Blade Care

Sharpen blades
Remove from the machine and sharpen. Pay particular attention to tip area. We suggest that the best method to sharpen is to simply polish blade face and edge with a fine grade wet and dry sand paper, and to lightly steel with ordinary kitchen knife steel.

Blade angle
Reposition blades to machine. Adjust blade angle e.g. bottom in or out. There is no set position for this and is purely an operator adjustment. An operator once familiar with sharpening and installing blades will be aware that when adjusting this angle a difference in cut can be detected. This is at times advantageous when grafting various sizes of wood.

Blade installation procedure
Fit blades to machine, at this stage do not fully tighten screw. Hold blade tips together and tighten screws evenly until the blades barely tension. Place thumb and forefinger under the face of blades and hold blades in an upward position. Slightly tighten the two bottom screws while maintaining this upward pressure. Slightly tighten the two top screws. Repeat the procedure until blade screws are tight. It is not necessary to over tighten blade screws.

Dress blade tips
As blades (which are under tension) settle it is not uncommon on some woods to leave a slight chipped effect on the rootstock. This is due to a slight spreading effect of tips. To over come this, dress the front of the blade tip area with a fine file. Once this has been completed sand the blades placing emphasis in the tip of the blade and area making the cuts. For sanding we recommend using light sandpaper such as wet and dry P400 that has been dipped in methylated sprits. Using methylated sprits will breakdown the sap build up on blades and ensure a clean cut of grafting stock.

Check anvil alignment
Male anvil should be slightly proud of V anvil. If this is not so, remove the anvil and hold extended section in vice and form.

Remove blades
Raggett Industries Ltd recommends that blades on the tools are removed or loosened at the end of each grafting season. The Fieldcraft blades work under tension and if left on tools for extended periods will loose blade tension causing blades to "split" as cuts are executed and discontinue to complete cuts as previous.

To reset blades
1. Initial attachment of blade is to be that of blade closest to shaft. Place both screws in loosely. Tighten top screw first by applying pressure to blade to push the top of blade in an outward movement and bottom of blade inwards.
2. Repeat process with blade closest to operator. Before tightening this should be held slightly proud of first blade. As screws are tightened the blade will drop in to place forming a "V" ready to perform cuts. Note Do not over tighten screws, as they will be removed repeatedly.
3. Affix attach female anvil loosely then move blades to the lowest position. Centre female anvil to the point of the blades then tighten female anvil.
4. Once more move blades to the lowest position and affix the male anvil. Centre this so that as blades do not touch anvil as manoeuvred.
5. Slowly release blades from lowest position ensuring that no part of the blade touches anvils as the knife carriers moves. Trial cut with no grafting stock again ensuring that no part of the blade touches anvils.
6. Trial cut with unwanted stock. If blades do not complete cut without touching blades reset male anvil positioning. Note if blades are continually hitting anvils blades will rapidly become blunt hindering the potential graft take.