Sharpening the Odd-Numbered Gracey Curette L For Left Handers Blade Position: For all odd-numbered Gracey blades, point the toe of the blade away from you when sharpening. This positions the lower cutting edge on the left side of the blade which is your dominant side and will make the sharpening task easier. Instrument Position: Hold the instrument vertically in your nondominant hand 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 and position it slightly toward 3 minutes after 12 o’clock. Remember to brace the top shank of the instrument with your thumb. Stone Position: Position the stone against the left lateral surface at 12 o’clock and then tilt the top of the stone slightly toward 3 minutes before 12 o’clock. Stone Movement: Initiate grinding 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 past 12 o’clock position and rotate the instrument so that the toe of the blade is directed at 9 o’clock. The face of the instrument should be parallel to the table surface. Position the stone horizontally under the blade at 9 o’clock and tilt the stone upward to the 10 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.
Blade Position: For all even-numbered Gracey blades, point the toe of the blade toward you when sharpening. This positions the lower cutting edge on the left side of the blade which is your dominant side and will make the sharpening task easier. Instrument Position: Hold the instrument vertically in your nondominant hand 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 and position it slightly toward 3 minutes after 12 o’clock. Remember to brace the top shank of the instrument with your thumb. Stone Position: Position the stone against the left lateral surface at 12 o’clock and then tilt the top of the stone slightly toward 3 minutes before 12 o’clock. Stone Movement: Initiate grinding 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 past 12 o’clock position. Rotate the instrument so that the toe is directed at 9 o’clock. The face of the instrument should be parallel to the table surface. Position the stone horizontally under the blade at 9 o’clock and tilt the stone upward to the 10 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 L For Left Handers
Instrument Position
Instrument Position
Stone Position
Stone Position
FINISHING With the toe pointed toward you, hold the terminal shank at 3 minutes past 12 o’clock. Position the cylindrical stone horizontally across 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 With the toe pointed toward you, hold the terminal shank 3 minutes before 12 o’clock. Position the cylindrical stone horizontally across 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
19 IT’S ABOUT TIME
20 A CLASSIC APPROACH TO SHARPENING SCALERS & CURETTES
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