How to sharpen shares on #8 little genius plow

[Briere]

I'm redoing a little genius #8 two bottom plow. What would be the best way to clean up the plows and sharpen the shares, and what are the mold extentions for?

[sweettractors]

I have never heard of sharpening a share. The extension located at the rear of the moldboard is to help flip the soil over on a hillside plowing situation. Picture of the plow would be great. Ken Sweet

[MIKE R]

I have heard of sharpening them. I can only guess it helps cut through the vegitation if a coulter isn't on the plow. The best way to clean up the moldboards is to plow with it.

[Egon]

At one time one took the shares to the local blacksmith to be sharpened. Then disposable heads were the norm.

The extensions on the mole board may be for turning fresh sod. Breaking ploughs have a different mole board than do plows working cultivated land.

Now all said, my memory has suffed and statements are fro 50 years ago!!

[Briere]

I have never heard of sharpening a share. The extension located at the rear of the moldboard is to help flip the soil over on a hillside plowing situation. Picture of the plow would be great. Ken Sweet

Thanks, I don't have a picture. Now I know what the mold extention is for. Back in the old days they used to take the shares to the blacksmith for sharpening. The share unbolts from the bottom of the mold. I only know what I get off the computer, I don't know anybody that has used a old plow like this one, so I'm just feeling my way along. Thanks again.

[Briere]

Hi Mike, I picked some coulters up off of Ebay, so maybe the plows don't have to be to sharp. I have never plowed or seen anybody plow, and don't know anybody who used this old equipment.. This winter I want to know this plow inside and out. I want to get it set up as good as I can. So this spring when I plow my two acers, I'll know it is me and not the plow.
Thanks
George

[milkman]

I'm older'n dirt so I remember dad sharpening the shares on his 2 bottom plow. He would take them off the plow and heat the edge with his forge and hammer them to a sharp edge, therefore not losing any metal by grinding or filing. He also had coulters, so that's not the reason for sharpening. They cut roots better and he claimed it helped them pull easier.

[flusher]

I'm redoing a little genius #8 two bottom plow. What would be the best way to clean up the plows and sharpen the shares, and what are the mold extentions for?

If the plow point is worn (rounded off), then sharpening it doesn't do a whole lot of good. Get new shares.

The only way I know of to salvage a worn share is the way my grandfather (a small town blacksmith in central Wisconsin) did. He'd forge weld a piece of steel bar stock (usually salvaged from worn out rasps he had lying around his shop) to one side of the the plow point, then bend it 180 degrees, forge weld that end to the plow, and then grind and shape a new point. You won't find many blacksmiths these days who are able do this type of work.

Good luck