How To a book on sharpening

E

emjay4248

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Oct 8, 2016
Messages
1,160
Hi.
Can somebody help me pick out a a book on sharpening. I've gotten pretty good at sharpening and high polished edges on the KME but would like to learn more about it and also hot to freehand.
Anybody with suggestions would be appreciated
Thanks Mike
 
Having also desired a book on sharpening, I found that simply practicing is the best way to learn and improve your sharpening skills. There's really not a great deal of theory that will benefit you; there's only trial and error with various steels. Pick up some different sharpening media, i.e. whetstones, a Sharpmaker with various rods, a Lansky system, etc... You'll learn more by doing than you could ever learn by reading a book. Plus, you'll finally find a use for that drawer full of beater knives you've never been able to get rid of.

Then ask questions of the sharpening elders here. Good luck and enjoy the Zen of sharpening!
 
I found the book The Razor Edge book of sharpening helpful. It covers the basic concepts, though they do try to sell their system as the way to achieve it. I wasn't overly interested in their system.
You can also Google your way to a lot of useful info.
 
Last edited:
emjay4248 said:
Hi.
Can somebody help me pick out a a book on sharpening. I've gotten pretty good at sharpening and high polished edges on the KME but would like to learn more about it and also hot to freehand.
Anybody with suggestions would be appreciated
Thanks Mike
Click to expand...

Here is a four-part video series for the Spyderco Sharpmaker which has some good information about the different forms of sharpening over the ages. It may be of some help to you. You can practice your freehand sharpening on the bottom of your ceramic coffee cup!

 
I like what fivesense had to say. It really is a world of trial and error. I don't fault you for wanting to learn more before you try it(it's actually a lot smarter than what I did), but books and videos only show you so much. They can explain how to get a certain degree, but it doesn't help you get a feel for it. That's what freehand sharpening is all about, haha.

It takes practice, and practice doesn't ultimately mean perfection. I still have my days where I somehow put a garbage edge on one of my knives and have to refocus my efforts. I never really read any book on the matter, but I've watch tons of videos and read articles online. The funny thing is, they're all different. Each person shows you how they sharpen their knives. Their methods may not be what works for you. So don't be afraid to screw up once in a while, we all do it(even if we all don't admit it, haha).

Good luck! It is a great skill to learn.
 
fivesense said:
Having also desired a book on sharpening, I found that simply practicing is the best way to learn and improve your sharpening skills. There's really not a great deal of theory that will benefit you; there's only trial and error with various steels. Pick up some different sharpening media, i.e. whetstones, a Sharpmaker with various rods, a Lansky system, etc... You'll learn more by doing than you could ever learn by reading a book. Plus, you'll finally find a use for that drawer full of beater knives you've never been able to get rid of.

Then ask questions of the sharpening elders here. Good luck and enjoy the Zen of sharpening!
Click to expand...
Thank you for the advice. That is what I've been doing. I use the KME at the moment. When finances get better I am probably going to get the Wicked Edge. I thought that there was alot more to this but I guess not and I can't do freehand because my hands are too shakey.
Thanks again
Mike
 
Peter Hartwig said:
I found the book The Razor Edge book of sharpening helpful. It covers the basic concepts, though they do try to sell their system as the way to achieve it. I wasn't overly interested in their system.
You can also Google your way to a lot of useful info.
Click to expand...
Thanks.
 
McFeeli said:
I like what fivesense had to say. It really is a world of trial and error. I don't fault you for wanting to learn more before you try it(it's actually a lot smarter than what I did), but books and videos only show you so much. They can explain how to get a certain degree, but it doesn't help you get a feel for it. That's what freehand sharpening is all about, haha.

It takes practice, and practice doesn't ultimately mean perfection. I still have my days where I somehow put a garbage edge on one of my knives and have to refocus my efforts. I never really read any book on the matter, but I've watch tons of videos and read articles online. The funny thing is, they're all different. Each person shows you how they sharpen their knives. Their methods may not be what works for you. So don't be afraid to screw up once in a while, we all do it(even if we all don't admit it, haha).

Good luck! It is a great skill to learn.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the advice
 
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