Another Sharpening Neophyte

C

cm_bushman

Joined
Oct 22, 2012
Messages
314
Hello all, like pretty much everyone here, I love knives, but unlike most of us, (some of us?), I'm just no good at sharpening them. I've tried with what means I've had (some sort of finer bench oil stone, a pocket "The Cutter's Edge" ceramic stone of unknown grit (it's pretty fine is all I know), and an old EZE-Lap pocket diamond stone which is fairly coarse, all gifts from my father) but I just don't have the skill to live up to even these few stones. I only sharpen 3-6" bladed knives, in steels including 440C, 154CM, and hopefully soon m390 (hence a desire to learn to sharpen properly ASAP). I want to try freehand sharpening if possible, due to costs involved.

So basically I'm really looking for some advice on sharpening, both technique and recommended materials.

If I were to invest in some stones, building a set from the ground up, what would you guys recommend? I like my EZE-Lap pocket stone, even better than the DMT fine that I tried at a local shop, but the DMTs seem to be the more reputable brand with more options. I like my ceramic most of all as far as feel goes, so I'm not opposed to them if the difference in time and performance is comparable, though if the diamond stones make things as quick as I've heard, I'm all for them. I would like to get hair-popping results at best, but nothing crazy, and the edges need not be mirror-finished, since every knife I'll be working with will be a user.

Of course no stone will help if I don't know what to do, so first and foremost I need to know how to properly sharpen. Like I said, freehand seems the most useful to me, especially if I was out camping or something, and needed to sharpen out in the woods. That being said, I've never tried any guided system (unless you count binder clips) and if they make things fool-proof, or near enough to it, then that's right up my alley.

So, what do you guys think?
 
It sounds like you have the grit ranges covered fairly well with those pocket hones, so i wouldn't look for new stones just yet. Try coloring in your bevel with a sharpie and spending more time with that coarse eze-lap. Keep trying different techniques of holding the stone and the knife until you find a comfortable way to work the edge consistently. Then just keep at it for a while. All you are doing right now is getting the edge to apex. Watch for a burr to form evenly along one side or till light won't reflect off the edge when you look directly at it. If you prefer to use a bench stone, you might want to look for a coarser one then. A norton aluminum oxide or silicon carbide combo stone will cover that just fine and not hurt your wallet. I have no experience with guides so i can't comment there. What kind of results are you getting sharpening? Getting into stropping will help with hair popping and higher grits will help with mirror polish.
 
Thanks for the reply fervens, I don't really doubt my stones, they all seem A-OK to me. When I sharpen, I either seems to dull the knife or just make a passably sharp edge, I can never make an edge shave cleanly or push-cut paper.

I've tried the Sharpie before, and it only seems to make things worse, though I'll keep at it. I'll also concentrate on the EZE-Lap stone as per your advice, after all, it is my coarsest (I would call it a medium) and since it is diamond, fastest cutting stone. Before I was doing most of my work on the finer stone, and only using the rougher one if I totally dulled a knife.
 
Keeping a consistent angle is very important. Get some inexpensive knives at the thrift store and practice on them.

One thing that helped me was watching one of my friends sharpen knives. Seeing it in person really helped. Maybe there is a friend or a local BladeForum member who could help you out.

Ric
 
I don't know if I'd make a guy use a pocket tool for learning how to sharpen.

It sounds like you want to freehand. Good for you. The stone choices are endless.

Bigger stones are easier to use. They have a little weight to them, so you don't have to hold your stone. Just put it on a damp dishrag.

Which stones? I don't know your budget, but you don't have to buy them all at once. Pick the one most useful. DMTs are great. Most of us use the 3x8" Dia-Sharps. We like to see metal move, so my favorite is the Coarse DMT. The Fine is too slow for a beginner. Once you've learned how to use the Coarse stone, you pick up a finer stone, etc.
 
If you're not capable of keep a consistent angle applying the knife to the stone, maybe you should try the opposite way.
Keep the knife fixed on the edge of a table with your non dominant hand and move the stone like a file over the edge, sometimes is easier this way.
Hope it helps
P.s. the other thing is practice, practice, practice.
Mateo
 
When i first started, i couldn't sharpen at all till i started using pocket stones. I found the smaller stones helped me keep a more consistent angle and pressure along the entire length of the blade. I much prefer narrower stones now because of it. The other nice thing about holding the stone and the knife is being able to get up close to the knife and stone if you have to. You can stop midway through a pass and get a better look at how you are holding the knife to the stone, or the other way around like lutejones said. I pretty much stopped putting the stone on tables now (even 6x2's) unless i'm doing a much larger knife or an axe, and that is only because i need two hands to hold those things steady. Not trying to start a debate or anything, just showing a point of view.
CM, you'll probably try a thousand different styles and techniques before you find the one that works for you naturally, and once that happens, you'll be able to go back to those other ways and figure them out. Watch as many youtube videos as possible. There were previous threads by heavyhanded and magnanimous that do a great job at showing two slightly different techniques. Then there is jdavis882 cliff stamp on youtube that shows two more ways of doing it. And don't be picky about which ones you watch. Let them show you how lazy you can be with a knife and stone and still get a working edge or how tedious you can be and get the same edge.

ps: some people might not like this suggestion,but... try lightly dragging your knife edge across one of your finer stones as if you were slicing it. Then look at the edge. You should be able to see light reflecting along the entire edge. This will give you something to reference as you are sharpening and give you a clean dull edge to work with so you will know that if it is sharp that you did it.
pps: sorry for the rambling, hope it was kind of helpful at least
 
cm_bushman said:
I just don't have the skill to live up to even these few stones.
Click to expand...

Nobody does when they start, so that shouldn't bother you too much. If you practice and learn from those with mad skillz, you will see improvement. And the greater your determination and dedication, the greater and faster the improvements. Guaranteed. It's not rocket science, but it is an acquired skill that takes work and practice, just like learning to play an instrument.


So basically I'm really looking for some advice on sharpening, both technique and recommended materials.
Click to expand...

You're in the right place, that's for sure. :D :D :D Read all the stickies, watch all the vids, and ask pointed questions, and that will set you well on your way. Guaranteed.


If I were to invest in some stones, building a set from the ground up, what would you guys recommend?
Click to expand...

Everyone's path is different. I started with the high end stuff and worked my way down. :o That is back-@$$ward, though, and I don't suggest it. (I started with expensive ceramics and diamond bench stones, moved on to water stones, and recently started dabbling in Norton stones). HeavyHanded makes the argument for starting with an economy stone from the hardware store. I think that's a good idea. Alternatively, a combo India stone from Norton and a bottle of Lansky honing oil will only set you back $25, and will be a great place to start. Best of luck! :D :D :D
 
Last edited:
One thing I have learned- Sometimes after hitting a med or fine stone my edge doesn't "feel" sharp, but a few strops on the leather and it's bloody fingers! Get yourself an old leather belt or a square of leather and mess around with that. It is crazy what a piece of scrap leather can do to a nife!
 
Might want to try a piece of leather and some green compound, it's easy on the wallet and whatever remains of the leather can be used as a strop.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top