On Jun 16, 10:41 am, Windswept@home (Murriel) wrote:
All Internet sites advise us not to use a sawing motion with the hand
file. However, if you view the bevel as a hill, some sites say that
you should drawfile diagonally up bevel (uphill) and other sites
advise to draw your file down bevel (downhill). Very confusing. The
sites advise that 10 strokes are all that are needed. I've used 100s
of strokes and have the shiniest bevel in town but the edge is as dull
as when I started. Please impart some words of wisdom -- Thank You, M

A file removes no material on the back stroke but suffers wear anyway.

Produce a clean 30 degree bevel on each blade and stone any burr off
the flat side.
You can make the bevel with file, stone, abrasive belt, or wheel but
remove the burr and then with the shear blades closed press them into
tight contact and open them once or twice otherwise they may cut into
each other and ruin the edge.

Daily Grind Sharpening service, 20 years+ full time and at a profit.