Sharpening plow shares

[bob in Utah]

Does anyone know of a blacksmith who still sharpens old plow shares? Thanks, Bob

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have been watching your post because I felt you would get a more knowledgable answer than mine, however you now must suffer. Sometimes a post like mine will bring out the experts. My dad use to sharpen the old style plow lays on the back side,he would run the entire length of the back side repeating until he got them sharp. This will take many passes as the edge you are sharpening has been hardened,do not start on one end and work your way to the other sharpening as you go, it ruins the hardness of the edge. I researched the names of some suppliers who may be able to identify blacksmiths in your area. Jay Sharp from somewhere in Idaho. John C. Campbell blacksmith school, I don't know the address. Good luck, maybe this will help you get the answers. If this doesn't help post back, maybe I can find more info.

 

[Randy-IA]

I can't help either . There's a old smithy in town that used to sharpen shares on a forge but won't do it anymore since he sold his trip hammer ( WAYYYY to much work by hand he say's ) and he even balks at sharpening them on a grinder since it takes so long and he has one of those huge 2-1/2" wide stone electric grinders . I sharpened three of my shares with a flap sanding disk in a 4-1/2" grinder going very slowly . But I don't know if it will work or not since I haven't had a chance to use it since I did that . If you have to buy new shares a company called Balsters is one place to check out . Check out the link . But be forewarned - they are expensive for the hard to find old parts . I have the QA ( quick attach ) shares on my old #8 plows and they carry new QA shares but the price on line was from 2006 at $138+ each for 16" . They are - so far - the only company I've found that handles that kind of share . Good luck ! ...Randy
Balsters

 

[Leroy]

You DO NOT want to grind on the old style shares or way before their time you will be paying big money for a new set. If anybody wants the sharpening instructions I can copy a page out of old plow manuals. I have hammered them out to sharpen them with a forge and anvil.