A Whetstone is a sharpening stone used for knives and other cutting tools. Sharpening stones, water stones or whetstones are used to grind and hone the edges of steel tools and implements e.g. scissors, scythes, knives, razors and tools such as chisels, hand scrapers and plane blades. Though it is sometimes mistaken as a reference to the water often used to lubricate such stones, the word "whetstone" is a compound word formed with the word "whet", which means to sharpen a blade, not the word "wet". The process of using a sharpening stone is called stoning.A square block of grey abrasive material used for sharpening steel blades , with the original boxBRIDESTOWE / Picture of ‘Kangaroo, Stag and Emu among radiating wheat stalks’ / TASMANIAwhetstones, sharpeners, steel blades, tools, cutlery, razors, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, early settlers,

Sharpening is done by grinding away material on this implement with an abrasive substance harder than the material of the tool to be sharpened. A sharpening wheel is an efficient way to sharpen blade edges.Mobile knife-sharpening services are no longer commonly used. In the disposable society of the 21st century we can throw away our blunt scissors, knives or tools and buy replacements.A cast iron knife or tool sharpening wheel attach to a wooden base. It has a wooden turning handle.A McMillan Federal Knife Cleanerknife-grinder

A razor strop such as this one was used to sharpen and polish straight-edged razors. This particular design has a swivel hook with a locking clip that allows for movement as the strop is being used. This strop is branded "Sherlite". On May 5th, 1922 the Commonwealth officially accepted and advertised the Trade Mark Application of Thomas Sherry of Victoria, for the Trade Mark of "Sherlite" to be used under the heading of "Leather, Skins unwrought and Wrought”. Thomas Sherry’s application was to use the word “Sherlite” for detachable soles made of rubberised leather. Straight razors and cut-throat razors were the major tools for shaving before the safety razor was invented in the 1880s and even today specialist shaving shops still sell straight razors. Along with the razor, the process of shaving would commonly involve lathering up shaving soap with a shaving brush that had boar bristles. Men could own several razors and rotate them through the week and some shops sold the razors in a set, a razor for each day of the week. Straight razors could require stropping more than once during the shaving of a heavy beard, and stropping would also be performed at the end of each shave. Honing would only be performed two or three times a year, preserving the blade's edge. A lot of skill was needed to hone and strop the blades of these early razors and the methods to do so were a large part of the curriculum in Barber colleges. The razor would be sharpened on a grinding wheel then honed on sharpening stone and finally finished using a strop. Straight edge razors would usually be sold unfinished and that process would be completed by the customer. A razor strop, usually made from leather, thick canvas, or light timber, would be used to straighten and polish the straight razor for shaving. Strops could also be used to polish other blades such as knives, small metal tools, and chisels. Sometimes an abrasive polishing compound is also used to give a mirror finish. Some strops, such as this one in our Collection, are designed to be used while hanging from a nail or peg, while others are handheld. The person using the strop would draw the spine of the blade down along the strop with the blade following, without putting any pressure on the blade. At the end of the stroke, rotate the blade over its spine then draw the spine along the strop again so that the edge moves away from the top. The finer grade of leather strap is used to give the final finish.Razor strop, leather, and metal. Sherlite brand, double straps: two straps of different grade leather joined at ends with metal fittings. Stropping faces; sharpening surface is stained red and finishing surface is stained black. One end has a padded, bulbous-shaped leather grip handle, the other end has a metal, swivel hook hanger. Inscriptions painted in gold on leather at the hook end.Razor strop, leather and metal. Sherlite brand, double straps: two straps of different grade leather joined at ends with metal fittings. Stropping faces; sharpening surface is stained red and finishing surface is stained black. One end has padded, bulbous shaped leather grip handle, the other end has metal, swivel hook hanger. Inscriptions printed in gold on leather at hook end.Printed gold lettering stamped “Sherlite”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, shaving leather, shaving accessory, barber’s equipment, barber shop razor strop, razor strop, straight razor, razor and knife sharpener, sherlite razor strop, personal effects, toiletries, thomas sherry

Collection of Margaret ScarlettCream Bone handle with steel shaftJoseph Rogers and Sons.domestic items, cutlery

Made by internees at camp 3, using wood sourced from under the barracks ie : stumps. Used for repairing footwear. Lightweight and well balancedLong, handmade wooden block, with a curved handle area, also has a leather strip attached to one long side, used for sharpeningkazenwadel, blacksmith, wood, tools camp 3, leather

Kriss brandpersonal items, ballarat rsl, ballarat