dkb45
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2012
- Messages
- 4,458
I recently got into self sharpening because I grew tired of having to go somewhere else to get my new knife sharpened, so I bit the bullet and bought a HF 1x30 and a set of belts, 120-3k. For a while, I just did whatever I thought and my edges were coming out pretty sharp, but I felt they could be a lot better.
I asked on Knifeforums and was told that the key to sharp edges is light pressure. I figured this must be a joke, because the grit stays the same. Well, turns out I was DEAD WRONG! I changed methods and now do 2 passes, one with medium pressure to establish the scratch pattern, then I barely touch my 3k on the last pass (or passes if the edge doesn't feel right).
All I can say is bloody hell! My edges are coming out nearly mirror polished for just the 3k, and if I knock off the tiny burr the edges already cut better than my previous "really sharp". A little stropping and my edges look almost professional (you know, aside from being kind of lopsided)!
The moral of the story is that no matter how much you know, and no matter how miniscule a change the advice is, branching out a oittle never hurts. The other moral is when you feel uncomfortable about a subject, ask an expert. Many of them are great people that only want to help.
I asked on Knifeforums and was told that the key to sharp edges is light pressure. I figured this must be a joke, because the grit stays the same. Well, turns out I was DEAD WRONG! I changed methods and now do 2 passes, one with medium pressure to establish the scratch pattern, then I barely touch my 3k on the last pass (or passes if the edge doesn't feel right).
All I can say is bloody hell! My edges are coming out nearly mirror polished for just the 3k, and if I knock off the tiny burr the edges already cut better than my previous "really sharp". A little stropping and my edges look almost professional (you know, aside from being kind of lopsided)!
The moral of the story is that no matter how much you know, and no matter how miniscule a change the advice is, branching out a oittle never hurts. The other moral is when you feel uncomfortable about a subject, ask an expert. Many of them are great people that only want to help.
