Let's cut to the chase. There's plenty of literature about knife sharpening out there—when, where, and how you should go about caring for those expensive, beautiful kitchen tools. But what about your ...

Used for cutting paper, cardboard, fabric, string, price tags, plastic packaging—that list goes on—the scissors in your office or kitchen drawer might be the most reliable everyday tool in your house.

It's impossible to get a sharp edge on a chisel or plane if the back of the blade isn't flat. If you're using glass and sandpaper, press the back side of the blade against the sandpaper and move the ...