Hi guys,
This is the sort of post that would make a much better video example, but I'll try to explain as best I can as I lack the proper video equipment to film myself sharpening.
I primarily use a double-sided DMT stone for my sharpening needs so those of you that have this or similar stones should be able to picture it fairly well.
I am left-handed, so when making passes over the stone with the knife in my left hand and my right hand lightly touching the back of the blade, I can get the right side of the edge from base to tip sharpened fairly well (if we assume right and left sides if you're viewing the knife in an upright position from the back). I hope I've explained it well enough so far.
However when I need to do the right side, although I can do it fairly well, it doesn't feel (in making passes) nearly as even or controlled. I try to hold the knife in my right hand for this but it doesn't give me as sure a grip or as great an amount of control. Therefore I simply turn the knife over but keep it in the left hand, while bringing the right hand over to the back of the blade. This also starts the pass at the side of the stone further away from me and moving in, rather than starting it on the side closest to me and going out. I hope you can follow me so far.
The results are still fair, certainly, but I'm never as sure that that side of the edge is getting as good a job done. What I'd like to know is if there is a way, when using stones freehand like this, to be more certain of a more even edge that gets just as good a sharpening as the "main hand" edge.
I'd prefer to find a better way to do this with my existing freehand stones rather than have to switch to some system (although I know good ones exist.)
But the DMT stuff has been great so far and it's been a joy learning on it. I just need better control on that off-hand side. Any thoughts and help is much appreciated. Thanks guys.
This is the sort of post that would make a much better video example, but I'll try to explain as best I can as I lack the proper video equipment to film myself sharpening.
I primarily use a double-sided DMT stone for my sharpening needs so those of you that have this or similar stones should be able to picture it fairly well.
I am left-handed, so when making passes over the stone with the knife in my left hand and my right hand lightly touching the back of the blade, I can get the right side of the edge from base to tip sharpened fairly well (if we assume right and left sides if you're viewing the knife in an upright position from the back). I hope I've explained it well enough so far.
However when I need to do the right side, although I can do it fairly well, it doesn't feel (in making passes) nearly as even or controlled. I try to hold the knife in my right hand for this but it doesn't give me as sure a grip or as great an amount of control. Therefore I simply turn the knife over but keep it in the left hand, while bringing the right hand over to the back of the blade. This also starts the pass at the side of the stone further away from me and moving in, rather than starting it on the side closest to me and going out. I hope you can follow me so far.
The results are still fair, certainly, but I'm never as sure that that side of the edge is getting as good a job done. What I'd like to know is if there is a way, when using stones freehand like this, to be more certain of a more even edge that gets just as good a sharpening as the "main hand" edge.
I'd prefer to find a better way to do this with my existing freehand stones rather than have to switch to some system (although I know good ones exist.)
But the DMT stuff has been great so far and it's been a joy learning on it. I just need better control on that off-hand side. Any thoughts and help is much appreciated. Thanks guys.
