PEACHEY

KNIVES AND BOOKBINDING TOOLS

CATALOGUE FOUR

Since the demise of Stanley and Records 151 spokeshaves, I decided to start importing an Indian copy, which I modify and fully tune for leatherwork and install a Hock A2 sharpened blade. Like all the tools I sell, it is ready to use out of the box. Also I make a spokeshave blade holder, which makes sharpening much easier. For those who like the size of my narrow Swiss knife, I have added a cherry handle, only on the topside, and a recessed area on the blade for your fingers. It is more comfortable and kind of like a French Knife in terms of handling. A few more new items are on the following pages. The next year should be a very exciting one- I am getting a metal milling machine, lathe and pantograph engraver which should allow me to make a much wider range of products. Stay tuned,

Jeffrey S. Peachey 150 E. 3rd St., Suite 3E New York, NY 10009 212-387-7860 peachey@pipeline.com

SET OF 15 MINATURE BOOKBINDING TOOLS

This set of 15 miniature tools, all scale, is made from the same materials as the full size version. Unbelievably cute. The set includes an English paring knife, a Peachey paring knife, a French knife, a Peachey style French Knife, a backing hammer, an engineers square, a triangle, a bone folder, a wood handled scalpel, large and small lifting knives, a cord wrapped paste brush, a pallet, a heart finishing tool and a strop. A must for any lover, maker or collector of miniature books. $500.00

151 STYLE SPOKESHAVE

Sadly, both Record and Stanley have discontinued production of their 151 style spokeshaves favored by English trained bookbinders. It is extremely handy for edge paring, especially when you want a wide, gradual bevel, spine paring and board beveling. This copy (even down to the red blade cap), made in India, is in many respects more finely finished than recent Stanleys. I completely tune these and modify them for leather work - the sole is reduced to 30 degrees, the adjustment knobs are trued, the mouth is opened, the blade bed is flattened, and the Hock A2 cryogenically treated blade is sharpened and the corners slightly rounded. Ready to use right out of the box. Cast Iron and A2 Blade. 10 wide $150.00

TUNE UP SERVICE FOR A151 SPOKESHAVES

Many English trained binders use a standard A151 (Record or Stanley spokeshave can perform reasonably well if a number of adjustments are made. Eight things need to be done; replace the blade, flatten the bed, flatten the cap iron, true the adjustment knobs, flatten and polish the sole, modify the blade for leather work, enlarge the throat and wrap some pipe tape on the adjustment screws. The replacement blade I recommend is a Hock A2. It holds an edge much, much longer than a standard one. Hock A2 Blade $35.00 Spokeshave tune up $55.00 Sharpen and Modify Hock Blade $30.00

SPOKESHAVE BLADE HOLDER

The short length of spokeshave blades makes them awkward to accurately hold while sharpening. This blade extender, which works for both factory blades and the larger Hock blades, makes sharpening much easier of the fingers. Bronze. 2 x 4 x 1/8 $35.00

BENCH SCRAPER

I am always getting blobs of dried PVA and paste on my workbench, and always hated using my sharp lifting knives to scrape them off, and I would often take chunks out of my self-healing cutting mat or tabletop. This bench scraper made of mild steel and 90-degree cutting angles safely and quickly removes blobs from Formica, self-healing cutting mats, and virtually any material with no risk of damaging the work surface. Mild steel and horse butt handle. 6 x 1 x $25.00

HALF INCH BRONZE ANGLE STOCK JIG

Nothing fancy, just a handy size half inch spacer. The angle makes it easy to pick up and acts as a guard against accidentally slicing into your fingers. I usually use this when hinging single sheets and making clamshell boxesjust cut an extra piece of wall and use this spacer to trim the cloth after covering the outside of the tray. Bronze. 12 x $10.00

SUB-MINI KNIFE SET

If you like your cell phone to be the size of a pack of matches, you will love these sub-mini knives. They are only 3/8 wide and slightly flexible, which allow them to reach into smaller areas than regular mini knives. Hacksaw blade and thick leather handles. 6 x 3/8 $125.00

GENTS HORSEBUTT FACED BACKING HAMMER

Useful for backing or (yikes!) flattening signatures before sewing, this delicate hammer is also useful any time you need to tap some wood together without damaging the surface. The brass end is slightly domed and replacement horsebutt faces are available. Wont damage your workbench when you bang it during one of those peculiarly frustrating Craft crises. Handle is quarter-sawn white oak. 6oz. Overall, 1round head, 7-9 handle $75.00

