As has been noted, a lot depends on your knife blade steel and whether you want/need sharpness beyond a good working edge. As a beginner I started out with plate glass under sandpaper @ $20 with wet dry sandpaper (120 to 1200) an some 2 and 1/2 micron polishing sheets ?? been a while. I also bought some Mora fixed blades to practice on. Now, I have discovered that a good working edge is all I need and I like the simple steels and Mora stainless. So, if I were to do it over again I'd get a good 2 sided stone-like Norton-. I do like my DMT credit card sharpener for the field. I have the red with a piece of 1000 grit grinding film glued to the back. With 2 or 3 Moras either set up should set you back less than you maximum.
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A question for you freehanders
- Thread starter mykem
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Holy cow! You learned how to "properly sharpen" freehand in about two months? I've read time and again, here and elsewhere, that it takes some guys YEARS to really get good at "proper sharpening."
You must be an idiot. Savant.
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Sir mike I put these photos in mykem's other post. But if you can find the black Norton economy tool stone at any tool store, so long as it's black in color it's misbranded by Norton and really a crystolon stone sold for cheap. It's the biggest deal on the planet to me at $8 anywhere. I gave away two of them recently in a GAW.That is good to read that the knife can get sharp enough. I too only look for a working edge I call it, never a need for a polished one.
Also good to see that you have the same wife as well. LOL I too have the same wife, which will be 30 years next month but I don't have the same blade as after close to 30 years with a Vic small Tinker, it no longer was safe to use cause of the play or bad springs! Thank goodness I have spares though!
Question: Would the grit rating be the same for the Norton Economy stone found at Home Depot for like $7 as it is for the India and Crystolon ones? I think I still have that stone too!
Here is a shot of my kitchen knife without refining the edge any further shaving hair while wet even just on that one medium side of the Norton economy stone alone.
It's also sharp enough to dice ripe papaya without crushing the fruit.
For a refined edge it always comes back to what another member said putting a knife through those three grits, apexing the edges, removing the burr and strop.
I like to keep a medium edge on some of my kitchen knives + a bit of a hone on the steel vs a very fine edge like on my pocket knives.
PS mykem, I've tried to be helpful, but your throwing around some attitude and it's really not going to get you anywhere on bf. A lot of folks on the forum can put some pretty amazing edges on a knife and they have tried to help.
But in any case they may not be attacking you if you perceive it that way. Often times typing in a forum words can get minced or lost in translation. It would help if you dial it back. There are going to be folks who are adamant that the dmt stuff is better than the smith's diamond trihone. Fact of the matter it is. It's best to let it go. It doesn't mean that the smith's system isn't ok to start off on.
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Holy cow! You learned how to "properly sharpen" freehand in about two months? I've read time and again, here and elsewhere, that it takes some guys YEARS to really get good at "proper sharpening."
You must be an idiot. Savant.
Well since now you've purchased your tri-hone, your half way there
Well since now you've purchased your tri-hone, your half way there
Yep, in two months i'll be splitting atoms. In three months i'll be splitting their smaller components like the other guy.
You have been helpful. And i thank you again now as i have in the past. And i do read and think about peoples opinion of various equipment. That 's why i ask questions.
You probably hadn't noticed and there's no reason you should, but the other guy and i have a little history and i guess i have a long memory.
There was no need for this crap from him:
Had he directed those words to you, you may have had something to say to him. Of course, perhaps you wouldn't have said a word to him either.
I wanted to, so i did. Just my way, i guess.
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RayseM
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Holy cow! You learned how to "properly sharpen" freehand in about two months? I've read time and again, here and elsewhere, that it takes some guys YEARS to really get good at "proper sharpening."
You must be an idiot. Savant.
Mykem - Mr. OP what the hell with the attitude? You take offense pretty easily for a guy with a hand out.
Oh - and 2 months of practice with stones can get you very decent sharp blades. Always more to learn and more refinement possible but sharp after 2 months is completely reasonable (if not sooner).
Jason B.
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Must agree, the level of respect and willingness to seek out information is almost completely nonexistent. In the multiple threads started on the exact same subject it seems like most of what is being said is going in one ear and out the other.
It's also against BF rules to insult other members which has happened numorus times already.
Rayse and jason, James w is the guy who learned how to sharpen in two months. And James w and i have a little history.
I did not cast the first stone here , boys. If you look at when things were posted you'll see who insulted whom first.
This james w clown started the crap.
"....but since the designer and maker is a paying member (unlike you) he is... ." Indeed.
Prior to the above nastly little bit of insulting BS, all was well.
Perhaps if one of you guys who seem offended spoke to James w after he began all this we wouldn't be wasting bandwidth with this crap.
Now, why don't you just let this die?
