Arkansas Tri Stone issues--need help

[klrcommute]

Recently picked up a tri stone from BestSharpeningStones

http://www.bestsharpeningstones.com/catalog/Arkansas_Tri_Hone.htm

The course stone is silicon carbide or aluminum oxide or whatnot, the other 2 are arkansas stones. The issue is the arkansas stones are making things duller! The manmade stone sharpens everything up about well enough to start cutting paper, then when I move to the other 2, it dulls what edge I had!

Did I just get some junk stones or am I missing something here?

I used a variety of knives, mostly cheap stainless kitchen knives (possibly too hard for natural stone, but duller?) but also pocket knives with regular carbon steel. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[David Martin]

Your man made stone in the Tri-Hone is silicone carbide a coarse stone. Coming off that stone, it's good your edge can cut paper. The edge may have a burr from the coarse stone and the Arkansas stones are not removing it. A common malady coming off a course SiC stone. I would try using oil on the coarse stone and after a sharpening session wipe the stone's surface w/ your finger and then carry the swarf onto a smooth pine 2X4. Then strop your blade on that before taking it to the Arkansas stones. Go slow, use light pressure maybe 6-9 strokes per side. Then take it to the Arkansas stones. DM

 

[klrcommute]

The edge may have a burr from the coarse stone and the Arkansas stones are not removing it.

Thanks, I'll give the 2x4 strop idea a try. Can't say I really feel a burr coming off the course stone, but anything's possible. I was also wondering if these arkansas stones that I got have enough high spots on them that they might be ruining my edge--maybe I'll change directions and see what happens if the strop doesn't do the trick.

 

[bucketstove]

Recently picked up a tri stone from BestSharpeningStones

http://www.bestsharpeningstones.com/catalog/Arkansas_Tri_Hone.htm

The course stone is silicon carbide or aluminum oxide or whatnot, the other 2 are arkansas stones. The issue is the arkansas stones are making things duller! The manmade stone sharpens everything up about well enough to start cutting paper, then when I move to the other 2, it dulls what edge I had!

Did I just get some junk stones or am I missing something here?

I used a variety of knives, mostly cheap stainless kitchen knives (possibly too hard for natural stone, but duller?) but also pocket knives with regular carbon steel. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

Hi,
It sounds like the edge isn't actually apexed (its not sharp yet),
like you need to do another 10-30 alternating passes per side on the coarse stone,
or even more passes (100-300) if you're wobbling a lot

from the coarse stone,
the blade should slice newspaper well
and shave arm hair in both directions (as in burr free)

to deburr,
flush or wipe the coarse stone if it has loose grit or slurry ,
double the angle
do 1-2 ultra light (under 100 grams) edge leading passes per side,
then do 5 passes at not-double angle to minimize impact of burr

then onto soft arkansas stone,
if you're microbeveling (ex increase angle +5 degrees)
do 5-10 edge leading alternating ultra light (under 100 grams) passes per side
and then onto hard arkansas, 5-10 ultra light edge leading alternating passes
and then you're done

if you're not doing microbevel it will be more than 5-10

if the arkansas stones still make things worse they may need unclogging or reconditioning

 

[David Martin]

High spots on a stone can degrade an edge. I got a washita stone from a roadside vendor once. The stone had ripples in it. Unfinished. I could not get a edge on a knife from that stone. Until I took the time to level it. Then it started working. DM

 

[klrcommute]

High spots on a stone can degrade an edge. I got a washita stone from a roadside vendor once. The stone had ripples in it. Unfinished. I could not get a edge on a knife from that stone. Until I took the time to level it. Then it started working. DM

Think sandpaper and a piece of tile, countertop, etc. would do the trick?

 

[David Martin]

I think it could, the wet/dry type. Use coarse sandpaper, 30, 60 up to only 100-120 grit. Use water with it. Draw diagonal lines on the stone to check progress using a felt marker. Sand in a circle and back & forth. Use pressure. Stick with it until you get where you want it. Good Luck, DM