Attention all "sandpaper" sharpeners:

S

Soilarch

Joined
Oct 15, 2007
Messages
297
What grits do you use most...and what do you finish with?


I've found 220, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000

I have all but the 1000. The 220 just seems too course to get any bite on the metal (purely psychological...probably) And I sometimes wonder if I'm wasting my time with the 2000.

No super steels in my collection. (Carbon, AUS8, 440 of now) And I've recently discovered a little oil on the sheets make a world of difference. I lay them on a 1/16" piece of foam (think thin, firm mousepad) and strop with heavy "cardstock" paper on the foam as well. Results are good...results are real good but I'm wandering what you all use.
 
when i use paper its 400 or 500 grit, and emory cloth works better than paper FWIW, wears better and doesnt make as much mess.

auto machine shop suppliers have the emory cloth.
 
that raises another question...is "emery cloth" the same as the black wet/dry paper or something different. I've grown up using the two different names but can't recall ever seeing something labeled Emery.
 
400 and 1000. Frankly, most of the time I can get away with just 400. Occasionally, I'll use water rather than oil. Just a few drops.
 
While I have a range of grit-rated papers, I generally use just the 400- and 800-grit papers.

The 400-grit is a good combination for aggressive cutting without leaving deep grind-marking. My DMT Coarse (Blue) diamond hone is about shot, and I find the 400-grit paper about equally effective.

The 800-grit papers are a good combination for relatively fast cutting with a nice toothy edge - great for a fast slicing edge for kitchen knives.

For further edge finishing, my next step is usually to the Spyderco grey ceramic stone.
 
SIFU1A said:
when i use paper its 400 or 500 grit, and emory cloth works better than paper FWIW, wears better and doesnt make as much mess.
Click to expand...
Ditto. Even 3/0 and 4/0 grit emery cloth (equiv. to about 600 and 800 mesh grit, respectively) cut pretty aggresively.

.
 
If I'm doing aggressive reprofiling, I'll start with 80, then 100, 120, 150 and up from there to finish at 2000. Small steps. I took a Remington Moose that had about a 60 degree inclusive angle down to the low 20s, and now it shaves well.
 
For damage repair or edge reshaping on convex knives, I use 320, 600, 800, 100, 1500, and 2000. Most of the time, for just stropping the edge on convex grinds, I use 2000 followed by a loaded strop.
 
Soilarch said:
that raises another question...is "emery cloth" the same as the black wet/dry paper or something different. I've grown up using the two different names but can't recall ever seeing something labeled Emery.
Click to expand...

emory cloth isnt the same as any paper sandpaper, its cloth, i dont know if thats exactly what they call it these days, but any place that sells machine shop stuff is gonna know what ya mean.

back in the '80s when i sold auto parts i ended up with a small box full of different grit emory cloth, am still working on that box lol, i havent bought any in oh 20 yrs or so,
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top