Anyone sharpen rats with the sandpaper/mousepad method?

Odaon said:
Is that a convex edge on it? It Looks great!
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Yes it is convex--I really like it. I have a second Izula that I haven't put a convex edge on yet, but I will soon as I get around to it.
 
Newbie here... and I must admit, I dont know what you all are talking about but IM very curious... what is a Convex edge??

How does one use sandpaper and a mouse pad?
 
Odaon said:
Do you just convex them with the sandpaper method?
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Yes that is how I do it. It is faster with a belt sander, but I don't have one of those. When converting a v-grind to a convex, what you are after is knocking the bevel sides of more so that actually grinding the edge itself although eventually the method will get to the edge.

You want to start at a very shallow angle and use a soft mouse pad, think one of those blue spongy ones not the hard ones used for optical mouse pads. Start with 220 grit. I proceed for several strokes per side rather than doing one stroke per side. I go towards the one stroke per side after I get up to higher grits. From 220 I move to 400, 800, 1000 then 2000. After that I strop with green compound.

Here is a Scrapyard S5 I did recently

DSC_0065-14.jpg


Here is my RC-4 with coating removed. It is a great slicer!

DSC_0041-9.jpg


The RC-3 serrated - with the V-over to convex and the serrations as is.

DSC_0029-17.jpg
 
I use the convex method on all my knives. My RAT 3 will slice a tomato using only the weight of the knife. Incredible!
 
I have an old V-grind hunting knife that I'll practice on. I really like the one convex fixed blade I have so I think I might do the convexing process too. Also, it makes sharpening all your knives easy cause you can use the same process. I might be PMing or making a thread for more info when the time comes that I want to convex a knife.
 
iggyd said:
I just started practicing this method with my RC-3. I still need a leather strop. It get's it really sharp, but for some reason I can't get it semi-hairpoping with 2000 grit....
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where do you get 2000 grit? i just have 400 and 600 and cant find any things finer
 
Right. So will sand paper and a strop sharpen a knife's 20 degree edge and keep it 20 degree? What I'm saying is I've only heard of using the sandpaper with something soft under it, so could you remove to soft things and replace it with something hard to get the same sharpening effects, just not convex? Or will this process convex a blade, which isn't a bad thing.
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You can remove the soft foam and use sandpaper to maintain or reprofile your full flat bevel or scandi grind. Go and get a piece of tempered glass or granite and some low tack spray adhesive. I use wet/dry sand paper in place of stones all the time.

Paul
 
darkwaters said:
where do you get 2000 grit? i just have 400 and 600 and cant find any things finer
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Here is a cheap and easy assortment of sandpaper ranging from 400 to 10 micron.

http://www.easypckits.com/products/premiumlk/
http://www.easypckits.com/products/hslkwg/
http://www.easypckits.com/products/hslk/

Goes hand-in-hand with the whole mousepad idea considering these kits are designed for computer enthusiasts, too. :p

I've gone through a bunch of these kits for various uses as all my local home and auto parts stores also don't like to carry anything finer than 1000.
 
Is there an alternate method for field usage that doesn't involve maintaining the integrity of sandpaper? Perhaps a small tool/sharpener that maintains a consistent edge?
 
http://www.knivesshipfree.com/Complete-Sharpening-Kit-for-Field-or-Home-w-Black-OtterBox

i'll put a vote in on this set, i use it, it's great and long-lasting with plenty of supplies, everything you need to maintain a convex edge or slowy make a convex edge. sorry i got a 1x42 belt sander :D . i haven't convexed any of my rats, i plan on gettin another izula next week which i will convex.
i like what some of the earlier guys said about convexing the coating too so to speak, that makes alot of sense. it makes for a better slicer and so on.
 
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