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You left out the part where he explained himself in not very insulting terms. Its common for folks to encourage the support of member offered services, from sharpening to supplies to custom knives etc etc, whether one is already a paying member or not - so his statement didn't really appear out of line.
I don't care what else you two have going on and cannot imagine anyone else does either. The vibe on this forum overall is pretty mellow and constructive, but a bit of tolerance is still needed from time to time. The extent of your response seemed over the top, and not just to me apparently.
I'm all for letting it die as well and wouldn't have bothered chiming in in the first place, but felt a bit of added weight couldn't hurt.
I don't care what else you two have going on and cannot imagine anyone else does either. The vibe on this forum overall is pretty mellow and constructive, but a bit of tolerance is still needed from time to time. The extent of your response seemed over the top, and not just to me apparently.
I'm all for letting it die as well and wouldn't have bothered chiming in in the first place, but felt a bit of added weight couldn't hurt.
So, he insulted me and then he explains why he did so "in not very insulting terms." Huh? He said what he said. Period.
Look, the "paying members (unlike you) ... " crap was a wholly unnecessary thing to say to me. Remove the "unlike you" from the sentence and what he is saying is fine. I took the "unlike you" as an insult, which it was.
You just said you're all for letting this die. It really is much ado about nothing. So why didn't you let it die?
All you've done here is encourage more people to chime in about nothing.
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Yep, in two months i'll be splitting atoms. In three months i'll be splitting their smaller components like the other guy.
Okay mykem I did not mean to be insulting in anyway shape form sorry you took offense to it you asked how it supported him and My response should of been differnt my bad
I'm sorry for anyone I insulted in anyway with my recommendation for a sharpening stone/freehand system
When I said 2 moths I meant nice shiny edge reflection mirror finish
i only meant to recommend a product that I thought would work and help you learn how to freehand
I've removed all posts by me on this thread so as not to insult anyone else
James W.
So, you removed all your posts on this thread. Clever lad. But enough of that.
My brother once told me i suffer from Irish Alzheimer's. "You forget everything but a grudge," he said. Maybe he had a point. I do tend to have an unforgiving nature.
As far as i'm concerned this whole little fiasco is dead, unless of course other people for some unknown reason want to continue breathing new life into it.
I guess we shall see.
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It's a slow day at work, can I take a swing? 
It's a slow day at work, can I take a swing?
red, since you seem to be a rare exception here in the home of the humorless, have at it.
And don't worry about insulting me. My skin is as thick as rice paper. Well, maybe not that thick, but close
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Fair enough. I've read and posted on a few threads in common with you. Your a bit touchy and sometimes perceive something as a slight that may or may not be. Regardless, you come back like a ton of bricks and sometimes on a personal level I also think is a bit too direct. In some cases, I think you're right that another guy swung first, but you're pulling a gun at a knife fight .
I give you the benefit of the doubt because I have a similar irreverent, tongue in cheek humor that's gotten me in trouble a fair number of times. The devil gets a hold of me and even though I know the other party will probably get pissed, I just gotta get it out cuz I think it's funny and it's my way. My wife says I have sarcasm impulse control issues. Then again, when you spend one of your formative years living with 18 other guys, a single bathroom, and the main way to kill time is who can out-insult the other guys, it builds a thick skin. I've had training in insult-fu grasshopper.
All that being said, some of the guys commenting on your behavior are long time members not uptight or known for a short fuse so it might be worth some thought. Or just PM the jerks (is this word ok mods?) who piss you off and keep it private.
. I give you the benefit of the doubt because I have a similar irreverent, tongue in cheek humor that's gotten me in trouble a fair number of times. The devil gets a hold of me and even though I know the other party will probably get pissed, I just gotta get it out cuz I think it's funny and it's my way. My wife says I have sarcasm impulse control issues. Then again, when you spend one of your formative years living with 18 other guys, a single bathroom, and the main way to kill time is who can out-insult the other guys, it builds a thick skin. I've had training in insult-fu grasshopper.
All that being said, some of the guys commenting on your behavior are long time members not uptight or known for a short fuse so it might be worth some thought. Or just PM the jerks (is this word ok mods?) who piss you off and keep it private.
Fair enough. I've read and posted on a few threads in common with you. Your a bit touchy and sometimes perceive something as a slight that may or may not be. Regardless, you come back like a ton of bricks and sometimes on a personal level I also think is a bit too direct. In some cases, I think you're right that another guy swung first, but you're pulling a gun at a knife fight
I give you the benefit of the doubt because I have a similar irreverent, tongue in cheek humor that's gotten me in trouble a fair number of times. The devil gets a hold of me and even though I know the other party will probably get pissed, I just gotta get it out cuz I think it's funny and it's my way. My wife says I have sarcasm impulse control issues. Then again, when you spend one of your formative years living with 18 other guys, a single bathroom, and the main way to kill time is who can out-insult the other guys, it builds a thick skin. I've had training in insult-fu grasshopper.
