Convex edges

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copper55

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Dec 7, 2009
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I would like to know if using stones on convex edge knives is ok....I think that the answer would be no....and if i did that maybe that is why it's taking so long to get my convex edge back?
 
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freehand sharpening and following with a strop leaves you with a somewhat convexed edge. try posting in the maintenance section, there's som real pros hanging out there. :)
 
Use a mousepad (the old type) and lay some sandpaper above for freehand sharpening. If you use a stone you will not have any convex edge after you finished. ;-)
 
*again?*

if you start with a piece of barstock steel and grind it down freehand on a stone, it will naturally form into a convex edge.

there is nothing weird, mystical or difficult about it.

just sharpen it on a stone same as you would for a V grind. you might need to use a slightly steeper angle.
 
I wouldn't say convex on a stone is easy or the finish looks as good as sandpaper on a soft backing but it can be done.
 
I think mousepad is a bit too soft, so I use a thick leather sheet and it works quiet well...
Have used a stone to convex a bade once...just once, becuz it's hard to work with and gonna take quiet awhile to get the job done.
 
I have accidentally convexed my knives before by laying a sheet of sandpaper on a block of wood and started "sharpening". They were on crappy knives where I accidentally chipped the blade. I even tried to do it as flat as I could but it still came out convexed.
 
With a properly sharpened convex edge, you shouldn't really ever have to take a stone to it. All it should ever need is stropping, and if you need to resharpen a convex edge, there are a few good Youtube videos on convex edge sharpening. I have tried sharpening a convex edge- trust me, watch a guide.
 
Cold Kill said:
With a properly sharpened convex edge, you shouldn't really ever have to take a stone to it. All it should ever need is stropping, and if you need to resharpen a convex edge, there are a few good Youtube videos on convex edge sharpening. I have tried sharpening a convex edge- trust me, watch a guide.
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This advice goes for any edge, not just convex. any good polished edge will pretty much stay sharp only with stropping and good maintenance. This is not something special to convex. But using a strop long term will eventually create a microscopic convex edge as will almost any hand sharpening..

sharpening on stones is fine for a convex. as you slide the blade back and forth on the stone you tend to naturally adjust the angle of the blade from the rocking, but depending on the grit of the stone and the angle of the convex you may make it look a little ugly if you dont have good form at contouring to an existing shape.
 
I read a convex sharpening guide that said that to stone sharpen, you start with the knife laying flat on the stone and pull it backwards while "rolling" it forward (to curve the edge). To the response to my last post, the complete attack of my post is very unappreciated. That is how you maintain a convex edge, and I did not say that is the way you maintain on a convex edge, and if you were to try that method on any other type of blade you will die.
 
Dude.. Chill out.. I'm not quite clear how agreeing with you, but adding that its a good method for any edge is an attack? Methinks you read too much into things without reading the content. if you think that was an attack, then I can only feel that you expected to be attacked and reacted accordingly.

as to using stones to convex. its been done for thousands of years and is still done. certainly easier with sandpaper and leather.

as to the rolling technique.. what ever works.. but if you are a beginner then it helps to start close to your body, at the correct edge angle (just like a strop) and roll away from your body.. if you do it the other way then you are likely to roll over and pipe your edge to dullness just like on sandpaper.. if you are skilled then you will go back and forth quickly and efficiently.

here is a very good demonstration by ABS Murray Carter on Convexing on a stone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lxBVDAoqHM

As to your comment about dying? LOL * 5.
 
Lol, I'm not dead yet.

Stropping a convex edge is not the only way to keep it Sharp. You can use a microbevel with a very fine stone, you can strops on any grit sandpaper you like, you can use a stone (like Japanese sword polishers), leather with various grits of compound, and the list goes on.

You can strops any edge to keep it Sharp its not just for convex, and in my experience a strops only works when the edge is just slightly dull. Heavy use in the woods for a few days and a strops isn't doing squat.
 
I also find carrying a strop in the wet/ rainy out doors a pain in the ass.. especially if I need to restore the edge while I'm standing in the rain. I use the Double Sided small spyderco ceramic to hone my convex edges outdoors. it would probably take me all year honing on that before I created much of a microbevel :) maybe a micromicromicro bevel..
 
I just received my KSF complete sharpening kit yesterday. It seems like a real winner so far. Worth checking out for convex maintenance.
 
KyleyHarris said:
I also find carrying a strop in the wet/ rainy out doors a pain in the ass.. especially if I need to restore the edge while I'm standing in the rain. I use the Double Sided small spyderco ceramic to hone my convex edges outdoors. it would probably take me all year honing on that before I created much of a microbevel :) maybe a micromicromicro bevel..
Click to expand...

I use the Spyderco double myself, and sometimes the DMT fine/coarse to set up for the ceramic.

To copper55: I moved this to Maintenance for more sharpening experts to see it. :)

Read up on sharpening convex. It is easy and effective for all sorts of edges, but too much flat stone sharpening can mess up a true convex edge. That's not a disaster. The v-grind you get also works. But learning both, understanding the difference, and seeing how (eventually) you can use a flat stone to get a convex edge takes time and practice.
 
I maintain my convex edges on a belt, a couple swipes on the leather belt loaded with green or white polishing compound will put the edge RIGHT back on a blade, and it's easy to swap to grits if you need to work out a damaged edge. I've generally not needed to do much in the field, my knives tend to hold an edge well enough to not need field maintenance, but if they do I generally use my Sharpmaker on all blades. It will leave a small v-bevel right at the cutting edge, that will go back to convex next time I get to the belt. :)
 
Has anyone tried one of those foam sanding blocks for convex edges? I use leather backed sandpaper then strop but, always wondered if the sanding blocks would work.

SEMPER FI TIL I DIE...
 
I see convex and beveled as a continuum. I will occasionally touch up my nominally convex edges on a Sharpmaker or Japanese stone, and will sometimes strop my more beveled edges on sandpaper or leather. As noted above, there is no voodoo involved in convex.

OP, sure you can touch up your convex edge on a stone. Do it too much or too often, and the edge will be less convex.
 
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