$7 Period of Instruction

[GregY]

How important is it to raise the burr? Could a guy just alternate strokes until the beast is sharp? If no, why not?

I ask because this burr is a mythical object to me. I can sharpen a knife so-so but have no idea if I have ever raised a burr.

I can only speak regarding sharpening on stones (I use a Sharpmaker), but raising a burr is how you know you've taken the new bevel you're creating all the way to the edge. Flip it over and go until you raise a burr on the other side, and you know you now have 2 planes meeting. Ideal. Well except for the burr, which you have to get rid of.

I imagine it's a little different when you're convexing. I don't know.

 

[oldschool45]

Any time I sharpen and don’t “raise” a burr I end up with a so-so sharp knife. When I do get a burr its at least shaving sharp when I remove it sometimes its hair popping sharp. I can’t get an edge whittling sharp yet so take what I say with a grain of salt. I think that most people agree that a cheap knife (with decent steel) is the best way to learning or relearn sharpening. Ask me about the $90 Benchmade in D2 I butchered learning that!
GregY, raising a burr by convexing is the same way I can detect the burr, by touch, down to 4000grit. Then light strokes till it disappears.

 

[Jason B.]

How important is it to raise the burr? Could a guy just alternate strokes until the beast is sharp? If no, why not?

I ask because this burr is a mythical object to me. I can sharpen a knife so-so but have no idea if I have ever raised a burr.

The burr is the rough..... well burr on the edge that appears when your two bevels meet. Its hard to feel at the finer grits but very easy to feel with coarse grits, it just basically mean's that you have brought your edge together with that grit and you can start moving to finer grits given that your scratch pattern is even. Yes, you can alternate strokes until sharp that what you should be doing anyway.

If you have not bought more (finer) sandpaper yet 600 grit should give you a shaving edge with a slight polish in the finish. To detect the burr drag the edge on your thumb nail in a stropping motion, if there is a burr it will scrape your nail surface.

 

[dee bee]

Burrs are not a must unless you want to remove weakened metal.

 

[Hightide]

A quick question about using sandpaper. Do you push the knife like you would on a bench stone, or is it like stropping? Also, what's the difference sharping with wet verse dry sandpaper?

Thanks in advance, I'm looking forward to putting a convex edge on one of my knives soon!

 

[flashlife]

A quick question about using sandpaper. Do you push the knife like you would on a bench stone, or is it like stropping? Also, what's the difference sharping with wet verse dry sandpaper?

Thanks in advance, I'm looking forward to putting a convex edge on one of my knives soon!

You pull the blade spine first across the paper, holding the proper tilt.
Otherwise you'll shave the grit off the paper and dull the edge.
Remember, paper is not as tough as a stone. Wet or dry is up to you, but use silicon carbide (black) paper, it cuts the best without wearing out fast.