cant get tips sharp on work sharp..help

[steeltowninwv]

i have a work sharp the older version...not the ken onion version....i love it it gets my knives very very sharp...my only problem is i never come out with a really sharp point..its a little dull but not real dull...i make sure i dont run off the belt while sharpening...but i dont seem to be doing the point any good while sharpening....any tips?

 

[bucketstove]

Are you rotating/pivoting/following the curve for the tip? keep edge at 90 degrees to the stone, this means when you reach curve turn your hand down so you're following the curve of the knife
if you take a stone in hand, or a piece of cardboard and try this sharpening motion, you can see if you don't turn your hand as you reach curve/tip the edge isn't contacting the stone but the shoulder is

 

[AFAustin]

Cool illustrations, bucketstove!

OP, do you mean your tips don't come out "pointy" or do you mean the edge bevel right at the tip is not fully apexed (or both)? No doubt that tips are always tricky and you have to be extra careful with the Work Sharp because when you start focusing on the tip you can easily overdo it and make matters worse.

I use a WSKO and sometimes when I'm finished with my initial sharpening the tip is fine, but oftentimes it needs help. My habit is to then work the tip by hand. If the edge bevel at the tip isn't fully apexed, I might address that with my Sharpmaker. If the tip isn't pointy enough, I like to use the little DMT diamond credit cards (sandpaper will also work). Addressing the tip by hand means you can go slowly, checking your work with a loupe, and get the job done without the risk of an "Oops" moment on the Work Sharp.

Andrew

 

[bgentry]

I use the WSKO quite a bit and I'm able to get very sharp tips. But I never use the guides; I freehand on the belts. So I'm able to watch the whole blade (including the tip) for where it contacts the belt and use my off hand to focus the grinding where I want it.

Both of the previous posters are offering good advice. To that I'll add: Your left/right alignment might be slightly off when drawing through the WS, which would perhaps mean that the tip of the tip doesn't ever contact the belt. Sharpie would tell you for sure if you're getting all the way to the tip of the tip. Definitely try this.

I'd need to see your blades to really try to diagnose this issue. If you're already doing the motion that bucketstove shows, then it might be worth following AFAustin's advice instead and working on the tips by hand.

Or join the dark side like me. Take off the guides and do it all by hand on the belts! (Seriously, if you're going to experiment with this route, start with a couple of blades that you don't care if you destroy.)

Brian.