All that being said, some of the guys commenting on your behavior are long time members not uptight or known for a short fuse so it might be worth some thought. Or just PM the jerks (is this word ok mods?) who piss you off and keep it private.
Excellent advice. And i shall take it. Well, i'll take most of it anyway.
Thanks
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To OP,
I'm also a non paying member, I think it's not an insult if that fact is true. I respect those who play by the rule, paying their dues to advertise their products here. You may need to hang in a bit & learn more about the rules etc. If you understand how the rule plays here, no neeed to ask why support to dealers or makers on the forum is a good thing.
Martin / HeavyHanded has contributed a lot and not only his washboard very good learning tool, his videos & posts have been very informative about what is the goal & how to reach it. As a non paying member, at the least we can share info, help with pointers, and keep it cool. What's more we can ask for free? Good advices & resources!
Jason has also pointed out your tendency to ignore advice given, he's not alone. Many of good folks tried to be helpful to you, and as Red stated, some of the comment came from long standing members who usually not confrontative. I also noticed that you have tendency to ignore advice given, if it's not aligned with your ideas or interests. That's fine, a lot of people are like that. However, allow me to use a bit of paraphrase: in my country there's saying something like this 'a dog who bites the hands that feed him'. I don't think you want to leave that impression. Ignoring advice is ok, but snapping to people trying to help is not going to encourage more help to come your way.
Unfortunately internet & forum lacks intonation, so a friendly reminder might be seen as rebuke or insult.
Depends on talent, hours put in, etc., two months isn't unrealistic. There's also period of stagnation and progress as with any learning process.
Good luck in your sharpening journey!
Edit to add: There's also ignore option so you can opt to not see posts by people that you feel not contributing towards you without needing to fight them. And, non paying member cannot PM. One can leave Visitor Message though.
I'm also a non paying member, I think it's not an insult if that fact is true. I respect those who play by the rule, paying their dues to advertise their products here. You may need to hang in a bit & learn more about the rules etc. If you understand how the rule plays here, no neeed to ask why support to dealers or makers on the forum is a good thing.
Martin / HeavyHanded has contributed a lot and not only his washboard very good learning tool, his videos & posts have been very informative about what is the goal & how to reach it. As a non paying member, at the least we can share info, help with pointers, and keep it cool. What's more we can ask for free? Good advices & resources!
Jason has also pointed out your tendency to ignore advice given, he's not alone. Many of good folks tried to be helpful to you, and as Red stated, some of the comment came from long standing members who usually not confrontative. I also noticed that you have tendency to ignore advice given, if it's not aligned with your ideas or interests. That's fine, a lot of people are like that. However, allow me to use a bit of paraphrase: in my country there's saying something like this 'a dog who bites the hands that feed him'. I don't think you want to leave that impression. Ignoring advice is ok, but snapping to people trying to help is not going to encourage more help to come your way.
Unfortunately internet & forum lacks intonation, so a friendly reminder might be seen as rebuke or insult.
Depends on talent, hours put in, etc., two months isn't unrealistic. There's also period of stagnation and progress as with any learning process.
Good luck in your sharpening journey!
Edit to add: There's also ignore option so you can opt to not see posts by people that you feel not contributing towards you without needing to fight them. And, non paying member cannot PM. One can leave Visitor Message though.
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Chris "Anagarika";15949686 said:
Chris,
Some of your points were certainly valid as were some of jason's, heavyhanded's et alia. These points have been duly noted.
But there is one thing, and I may be wrong on this, but you seem to be mistaking my penchant for asking a question or asking further questions when given advice to ignoring the advice. Asking a question or asking further questions on advice given is far, far from simply ignoring advice.
Furthermore, unless everyone here but me knows everything about sharpening, others may benefit from these questions.
Now, if you want to take the time to read all of my 200 and something posts, i'm sure you will find some where i ignored someone's advice about something. But that would prove to be the exception to the rule.
I'm beginning to wonder at what point all this constructive advice/criticism will leave the realm of helpfulness and be transmorgrified into a "pile on" party for those of members who enjoy such things. I'll let you be the judge.
Surely, if this continues, there will come a point where any reasonable person will think, "Enough already! How many times are people going to say this to him?"
Personally, i think we're beyond that point but it's difficult for me to be objective on this.
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Well, mykem, I tried to warn you a while back. I told you your tone certainly wasn't going to make you well-liked among people who will try to help you. You told me off, something like "I didn't know it was a popularity contest..." and criticized others. You have been pretty nasty to some IMHO.
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