Chasing Infinity

M

MadRookie

Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
234
Just a very short description of how I go about attempting a mirror finish.

I have been chasing the "liquid mercury" edge for a long time.

The fundamental secret is your very first stone.

Here you need to make damn sure that the bevel has been perfectly set/profiled in all aspects.

Also your final couple of strokes on your first stone must get progressively lighter & lighter until just the weight of the stone arm is working.

The above is very important - because as you move up with the finer grits, you loose "grinding" performance with each finer stone you use.

After your first stone, all subsequent stones are just "polishing" out the scratch pattern, NOT performing any real profiling/grinding, therefor many strokes at extreme light pressure is the way forward.

It is purely a time/patience based exercise.

The first most common mistake was trying to grind out spots on the blade with finer stones, because my first stone was not perfectly finished.

Second most common error relates to stone flatness (especially when spritzing with poly diamond) - the stone wears very much faster and the resultant stone dishing presents a problem for the next "flat" stone in relation to consistent 100% full bevel contact - do not get carried away on one side of the blade every time you start a fresh stone - do like 2 passes & flip the blade (repeat) - this way you ensure more even contact between stone & bevel before the stone dishes on just one blade side.

I sometimes lap my stones twice during a "mirror" session for one knife.

Third common mistake - maintain & repeat EXACT blade position on the blade table - not doing this results in different contact areas on the blade which puts you back to common mistake one.

Fourth common mistake is tolerance levels/play/precision in the actual equipment - eliminate it if at all possible - use the drill stop collar/angle cube & angle degree upgrade arm.

Lastly, take your time - put your heart in it - CONCENTRATE ON EACH stroke!

I am still practicing to achieve that ultimate, perfect mirror bevel - it is a slow process though......

Enjoy.

Rookie.

:)
 
...and here I was expecting a video tutorial of you stropping with 0.125 CBN spray and 0.050 poly diamond spray:D. Followed by 0.025 poly diamond spray, all the way to atom sized abrasive particles, and examining your results underneath a microscope:thumbup:.
 
Well I think this is a fine goal. One that will serve you very well in all sharpening endeavors in future. However, I would like to say that what you are doing is not necessary to achieve a functionaly VERY sharp edge. I bring this up only for the benefit of all the other newer sharpeners out there. Everything MadRookie says here is 100% correct. Much is in fact valuable. But I would say that the one thing not necessary to the sharp working edge is the mainance of the exact angle. There will be those, myself among them, who feel that the slight convex edge achieved by the fine art of freehand sharpening provides quite a lot of benefit to edge durability, even though it is indeed going to lessen that liquid mercury effect.

So please be sure that I am not trying to be a buzzkill on what you are saying here. In fact, I admire that goal immensly. But for all those folks out there learning to sharpen I say, take heart, you, by following the advice of everybody on this forum, will be able to achieve very very sharp edges with practice before you will be able to accomplish what MadRookie (who I strongly suspect is no "rookie" at all) is able to achieve at his level of skill.
 
Excellent bullet points there rookie. Thanks. I'll print those out and post it near the wall I set up my sharpening gear.
 
HoosierQ said:
Well I think this is a fine goal. One that will serve you very well in all sharpening endeavors in future. However, I would like to say that what you are doing is not necessary to achieve a functionaly VERY sharp edge. I bring this up only for the benefit of all the other newer sharpeners out there. Everything MadRookie says here is 100% correct. Much is in fact valuable. But I would say that the one thing not necessary to the sharp working edge is the mainance of the exact angle. There will be those, myself among them, who feel that the slight convex edge achieved by the fine art of freehand sharpening provides quite a lot of benefit to edge durability, even though it is indeed going to lessen that liquid mercury effect.

So please be sure that I am not trying to be a buzzkill on what you are saying here. In fact, I admire that goal immensly. But for all those folks out there learning to sharpen I say, take heart, you, by following the advice of everybody on this forum, will be able to achieve very very sharp edges with practice before you will be able to accomplish what MadRookie (who I strongly suspect is no "rookie" at all) is able to achieve at his level of skill.
Click to expand...

Hi:

You are totally missing the point here....I have not described finishing the actual cutting edge - my post is intended for a mirror relief edge (back bevel).

Once the relief is sorted, the actual cutting edge is applied - mine is a micro bevel ranging from #500 to 4k, depending on the use/application of the specific knife.

The actual cutting edge is NOT what I am referencing here - re-read my post....and think/absorb while doing so please, then post your comment.

Your post IMHO is thus not valid so those that read this, please note my response.

....just clearing the air here....

:)
 
MadRookie said:
Hi:

You are totally missing the point here....I have not described finishing the actual cutting edge - my post is intended for a mirror relief edge (back bevel).

Once the relief is sorted, the actual cutting edge is applied - mine is a micro bevel ranging from #500 to 4k, depending on the use/application of the specific knife.

The actual cutting edge is NOT what I am referencing here - re-read my post....and think/absorb while doing so please, then post your comment.

Your post IMHO is thus not valid so those that read this, please note my response.

....just clearing the air here....

:)
Click to expand...

Sorry dude. Liquid mercury it shall be then for everybody!
 
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