Blade Show 2011 & Pics

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UnknownVT

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Feb 15, 2003
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Just come from Blade Show 2011 - Cobb Galleria, Atlanta, GA -

Links to all my Blade Show 2011 Photos posted in the Gallery -

Photos - Blade Show 2011

Photos - Blade Show 2011 Pt.2

Photos - Blade Show 2011 - Tameshigiri - Japanese Sword Cutting

But I thought I'd tell you what I found most interesting -
exciting even -
no, it was not a knife....
but I can tell you Ken Onion dragged me over to see it:
it was a knife sharpener -
oh, I hear people say I know how to sharpen a knife -
Free-hand -
so do I -
I can even put convex edges on my knives - that Ken Onion was impressed with -
BUT I am still impressed with this sharpener.

What is the easiest/best way to get a good convex edge on a blade?

Use a flexible belt sander -
most of us do not own one - nor would we want to afford one -

So would I be interested in one that is portable,
can be handheld on a table,
and costs $70?

Does the Pope sh1t in the woods?

I have absolutely no affiliation with Sharp Work -
and if Ken Onion hadn't dragged me there (kickin' and screamin') -
I would never have found it on my own)

It took this sharpener to put a convexed edge on my knives in less than 2 minutes -
it took me over an hour of diligent work to do the convexed edge freehand - which took a lot of checking/testing.

This was almost insultingly/mockingly simple......

I'll let the pictures tell the story.......
KyleCrawford_WorkSharp110610.jpg

Kyle Crawford of Work Sharp

KyleC_KenO110610.jpg


WorkSharp_110610P.jpg


WorkSharp1a_110610P.jpg


WorkSharp2_110610P.jpg


WorkSharp1b_110610P.jpg


--
Vincent

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That sharpener is definitely interesting! Do you know if it comes with different grit belts so you can put a mirror polished convex edge?

Thanks for posting this!
 
Steel_Addiction said:
That sharpener is definitely interesting! Do you know if it comes with different grit belts so you can put a mirror polished convex edge?
Click to expand...

Yes, it does come with belts of I think 2 of each in three different grits -
the coarse and medium-fine (I was told) are very common and readily available -
the polishing belt(s) were special to them -
but I guess one can buy any polishing grit belt to fit too.

I just found their web page
there's a demo video (which I haven't watched yet)
and one can download a pdf manual too.

EDIT to ADD:
According to the pdf manual which I have only just downloaded and read - there are three grits: Coarse: P80, Medium: P220 and Fine: 6000.

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Vincent

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oh nice... this product came up a while ago in these forums and i was intrigued. i'll pick one up when i go this weekend, should make convex re-profiling much easier :)
 
I saw this sharpener at a gunshow in SLC, the only thing I didn't like about it was that the only guide angle is 50 degrees which is 10 more than I put on large knives even much less M4 or S90V flat grinds, and that there were only 3 grits available and they were special sized belts only available through the that company, which is why I'm sticking with my $30 harbor freight 1x30 belt grinder with grits 60 through 12,000. I think if they fixed these two things this would be an awesome product.
 
That sharpening gizmo was pretty amazing. There is some pretty crazy stuff at the show this year, for sure. There was some kid who had made these amazing, HUGE axes that were super cool. Like a halberd with a 24" cutting edge, but pretty light and fast, because everything but the blade was carbon fiber. Those things were nuts. They looked like props from a video game, but were really tough and well made. And only like $500. I wish I could remember his name, he didn't have a card.

And Reese Weiland had these spiked maces that were just nasty looking. :thumbup: Carbon fiber shafts with aluminum heads and really sharp steel spikes that didn't weigh hardly anything. :eek: And some other guy had machined some crazy war hammers out of titanium and carbon fiber. SO COOL! The sci-fi barbarian stuff was the most interesting stuff for me this year. I got a couple of these sticks from Laci Szabo that are made out of some weird, indestructible composite. He had a couple at his table that he had used to smash cinderblocks and axe handles etc. , and chopped with axes and machetes, and they were only slightly scratched. BRUTAL!:D:thumbup:
 
That seems like the easiest, fastest way to sharpen a knife. Pretty impressive at first glance but like Zippo said I would like to see a 30 degree setting on it.
 
got one, great tool. and you can buy grits in multiple other sizes, can't remember the companies off hand, but a search here on BF will find them. if i can find my online receipt i'll edit this post with the company i used.

i've got 80 grit through 12,000 (1/2" x 12" belts). works fantastic. it's not going to replace an expert who spends an hour by hand on waterstones or mousepad/sandpaper then strops, but it puts a mean convex on, and some quick stropping at the end takes it the final step to slicing and dicing.

i didn't like the included angle guide either. used it for about 5 minutes, then quit and just free handed it. works lots better freehanding it.
i also bought a $5 knife to sacrifice and learn on. pretty quick learning curve. then i proceeded to beat directly on the edge of the knife with a hammer and RUINED the edge, and got it back to shaving sharp in <5mins.

A+ grade from me.
 
It needs a 7 degree setting (14 total) for thinning the edge without ruining the finish. Even I might buy that.

Oh, and 1/4 horsepower belt sanders are readily available for less money, remove the platton to get a somewhat slack belt. They just aren't quite as user friendly.
 
michaelm466 said:
I saw this sharpener at a gunshow in SLC, the only thing I didn't like about it was that the only guide angle is 50 degrees which is 10 more than I put on large knives even much less M4 or S90V flat grinds, and that there were only 3 grits available and they were special sized belts only available through the that company, which is why I'm sticking with my $30 harbor freight 1x30 belt grinder with grits 60 through 12,000. I think if they fixed these two things this would be an awesome product.
Click to expand...
that is a nice machine... can you remove the vertical guide behind the belt? i really am looking for something small since i don't have much of a "shop"
 
Do any of you guys know the length of the belts used? I'm wondering if I can get them locally.
 
Just ordered one of those sharpeners. Cant wait. Hopefully I will now be able to get into a realm of sharpness I didn't know was possible!
 
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