade is a common sharpening error. Be sure to use a consistent movement along the entire blade. You should see a buildup of sludge along the entire facial surface of the blade. If you are using a ceramic stone you will see a buildup of metal filings instead of sludge. Rounding the Toe: Maintain the terminal shank at 3 minutes before 12 o’clock. Rotate the instrument so that the toe of the blade is directed at 3 o’clock. The face of the instrument should be parallel to the table surface. Position the stone horizontally under the blade at 3 and 9 o’clock and tilt the stone upward to the 2 o’clock position. Move the stone in a consistent motion, overlapping the strokes and rotating around the toe to maintain the rounded shape. Using gauze, wipe the sludge or metal filings from the surface of the blade and stone. Sharpening the Odd-Numbered Gracey Curette R For Right Handers
Blade Positioning: For all even-numbered blades, point the toe of the blade away from you. This positions the lower cutting edge on the right side of the blade, which is your dominant side and will make sharpening task easier. Instrument Position: Hold the instrument in your non-dominant hand vertically with a firm palm grasp so that the blade to be sharpened will be at the bottom with the toe pointed away from you. Focus only on the terminal shank of the instrument and tilt the terminal shank to 3 minutes before 12 o’clock. Remember to brace the top shank of the instrument with your thumb. Stone Position: Holding the stone in your dominant hand, position the stone against the right lateral surface at 12 o’clock and then tilt the top of the stone slightly toward at 3 minutes past 12 o’clock. Stone Movement: Initiate sharpening in a fluid up-and-down motion starting at the heel third of the blade then continuing to the middle third and finally the toe third. Failing to sharpen the entire length of the blade is a common sharpening error. Be sure to use a consistent movement along the entire blade. You should see a buildup of sludge along the entire facial surface of the blade. If you are using a ceramic stone you will see a buildup of metal filings instead of sludge. Rounding the Toe: Maintain the terminal shank at 3 minutes to 12 o’clock and rotate the instrument so that the toe of the blade is directed at 3 o’clock. The face of the instrument should be parallel to the table surface. Position the stone horizontally under the blade at 3 o’clock and tilt the stone upward to the 2 o’clock position. Move the stone in a consistent motion, overlapping the strokes and rotating around the toe to maintain the rounded shape. Wipe the sludge or metal filings from the surface of the blade and stone with the gauze. Sharpening the Even-Numbered Gracey Curette R For Right Handers
Instrument Position
Instrument Position
Stone Position
Stone Position
FINISHING Hold the terminal shank at 3 minutes before 12 o’clock with the toe pointed toward you. Position the cylindrical stone along the face of the instrument at 3 and 9 o’clock. Lightly rotate the stone along the face from the heel to the toe to remove any wire edges.
FINISHING Hold the terminal shank at 3 minutes after 12 o’clock with the toe pointed toward you. Position the cylindrical stone along the face of the instrument at 3 and 9 o’clock. Lightly rotate the stone along the face from the heel to the toe to remove any wire edges.
Rounding the Toe
Rounding the Toe
Finishing
Finishing
17 IT’S ABOUT TIME
18 A CLASSIC APPROACH TO SHARPENING SCALERS & CURETTES
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