NARROW FRENCH STYLE KNIFE

This is the same size as the Narrow Swiss knife, but has a cherry handle mounted on the top of the blade with a stainless steel and brass loveless style knife bolt threaded into the blade. The sides of the blade are slightly rebated for your fingers. The handle is extremely comfortable. O1 steel and Cherry. 6 x 1 $125.00

SEWING COMPRESSION STICK

Proper sewing compressing is the foundation of successful forwarding. A loaded stick is the traditional tool to control swell, but its size doesnt fit all spaces between supports. This stick, made from cherry is tapered on all sides so it will fit exactly between supports from to 3, which makes it ideal for weak paper. White oak bumpers on the end protect it from splitting if you happen to drop it. It also makes a handy paddle for those pesky book dealers who preface every job with, Well, the book is not worth a lot of money, so I cant put much into it, but. Cherry and white oak. 15 x x 3 $50.00

SMALL ENGINEERS SQUARE

Slightly smaller than a standard 2 model, the size is perfect for most bookbinding needs. The bronze will not rust, and will develop a deep patina with use. It is also nice to hold in your hand when you are finishing up the last book of your backlog and the phone hasnt rang all week. Bronze. Handle: 1 long, thick, Blade: 2 long, 3/32 thick. $25.00

FOOTED JIG

This little jig is useful for numerous bookbinding operations, trimming out, checking squares, etc. It is thick enough to sit upright on the bench. The foot also makes it easy to pick up. Length varies between 2-4 inches, specify your preference. It is also nice to hold as you clench your fist when you hear a client say But I could get a new one for less than that! 1 wide, foot is 5/16 square. $20.00

NARROW SWISS STYLE KNIFE

For bookbinders trained in the French or Swiss tradition, or who like a solid, heavy knife, I now make a narrow Swiss style knife for paring. It can be used by the right or left handed, and the narrower width makes it easier to hold between your fingers. Fully sharpened with blade cover and leather handle. Although it looks similar to the large lifting knife, the blade angle is specifically designed for cutting. 01 high carbon steel. Rc 63. 6 x 1 x 3/32 $75.00 I like your knives very much. I have the medium [narrow swiss knife] and the small one [curved mini knife] and use them for special paring of onlays or edges of leather. They are very comfortable in my hand. I recommend them to anyone that wants to pare leather well. Monique Lallier, Designer Bookbinder, Summerfield, NC.

THE PEACHEY PARING KNIFE

This is an English style knife with some improvements. It comes fully sharpened and ready to use, complete with a comfortable cord-wrapped handle and blade cover. It is made from high carbon steel that is slightly flexible. This flexibility raises the blade angle when pressing down and helps prevent digging in and tearing leather. It is also bent to allow finger clearance. The tip of the knife is at a 90-degree angle to the blade for increased strength and control. Right or left hand models. High carbon steel. Rc 60. 6 x 1 $50.00 Using this knife, with its ingenious curve, makes the one Ive used for the past 25 years seem inadequate. Jerrilyn Glen Davis, Conservator, NYC. I am impressed with the quality of the metal and the finish. The handle is very comfortable. William Minter, Book Conservator, PA.

SET OF THREE MINIATURE KNIVES

Made to specifications supplied by Gabriel Fox. Set of three knives: rounded, right bevel and left bevel. Non-flexible. Also useful for nonminiature applications. Fully sharpened with blade covers and leather handles. Blade covers and handles have a profile tooled on them for quick identification. 01 high carbon steel. Rc 63. 5 x x 1/16 $125.00/ set or $50 per knife. Also available unfinished: $25 each Having recently acquired a collection of 16,000 miniature books and beginning to address their conservation needs, I was excited to hear of Jeffs set of small lifting and paring knives. Now that I have them I find myself using them not only on miniature books but on larger books as well. The rounded blade is great for lifting delicate pastedowns when rebacking. Jim Canary, Conservation Department, Lilly Library, IN.

SET OF LIFTING KNIVES

A unique shape developed from a Roger Powell design. Each blade has a long bevel and slightly rounded corners for minimal creasing of cloth or leather. The large knifes partly flat blade makes lifting covering material easy by sliding it on the surface of the board and it cuts a straight line when splitting boards. The small knife is useful for removing tight back spines sewn on cords and lifting turn-ins while rebacking. Fully sharpened, includes sheath and leather handles. 01 high carbon steel. Rc 63. Large: 6 x 1 x 3/32. Small: 5 x x 1/16 $100.00/ set Also available unfinished: $25 each Well made, sharp excellent materials thoughtful design. Maria Fredericks, Head of Conservation, Columbia University Conservation Lab, NYC.

