- Joined
- Oct 18, 2001
- Messages
- 20,978
Here's a tip for anybody who has a belt sander and a leather belt on it:
You need to strop at a larger angle (relative to the platen) than you would when putting on an edge bevel. If you're not getting a hair-popping edge from your "power-stropping" then that's the reason why. There's an easy way to find out what that angle is and it doesn't involve any fancy equipment, or microscopes, etc.
Just use your ears...
Hold your blade (don't try this on your "best" khuk first) nearly parallel against the platen (edge down) while the belt is moving. Position it so that the belt is touching somewhere on the bevel. You should here a soft "ffthhhhhhhhh" sound as the belt polishes the steel. This is the sound that "no abrasive resistance" makes.
Now, start to rotate the knife slowly (so that the edge meets the belt) until you start to hear a light, high-pitched, faint "sssssssssssssss" sound. That's the sound of "abrasive resistance" to the belt/compound.
Those of you who are experienced with higher grit polishing stones know what this sound is. It's how you can tell when to "flip" your blade. It's no longer moving any steel. Same principle applies here, except that you are not creating burrs, you are removing them.
This will work whether you are sharpening a convex edge or a flat edge. Just make sure to use the platen (and not the slack-belt) area. You'll end up angling the blade somewhere in the 30-45 range (which is significantly more than the recommended 20-25). It is definitely counter-intuitive, but works everytime. Also, you'll need to exercise a little caution and take it slow at first...because angling the blade too much will take your edge right off.
I'm posting this because I had a friend come over to sharpen his knife and being a good sport, I made him do it himself.
Realized I had never shared this aspect of leather belt "power-stropping" here on the forum (nor on the CD).
Best of luck with your sharpening.
Dan
You need to strop at a larger angle (relative to the platen) than you would when putting on an edge bevel. If you're not getting a hair-popping edge from your "power-stropping" then that's the reason why. There's an easy way to find out what that angle is and it doesn't involve any fancy equipment, or microscopes, etc.
Just use your ears...
Hold your blade (don't try this on your "best" khuk first) nearly parallel against the platen (edge down) while the belt is moving. Position it so that the belt is touching somewhere on the bevel. You should here a soft "ffthhhhhhhhh" sound as the belt polishes the steel. This is the sound that "no abrasive resistance" makes.
Now, start to rotate the knife slowly (so that the edge meets the belt) until you start to hear a light, high-pitched, faint "sssssssssssssss" sound. That's the sound of "abrasive resistance" to the belt/compound.
Those of you who are experienced with higher grit polishing stones know what this sound is. It's how you can tell when to "flip" your blade. It's no longer moving any steel. Same principle applies here, except that you are not creating burrs, you are removing them.
This will work whether you are sharpening a convex edge or a flat edge. Just make sure to use the platen (and not the slack-belt) area. You'll end up angling the blade somewhere in the 30-45 range (which is significantly more than the recommended 20-25). It is definitely counter-intuitive, but works everytime. Also, you'll need to exercise a little caution and take it slow at first...because angling the blade too much will take your edge right off.
I'm posting this because I had a friend come over to sharpen his knife and being a good sport, I made him do it himself.
Realized I had never shared this aspect of leather belt "power-stropping" here on the forum (nor on the CD).Best of luck with your sharpening.
Dan
