Convex sharpening - HELP!

B

basb

Joined
Apr 27, 2010
Messages
897
I know im way off here but the guys in Maintenance, Tinkering & Embellishment forum arent really responding and i know you guys can be very helpfull.
So here goes;
I have a bravo1 and love it. When processing wood i accidentally hit a rock which rolled a part of the belly. Someone advised to always go about the whole edge instead of just a part. Well all the info is in here; http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=755064

I'm starting to really lose it now.
 
If I understand right you're having issues getting the belly sharp? Try and think of a pin in the belly. Instead of lifting the handle up, you rotate the handle around the "pin." It makes perfect sense in my head lol. As far as where the metal is being taken off...it's a difference in sharpening tools I'd say. Whatever you're using to sharpen isn't bending around the edge like the belts they use at bark river.
 
Shame on you for posting this here!! Just kidding...

You need to use 1000, 1500, 2000 grit sandpaper, then a leather strop with black compound then green compound. The angle is not critical, but should be much lower than higher. Put the sandpaper on a mousepad. You do need to change the angle for the belly to tip area. Use no pressure at all. I mean no pressure at all when doing this. I will say it again, use no pressure at all. The weight of the knife is more than enough.
 
Shotgun said:
If I understand right you're having issues getting the belly sharp? Try and think of a pin in the belly. Instead of lifting the handle up, you rotate the handle around the "pin." It makes perfect sense in my head lol. As far as where the metal is being taken off...it's a difference in sharpening tools I'd say. Whatever you're using to sharpen isn't bending around the edge like the belts they use at bark river.
Click to expand...

This is good advice, think of the belly as a pivot point and sort of rotate around it as you go. Again hard to explain...

I'm sure you've watched all the videos. I bet the problem is sandpaper grit, the surface you put the sandpaper on, and MOST OF ALL, PRESSURE.

You really need to apply NO PRESSURE. :thumbup:

Hope this helps....
 
eloreno said:
This is good advice, think of the belly as a pivot point and sort of rotate around it as you go. Again hard to explain...

I'm sure you've watched all the videos. I bet the problem is sandpaper grit, the surface you put the sandpaper on, and MOST OF ALL, PRESSURE.

You really need to apply NO PRESSURE. :thumbup:

Hope this helps....
Click to expand...

So how much pressure should he use? LOL
 
Funny, my post in the Sharpening forum is 3 days old and 1 reply, i get 3 here in 10 minutes.

Anyway, i use 3M wetordry 320 to get the edge back and than 500, 600, 1000, 1200 and the BRKT strop kit. The backing is a Armaflex insulation mat. Looks a lot like old mousepads. I tried different amounts of pressure, different angles no difference. If i use NO pressure and NO lift at the belly, im not hitting the edge, when i increase the angle i get the idea i'm rounding it....

I will try again tommorow, just finished my 1st 0.5L beer :)
 
With a deep short belly on convex blades especially thick ones like the Bravo 1, you'd be surprised how easy it is to not actually achieve correct edge contact with the sharpening medium your using. Highly recommend using a marker on the edge to check if this is the case. You'll have to vary and practice your technique to get the right edge contact, that's where the marker comes in. I normally work tip to heel laying the blade flat and lifting the spine to edge contact then trying to keep the edge as perpendicular to the length of my strop/sandpaper mouse pad to reference my strokes. It's harder on short belly blades then it is on gentle sweeping ones like say for example the Classic Sebenza clip point. and yes weight of the blade is enough especially with a heavy blade. Hope that helps.
 
Last edited:
I need a new marker since i started to even out the belly..... The pics are in the link of the topic provided.
 
I am very inexperienced when it comes to sharpening knives, but I really like the idea of using a marker to evaluate whether I am doing the job right. Of course, it's a moot point since my knives are really sharp right now and I simply have no desire to mess with them.
 
Well call me brilliant. Normaly i stay away from sharp objects after a few beers.
But I just thought, hey i have a BRKT strop, why not use that as a backing for my sandpaper.
The belly has a bity edge again. I even think it shaves but i'm too intoxicated, not much but still, to try it out on something with veins close by.
I guess i was thinking to spongy for a backing....
 
if you were local I'd make that a straight razor.....:D

microfilm, stones.. was the only way and the most fun before but,

I now ONLY use a belt sander.. so that would be my recommendation, I can make that scary razor sharp in a fraction of the time it takes with stones..

I've been using a belt sander now for about 4 months, and I'm sold !!!

I can touch up most my knives in under 1 minute to hair shaving sharp, with your rolled edge you can profile and detail in about 5 minutes or less..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top