COVERING KNIFE

Great for cutting corners on leather bindings and slitting hollows. A normal paring knife has to be held so that the handle pokes the text block during covering. This one has the blade at a shallow angle and a double bevel, so it can easily be used by right and left handers and in either direction. Also useful as a general-purpose knife. 01 high carbon steel. Rc 63. 5 x x 1/16 $50.00 The corner knife is well-made and perfectly designed to cut out excess leather when turning in corners. It feels good to hold it and I would not use anything else now that I have been spoiled by this knife. Ann Hillam, Conservator, New York Academy of Medicine, NYC

WOOD HANDLE SCALPEL

The scalpel is great for mechanical removal of accretions on paper; the blade is solid, so it will not flex like a disposable scalpel, keeps your hand at a comfortable angle and the cord wrapping absorbs sweat when used for extended time periods. Machine hacksaw blade and cherry. Rc 65. Variable sizes, approximately 5 6 x x $75.00

METAL SCALPEL

Some prefer the heft of metal instead of wood. Same as above, except with a full tang and leather covered handle and blade cover. Slightly thinner than the wood handle. Machine hacksaw blade. Rc 65. Variable sizes, approximately 5 6 x x $75.00

ECONOMY SCALPEL

This stainless steel medical scalpel has been reshaped for scraping,. The head is small ( x ), making it ideal while working under magnification. Stainless steel. Rc 40. 5 x x $40.00

WOOD HANDLE MICRO-LIFTING KNIFE

Each one is unique. Micro-lifting knives are perfect when nothing else will fit. Hand carved handle offers many facets for easy gripping. Machine hacksaw blade and cherry. Rc 65. Variable sizes, approximately 5 6 x x $75.00

METAL MICRO-LIFTING KNIFE

Some prefer the heft of metal instead of wood. The metal is slightly flatter than the wood, allowing it to slip further under material.. Full tang, with leather covered handle and blade cover. Machine hacksaw blade. Rc 65. Variable sizes, approximately 5 6 x x $75.00

WOOD HANDLE SPATULA

Each one is unique. Hand carved handle offers many facets for easy gripping. Machine hacksaw blade and cherry. Rc 65. Variable sizes, approximately 5 6 x x $75.00

METAL SPATULA

Some prefer the heft of metal instead of wood. The metal is slightly flatter than the wood, allowing it to slip further under material. Full tang, with leather covered handle and blade cover. Machine hacksaw blade. Rc 65. Variable sizes, approximately 5 6 x x $75.00

MULTI-PURPOSE BRASS TOOL

This tool features easily removable high carbon steel heads. The handle is made of brass, and has a presence in the hand. Blades are held in place by a screw. Supplied with a medium spatula. A scalpel head or custom shapes are available. You wont want this tool to leave your hand. Brass handle with machine hacksaw heads. 5 x x $150.00 Additional heads: $35.00 A return to classic craftsmanship Miriam Schaer, Book Artist, NYC.

TWO INCH BRONZE TRIANGLE

This handy 45 degree triangle is a full inch thick, so it can sit upright on the bench. It also features a removable nickel-plated brass thumbscrew and beveled edges for comfortable handling. It is a great size for most bookbinding and boxmaking needs. Bronze. Height 2. Thickness $30.00 Be square and get the Peachey triangle. Its a beauty! Judith Ivry, Book Conservator, NYC.

DISBINDING TOOL

A reshaped medical scalpel, this tool makes it easy to cut the sewing thread inside signatures without damaging the paper. The outside curve of the tool is also useful for scraping glue remains. Not the highest quality steel, but more than adequate for cutting sewing threads and scraping. Stainless steel. Rc 40. 5 x x $50.00 This little knife fills a large gap in my set of knives. With it, pulling books down for rebinding becomes a much less onerous chore as it effortlessly slips under the threads to be cut and the back doubles as a gentle scraper for cleaning the spine folds. Peter Verheyen, Book Conservator and Binder, Syracuse, NY.

SET OF BRASS BOXMAKING JIGS

These 2 pieces of brass are useful for cutting and trimming cloth when making boxes. The 45 degree bevel is on both the quarter and half inch dimensions, at opposite ends of the bars. 12 x x and 3 x x $40.00 A fine piece of brass. M. H. Kolisnyk, Instructor, New York University, NYC.

