new to sharpening

[dylans]

I've used my 1214 a lot already and I need to learn sharpening. I know ka bar recommended Arkansas stones. So what's everything I'll need to keep the sharpest edge, and keep my blade in top shape, and how do I sharpen serrations. Soft and hard stones? Honing oil? Strop? These terms are new to me. Anyone wanna break it all down for met

[kimberfan]

i prefer diamond stones as they are less messy, DMT is my fave brand, get a course and a fine and extra fine, mark the bevel of the knife with a sharpie marker then do 2-3 strokes on the side you marked and see if you removed if not or only part of it adjust your angle tell you remove all of it then work that side for a while untill you form a burr (the edge rolls over to the other side, you'll feel it with your fingers) then repeat on the other side for the same amount of time, then go to your fine stone and repeat, then on your extra fine stone do 1 stroke per side alternating sides for a while, once done take it to a bare piece of un treated leather and use an edge trailing motion at a lower angle then you sharpened at, do this for 20 or times on each side alternating sides every stroke, by the time your done you should be able to shave with it. also theres a few good video's on youtube.

[dylans]

thanks. ill look into it. i found a dmt stone kit with four from extra course to extra fine. 80 bucks. not bad

[SpencerCE89]

Best stone I've found so far is a 15 dollar diamond stone by a company called Smiths. It has a coarse and fine side. Found it at Walmart. I haven't sharpened my kabar yet, but from what I hear it's pretty easy to sharpen that steel. I used to watch all sorts of tutorials on youtube but nothing really beats just trying it for yourself. I wouldn't recommend starting on a knife you like though. After a while you'll get the hang of it.

[dylans]

thanks for the feed back. im looking at two kits. what do you guys think is the most efficient, and best value.
Ive got my 1214 to sharpen, and i just bought the ka bar mule folder, so ive got a couple to upkeep, if that makes a difference in what kit i get.

http://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/Ul...-P320C100.aspx

http://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/DM...rDKKT32pNVUNIA

[kimberfan]

get the DMT kit and a strop.

[BCMSBR]

Anybody here use a Lansky? Three stones, course to fine. You clamp the blade to the guide, and the stones attach to rods. Holes in the guide let you choose the angle. Rod passes through guide to keep you at the proper angle. I've used one on ky gerber edc folder, would shave arm hair afterwards.

[TheOTBalisong]

Anybody here use a Lansky? Three stones, course to fine. You clamp the blade to the guide, and the stones attach to rods. Holes in the guide let you choose the angle. Rod passes through guide to keep you at the proper angle. I've used one on ky gerber edc folder, would shave arm hair afterwards.

I've used a system similar to the lansky, except it was with diamond stones and made by DMT.

It's a great system, I agree.

[fuzzwuzz133]

I use my sharpmaker and it allows to me to shave too. Easily.

[TheOTBalisong]

Although I would much rather suggest you either learn freehanding or spend a bit more for a high end guided system (Edge pro/WE).

[wildernessnerd]

I use the DMT Aligner kit. Easy to use, I can't seem to get the hang of freehand. Also another good piece of kit is the KME sharpening system, I'm planning on getting that for myself as soon as I save up some money. There's some posts here on the forums about both the DMT and the KME systems. I use this system for a couple of my non-scandi knives.