Beginner Advice Needed

E

Ephraim Abrams

Joined
Jul 15, 2020
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Hello Everyone!

This is my first post on the forum. I am just beginning my journey to learn about knife sharpening. I was wondering if there is a good place to start for a beginner that goes over the basics like techniques, equipment, different types of blade construction and materials etc

I picked up a copy of The Razor Edge by John Juranitch and am currently giving that a read now.

Would appreciate any and all advice to help me get started on my journey!

Thanks!
 
Get a low cost blade of the size and type that you primarily use.
For instance, if you cook a low cost chef's knife. Or a skinner if you hunt. Your first practice knife will get scratched up, at least if you are learning free hand sharpening.
I say low cost and not cheap because some cheap steels area PITA to sharpen and has little edge retention.
 
Ephraim Abrams said:
Hello Everyone!

This is my first post on the forum. I am just beginning my journey to learn about knife sharpening. I was wondering if there is a good place to start for a beginner that goes over the basics like techniques, equipment, different types of blade construction and materials etc

I picked up a copy of The Razor Edge by John Juranitch and am currently giving that a read now.

Would appreciate any and all advice to help me get started on my journey!

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Welcome to BF. The people here are highly knowledgeable and tremendously patient and helpful!

The stickies at the top of the forum page have a lot of good info.
 
Freehand I suggest the Sharpal coarse/Xtra fine diamond stone. About 30 bucks, and will do everything you need to start out. I also use spyderco medium and fine stones, and my edges are sharp enough for me.

Freehand does take time to get good at though. I'm not even that good, but I'm working on my technique and getting better all the time.
 
Ephraim Abrams, The Razor Edge Book of Sharpening is a great book and finally took the mystery out of sharpening for me. I was actually surprised how simple sharpening is once I understood the few basic principles, which Juranitch explains well. After reading the book and finally getting sharp edges I was happy with, I was able to much better understand the great info and advice on this forum, and better determine sharpening fact from fiction.

Edged tools are highly personal, depending on what you need to do with them, the environment you'll use them in, weight and size, what you like and don't like, how much you carry them, budget, etc. There is no "one size fits all" answer for what is best.

Regarding sharpening, probably the main decision is whether you want to freehand sharpen or not. Another major consideration is if you want coarse, toothy edges or smooth, polished edges. It's best to determine this before you buy stones you may not need.

My favorite stone (I freehand sharpen) is the 60 grit Baryonyx Manticore, which I use for relief grinding, repairing edge damage, and as my first sharpening stone if the steel doesn't take an edge easily or if I haven't kept an edge well maintained. For me, this one step is about 90% of sharpening.

There is a ton of great info about all this here if you do some research. Good luck and have fun learning!
 
As far as good equipment to start with....

On my sharpening journey I started with the ubiquitous (for good reason!) Spyderco Sharpmaker, then upgraded to a Wicked Edge. The W.E. taught me what raising a burr was really about. That was an epiphany!

I then, finally, knew what I was looking for with freehand sharpening. Now, freehand is such a joy that I sold my W.E. and bought a small selection of diamond Venev stones from 240 to 1200 grit.

Somewhere along the way I also got proficient with a basic strop.

Are you going for a mirror polish, or are you looking for quality, toothy/working edges?

My recommendation, sharpmaker and get proficient with it to the point you KNOW you are raising a burr at the true apex (this is Not just a number of passed per side). Learn to progress through those stones. Then you can decide to add stones or go to freehand.

A guided system is a major investment, but it can teach you a ton.
 
Well,
I started with a spyderco triangle sharpmaker. I bought the diamond and extra fine stones as well. I also have a blue sharpie and a 10x jewelers loop.
I read up on the sharpening links here and also the spyderco instructions.
Using the sharpie and 10x jewelers loop to look at the blade while sharpening I have been able to reprofile blades and put hair popping sharp edges on them. The hardest thing is that it takes time.
Most blades you get from the factory are not 30 or 40 degrees but somewhere in between and both sides will be different by a tiny bit. So you end up having to match the factory by making slight by hand angle adjustments from the presets on the spyderco or you have to reprofile the blade to your liking. Even with diamond stones it is a long process to reprofile (think ~1 hour and not just minutes).
If you take your time and practice it can be fun. I practiced on some old henkels kitchen knives and inexpensive buck knives.
 
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In my opinion. This is all you need about $15.

Coarse on one side fine on the other it stores in its handle. It’s very safe to use easy to take with you and gives good results.

I prefer diamonds over stones because they stay flat, and the corners stay sharp.

hold it in one hand pretend it’s a stick and try to shave a sliver off of it. That’s about the right angle.

In my opinion you need to be able to visualize what is happening maybe even more than you need to see what is happening.

People get frustrated because the knife isn’t getting sharper, but they don’t realize and can’t visualize that they haven’t reached the edge yet, or that the two bevels haven’t met yet.
 
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