BACKING TOOL

Deceptively simple, yet surprisingly effective. The end grain of this piece of maple, when roughened with a piece of 36 grit sandpaper, gently backs a rounded textblock. Shaped to fit the hand, but it can also be used with a hammer. Blind stamped PEACHEY BACKING TOOL. Also useful as firewood. Sandpaper included. Maple. 7 x 1 x $15.00

DIAMOND BOARD SHEAR HONING JIG

This redesigned honing jig uses a fine and extra fine polycrystalline diamond plates instead of abrasives. They should last a lifetime, unless you start working on your neighbors shears! The new design works for Kuttrimmer blades as well. Honing your board shear between grindings keeps it in top shape for cutting. Instructions for use provided. Works on many scissors as well. Comes with 2 diamond plates. Bronze and cherry. Dimensions variable, 3 x 1 x $125.00 The corner cutting knife is a shorter version of the shirt knife I used a Harcourt Bindery twenty years ago. It holds an edge well and is convenient size for corners, etc. The paring knife is light and dexterous. It holds an edge well and when you get used to sharpening the curve, is a great improvement on my previous English styled knife. Peter Geraty, Praxis Bindery, Easthampton, MA.

CORNER CUTTING JIG

This is a very useful tool for accurately mitering corners. Great for production work. A small knob allows adjustment for 20 - 200 pt. board thickness. This jig allows butt-joining of cloth, paper, vellum or leather. Instructions for use included. Bronze and cherry. 4 cutting width. $100.00 NEW DELUXE VERSION, ALL BRASS $125.00

I have been using the Peachey paring knife for some years now and I highly recommend it. I have many knives and find that when a sensitive edge is needed the knife meets all the demands that my projects have. The same is true of the corner jig, it is invaluable and truly speeds up the work. And as all of Jeffs tools are elegantly designed, they are a pleasure to own and use. Basically Jeffs tools are among the best I own and will ultimately become heirlooms of the bindery. Tim Ely, Book Artist, WA.

RECTANGULAR BAND STICK

This tool is a reproduction from a private collection, and is thought to have come from Edith Diehls Studio. It is much less awkward to handle than traditional band sticks- you can use it with one hand directing the pressure downward. The curved shape fits the hand nicely. It gives a more square, 19th Century look to the bands than when using a nipper. Made from Swiss Pear wood , which was traditionally used for drafting instruments, as it is very dimensionally stable, lovely to touch, reasonably hard and finely grained. Two sizes of band widths: 9/64 and 13/64. Overall approximately : 2 5/8 x 2 x 5/8 $75.00

ONE INCH TYPE HOLDER

Sometimes a normal size type holder feels heavy and awkward when tooling with only a few letters, a signature, dates or ornaments. This small tool is also good for correcting mistakes- e.g. a missing serif - from stamped surfaces without having to set up the stamping machine. Also useful for using type high stamping ornaments. This tool has been redesigned from last years model- it now has rounded edges that slow heat loss. Brass with cherry handle. Available with an optional upgrade, a ceramic screw that resists heat. Now there is no need to grow your thumbnail extra long. Brass and Bronze. 7 x 1 $125.00 Ceramic screw upgrade $25.00 TIP: from Judy Ivry- To correct a faulty impression using foil, load the letter and two adjacent ones, cool the outer letters and use them as a guide to correct the middle one.

GENUINE HORSE BUTT STROP

I have been collecting strops for a number of years, and all of the best crafted and those in the best condition all are made of horse butt. My strops are a full 24 inches long, 3 inches wide, with the double-sided vegetable tanned horse butt extending 17-20 inches for a full sweep of the hand. Mounted on half-inch cherry, with areas to hold it on the bench on both ends, and stamped GENUINE HORSE BUTT. The dense nature of the horse butt makes it possible to strop narrow or round tools without damaging the surface of the skin. Supplied with a 1 oz. Bar of green buffing compound, .5 micron, and use the nude horse butt on the other side for a final polish. 24 x 3 x $75.00 One piece of 12 x 3 unmounted horse butt. $20.00 This is one nice butt. M. H. Kolisnyk, Instructor, New York University, NYC.

