Reply To: Sharpening in the cold

In more than one nation windshield wiper fluid contains iso-propyl alcohol, which lacks the toxicity of methanol. Despite iso-propyl alcohol being used as a skin desinfectant, it, like all alcohols, has a “drying” effect on the skin, as to why protective (preferentially non-allergic) gloves might be warranted. Denatured alcohol has the same properties.

Potentially, as metals and most binding materials become more brittle with lower temperatures, the case could be made to only sharpen and hone at temperatures above freezing. A small heating fan will rise temperatures >0 °C, making sharpening a lot more pleasurable to the fingers (anti-freeze does not elevate the temperature).