Angle the stone, not the blade?

M

Michael Blakley

Joined
Jan 6, 2021
Messages
3
Let's say I struggle to keep a blade at 20 degrees when sharpening it on a horizontal stone.

What would be the downfall of tilting the stone 20 degrees and then it's my job to deep the blade level as I sharpen it?

If it's a water stone, I'm probably spend time re-wetting the stone, but other than that, what would be the problem with this approach?
Michael
 
Yep it works fine--you've just invented Sharpmaker! :D

Just make sure you have a repeatable, solid way of keeping stone set at that angle. Somebody here on the forum--I think T tiguy7 ??--has made a type of jig for setting bench stones at a fixed angle. He has pics of it here somewhere if you look around.
 
Here's my version of a sharpening wedge.


See the description of my video, as I have links to another better wedge that another forum member built. I watched his video originally and then had some guys at work build the version in my video.

I had some good experiences with the wedge right after it was built. It was the first time I got a really, really sharp edge from a coarse stone. I think that experience changed sharpening for me forever.

That said, I no longer use the wedge. It just doesn't suit me any more. But it's a neat tool and might be a good thing to use for some people and maybe a good learning instrument, as it was for me.

Brian.
 
maximus83 said:
Yep it works fine--you've just invented Sharpmaker! :D

Just make sure you have a repeatable, solid way of keeping stone set at that angle. Somebody here on the forum--I think T tiguy7 ??--has made a type of jig for setting bench stones at a fixed angle. He has pics of it here somewhere if you look around.
Click to expand...

I find that it is easier for me to maintain a consistent sharpening angle if I point the edge at the center of the earth (vertical) rather than trying to guess if the blade is parallel to the table.View attachment 1486613
 
I simply use my miter saw to cut wedges from 2x6s at various angles and place the stone on the wedges. For wide stones I glue two wedges together. I does not take much practice to hold the knife horizontal and move along the angled stones. I have a box full of wedges though.

Mr. Wilson
 
I'm going to blow your mind........


I just hold my stones and rods in my hand and sharpen like that. Double the room for movement and inconsistency....but I still manage bair whittling edges. I pay very close attention towards the end of my sharpening, and focus on just kissing the apex when removing the bur.

Works on diamond stones, ceramic sticks etc.

I've seen a handful of pro makers who do this as well.
 
^Works for Michael Christy, he gets the sharpest edges I have ever seen from hand sharpening, except for maybe a few folks like Carter. And does it all on video, you see the actual sharpening process AND the end result. So definitely, carry on!

I want to get better at this method, I have some of the 6 inch, 6mm Venevs and really like the approach of holding them while hand sharpening. In some ways, yes it IS twice the risk for movement and inconsistency, but at the same time, gives you more control. For example I can hold it in such a way I can see what's going on with my edge a little better, and I also find it somewhat easier to work the tip with a handheld stone.
 
Bigfattyt said:
I'm going to blow your mind........


I just hold my stones and rods in my hand and sharpen like that. Double the room for movement and inconsistency....but I still manage bair whittling edges. I pay very close attention towards the end of my sharpening, and focus on just kissing the apex when removing the bur.

Works on diamond stones, ceramic sticks etc.

I've seen a handful of pro makers who do this as well.
Click to expand...

I do it this way too. I struggled with freehand until I started holding the stones. I still am not where I want to be, I have trouble with getting even tips, but I'm working on it and getting better all the time.

It's important to find what works for you and then stick with it.
 
Ben Dale, the inventor of the Edge Pro, showed me the first prototype for the Edge Pro when I visited the shop in Hood River, Oregon.
it was designed to hold a full sized benchstone, he had an epiphany one night when freehand sharpening for a customer/friend. Move the stone, not the knife, It later evolved into the Edge Pro.

I thought that was neat.
 
soc_monki said:
I do it this way too. I struggled with freehand until I started holding the stones. I still am not where I want to be, I have trouble with getting even tips, but I'm working on it and getting better all the time.

It's important to find what works for you and then stick with it.
Click to expand...

Clearly perfect consistency in holding the angle isn't necessary. I use various methods but stone in one hand and knife in the other is among the fastest.
 
me2 said:
Clearly perfect consistency in holding the angle isn't necessary. I use various methods but stone in one hand and knife in the other is among the fastest.
Click to expand...

The point is to have a sharp knife. Mine are sharp enough to curl paper, pop hair off my arm, make curls of wood, and cleanly slice paper towel. If the edge is pretty that's a plus, but it's not necessary.
 
There in lies the trick. It's not difficult to sharpen a knife, as long as you don't care what it looks like when you're done.
 
Bigfattyt said:
I'm going to blow your mind........


I just hold my stones and rods in my hand and sharpen like that. Double the room for movement and inconsistency....but I still manage bair whittling edges. I pay very close attention towards the end of my sharpening, and focus on just kissing the apex when removing the bur.

Works on diamond stones, ceramic sticks etc.

I've seen a handful of pro makers who do this as well.
Click to expand...

It defies logic, but this is the easiest way for me to get good results too. I think it has to do with muscle memory somehow. It mimics the process of shaving bark off a branch you are holding.
 
eveled said:
It defies logic, but this is the easiest way for me to get good results too. I think it has to do with muscle memory somehow. It mimics the process of shaving bark off a branch you are holding.
Click to expand...

The newer DMT holder for their diamond stones, has a handle built into the bottom for holding the stone. I like to use that option sometimes.
 
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