3M MICROFINISHING FILM
These micron graded abrasive films are the best Ive ever used. They feel just like a water stone when used wet. They can be washed, and last a long time. These are what I use for the hand finishing stage of all my knives. 12 sheets each of 80, 40, 15 and 5 micron and a 2 micron abrasive cloth is included, which I use like a strop on top of a piece of leather, prior to honing with a .5 micron buffing compound. 8 x 2 $35.00

SHARPENING BASICS
1. If the knife is extremely dull, start with a 80 micron or 220 grit. 2. In general, it is fastest to roughly half the grit each progression of sharpening if using micron grading - i.e., 40, 15, 5, 2, .5 buffing compound on a leather strop. If using US grits, basically double the grit - i.e. 220, 400, 1000, 2000. 3. Watch for the burr - a small amount of metal that gets turned over when sharpening one side - it lets you know that you have the back and bevel planes overlapping, so you know there are no dull spots. Then you can proceed with the next grit. 4. Make sure to keep the back of the blade flat when sharpening and stropping. With the Peachey Paring Knife, imagine it has a double bevelbecause of the curve, you cannot just lay it flat on the sharpening surface. 5. To obtain a mirror finish, each change in grit needs to remove the scratches left by the last one. If you slightly change the direction of movement, it is easy to see any deeper scratches. 6. Abrasive papers can be cleaned using a rubber belt sander cleaning stick. 7. The two micron abrasive cloth can be used like a strop for very fast resharpening - just place it on a piece of scrap leather. 8. Moving the blade in one direction only - away from the cutting edge makes it easier to maintain a consistent angle. 9. If at all possible, experiment with a knife that you know is sharp- then you will know how sharp your own knife can be. 10. Most abrasive papers or films last longer if water is used as a lubricant.

GRIT COMPARISON CHART

US Grit 36 100 180 240 280 320 350 500 700 US Oil Stone Coarse Grinding Wheel Coarse India, Fine Wheel Medium Crystolon Medium India, Coarse Diamond Fine India Medium Diamond Washita Soft Arkansas Hard White Arkansas, Fine Diamond, Medium Hard Black Arkansas Hard Black Arkansas Ultra White Ceramic 150 240 280 360 500 600 1000 2000 20 15 40 80 60 3 2 1 Japan Grit Micron Jewelers

900 2000

4000 6000 8000

12 7 3 .5

1/0 4/0

Green Buffing Compound

SHARPENING BIBLIOGRAPHY Juranitch, John. The Razor Edge Book of Sharpening. NY: Warner Books, 1985. Kingshott, Jim. Sharpening, The Complete Guide. Bath: The Guild of Master Craftsman Publications, 1994. Lee, Leonard. The Complete Guide to Sharpening. Newtown, CT: The Taunton Press, 1995. Odate, Toshio. Japanese Woodworking Tools: Their Tradition, Spirit and Use. CT: The Taunton Press, 1984.

OTHER HANDMADE SPECIALITY BOOKBINDING TOOLMAKERS

Jim Croft 208-245-3043 Box 211 Santa, ID -Makes beautiful, unique bone folders from wild, free range deer and elk. Tim Moore 517-524-6318 14450 Behling Rd. Concord, MI 49237 -A wide variety of gorgeous lying and finishing presses, and an ingenious vertical plough.

SHARPENING SUPPLY SOURCES

The Museum of Woodworking Tools toolsforworkingwood.com PO Box 1951, New York, NY 10159-1951 -On-line supplier of woodworking tools, Arkansas, India, diamond and waterstones. Exhibits section with detailed instructions on hand honing. Rio Grande 1-800-545-6566 -Jewelry making supplies, micron abrasive papers, buffing compounds. Sheffields Knifemakers Supply 1-800-874-7007 -Stones, grinders, abrasive papers, buffing compounds, knife blanks. MSC Industrial Supply 1-800-645-7270 -Cheap belt sanders, abrasive papers, Starret Red-Stripe hacksaw blades.

ORDERING INFORMATION
All items are 100% refundable if you are not happy for any reason. Just send it back and I will refund the purchase price and shipping. Priority shipping/ handling is usually $6, but depends on weight. Global Priority is usually $15. I try to keep items in stock, but calling or emailing is a good idea to confirm availability. All items are guaranteed for my life. If there is a defect, send it back and I will repair or replace it. I think I have another 43 years or so. I can also make custom knives if there is something you require, or can reshape and sharpen an existing knife. All knives, except unfinished blanks, are sharpened, stropped, have blade covers and are polished enough to make glue removal easy. There is no greater joy than working with a high quality tool.

JEFFREY S. PEACHEY 150 E. 3RD. ST., SUITE 3E NEW YORK, NY 10009 (212) 387-7860 peachey@pipeline.com