Almost ready to go back to Arkansas stones

BLM4L said:
Just wondering. WIth the Arkansas stones does anyone have a recommendation for three different grades/grits, and which order to use them in? For example, would hard, then soft, and then black or translucent be good? I have forgotten the order it has been so long.
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Here's an expanation of what's what with Arkansas stones.

http://www.hallsproedge.com/choose.htm

BTW - These guys have a great rep on their products.


--Dave--
 
D_R_Sharpening said:
Hi Bill,
For my part in this I don't want to discount anyone's abilites to sharpen, that wasn't my point at all. I'm in total agreement that everyone has they're own styles/techniques and I'm sure they work as good for them as my techniques do for me. Who's to say what is better or who is better? Not me, that's who. I simply wanted to state that heating a blade can happen when hand sharpening.

I hope nobody took offense.


--Dave--
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Dave- no offense taken at all. It just puzzles me why these newbies don't just get a few stones and learn to sharpen their knives. It's sort of like shooting, and not cleaning your gun!
They make such a big deal about it, and I don't understand why they don't learn, or just send them to someone like yourself.
Bill
 
i had a question i just bought a Smiths tri-hone that comes with an abrasive stone a medium stone and a soft stone the medium and soft stones are arkansas stones, it also comes with a 30 degree angle guide and some honing oil, is this a good sharpening system? i have a cheap knife that i have been practicing with but i can get a good edge and how many drops of honing oil should you use. iam a newbie sharpener but i want to become better any advice would be great.
 
That's a very good sharpening system. The Arkansas stones will need less oil than the coarse stone, but there's no set this-stone-needs-0.34ml-oil requirements. It'll have to be trial and error.
 
i had a question i just bought a Smiths tri-hone that comes with an abrasive stone a medium stone and a soft stone the medium and soft stones are arkansas stones, it also comes with a 30 degree angle guide and some honing oil, is this a good sharpening system? i have a cheap knife that i have been practicing with but i can get a good edge and how many drops of honing oil should you use. iam a newbie sharpener but i want to become better any advice would be great.
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You might find these interesting:
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7218721528
 
well iam not trying to measure out the oil i just need to know how many drops i need thanks
 
Bill DeShivs said:
The people who are trying for the most scientifically sharp edge possible are on an academic adventure...
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No it is functional, edge retention is linked to sharpness, the sharper the edge the longer it stays sharp and of course the better it cuts. It makes little sense to spend a huge amount of money to get a high alloy very hard blade and put little effort into sharpening it, this directly undercuts the performance of the knife.

Shaving sharp is not even close to optimal sharpness, if you are using a draw on coarse hair it is about 25%. Jerry Busse demonstrated live cutting well over a thousand pieces of inch thick hemp rope and the blade shaved *after* the cutting. It obviously blunted during the rope cutting, however getting the initial sharpness so high is one of the factors that allows for such performance.

People put their fingers on the hone to get better feedback, and yes it can generate enough heat to burn your skin, however your tolerance for heat is a lot lower than the steel in the blade, even low tempers are 325F and you will be cooked long before that is reached. Boiling water will burn flesh severely but will not come close to overheating steel.

-Cliff
 
A.R.K.G.,

If your oil comes out in drops, use 10 for the coarse stone and 3 each for the Arkansas stones. You might need for than 10 for the coarse stone, but start there.
 
thanks for the info, i had a feeling i was putting too much oil because there was runoff on the stones which is why i stopped and asked some more knowledgable people
 
BLM4L said:
My question is if there is a truly great guide to free hand sharpening?
I have tried multiple rod systems, guides, etc. and still am not happy with the results.
Want to go back to the Arkansas stones, but need some good advice on free hand work. Wish to finish off with a leather strop. Any ideas?
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DMT, while diamonds but I'm not sure if from the famous Arkansas diamond area, has info about using a whetstone to sharpen. They even include an edge guide with their diamond whetstones.

I've mentioned it before I'm sure but my neighbor sharpens stuff on the edge of his sidewalk. I get him to touchup my axe and machete if I catch him doing it.

Here is a link with pictures.

http://www.dmtsharp.com/general/basicsharp.htm
 
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