A question for freehand sharpeners

[Spats McGee]

I used one hand (my right) exclusively for a while, but I've been working on using both hands. I can't tell yet if it's better or worse, but at least I can see the leading-edge contact with the stone.

 

[catspa]

That’s a valid point, and it leads to asking “do you sharpen by sight, or by feel?”

Parker

 

[dogstar]

That’s a valid point, and it leads to asking “do you sharpen by sight, or by feel?”

Parker

I think a little of both because it allows you to cross-check your angle.

 

[Spats McGee]

That’s a valid point, and it leads to asking “do you sharpen by sight, or by feel?”

Parker

FWIW, which isn't much, my gut says that new sharpeners like me go by sight, and more experienced sharpeners by feel.

 

[karnaknives]

I don't know if I am correct or not, I've never had any training, and have relied on results to help move me in the right direction, but I sharpen by "feel".
I don't try to focus on how the edge looks on the stone, I don't see that well, and instead I rely on my hands to control the angle, and the feel of the steel on the stones.
I don't count strokes either. I work one side until the burr feels like I want it to, and only then do I work the other side.
Counting strokes might cause to work one side too much or too little so I let the steel tell me when its time to work the other side of the blade.

On the flip side, I go very much by sight when judging my work. I use magnification to check my work and other devices to check my angles and final sharpness.
I don't do that for every knife, but I do check with tools periodically to make sure that what I feel is producing what I want to see.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I don't know if I am correct or not, I've never had any training, and have relied on results to help move me in the right direction, but I sharpen by "feel".
I don't try to focus on how the edge looks on the stone, I don't see that well, and instead I rely on my hands to control the angle, and the feel of the steel on the stones.
I don't count strokes either. I work one side until the burr feels like I want it to, and only then do I work the other side.
Counting strokes might cause to work one side too much or too little so I let the steel tell me when its time to work the other side of the blade.

On the flip side, I go very much by sight when judging my work. I use magnification to check my work and other devices to check my angles and final sharpness.
I don't do that for every knife, but I do check with tools periodically to make sure that what I feel is producing what I want to see.

That first paragraph is essentially and nearly exactly my approach as well. My eyes haven't been all that good in a very long time, especially so in the last 10-15 years. So I've done as much as I can to rely on my feel via my fingertips for flush contact and discerning between the 'skating' feel on the bevels and that very slight 'digging' sensation when the apex starts to bite into the stone. I'm convinced, if one can detect that difference via the fingertips and immediately adjust for it on the fly, that's about 95% of the battle.

 

[catspa]

In addition, fingertip sensitivity will come in handy if necessity compels you to crack a safe.

I do a little of each, depending on the sharpening medium.

Some of my favorite stones are fairly soft, and I like the visual feedback of swarf or lack thereof on the blade edge during a leading stroke.

On a harder stone, I rely on feel for hand position, then inspect the edge to see where I’m abrading and if I need to tip up or down.

On watercooled power abrasives (think Tormek), it’s almost all feel because the water obscures the edge. Likewise on a burnishing steel or strop with trailing strokes, nothing to see there.

Parker

 

[garry3]

I used one hand (my right) exclusively for a while, but I've been working on using both hands. I can't tell yet if it's better or worse, but at least I can see the leading-edge contact with the stone.

That's the reason I would recommend switching hands, there is a visual and that makes it easier for beginners.
Like you I learned later on to switch hands but mostly I don't. The versatility is handy though especially for thinning large kitchen knifes.

 

[Blade Lab]

Both hands.

 

[Carboniferous]

My left hand is completely inept, I've never even attempted to use it to hold the knife. I place the stone sideways and use my dominant hand to hold the knife and keep my left hand on the blade. I find it easier to maintain an angle than with the stone oriented away from me (instead of one stroke towards me and one away from me it's one stroke left and one stroke right, can see the contact with the stone both ways and can move from the hips more easily at least for me). The tips end up asymmetrical most of the time but it doesn't bother me. As long as I don't round the tip and scratch up the blade I'm happy.

 

[catspa]

…move from the hips more easily …

We each choreograph our own sharpening dance. Me, I put my right foot in, I take my right foot out, I put my left foot in, and I…

Never mind.

Parker

 

[tiguy7]

This jig has 2 different angles; 15* off vertical and 20* off vertical the same as a Spyderco Sharpmaker. I am right handed and sharpen on the left stone and rotate the jig 180* to hone the other side of the blade. Change to a finer stone and repeat. If I were left handed, I would use the right hand stone.View attachment 2000762