correct sharpening technique and gear

SpookyPistolero said:
Isn't it impressive how complicated something as simple as sharpening your knife can be?
Click to expand...
where I got totally scerewed up as a kid growing up is that I would watch a guy sharpening a knife and I only saw the last part of the sharpening...
I saw the stroke-flip-stroke-flip stuff that comes only after the first part dealing with the creation of a good wire burr was already finished.

So I thought that to sharpen a knife you just went stroke-flip-stroke and thats all you need to do.

When my blades just would not get or stay sharp I came up with the idea that i just didnt do the stroke-flip-stroke for a long enough time.

I remember sitting in front on my TV watching M*A*S*H* for a whole hour while I sharpened one knife, only to find at the end that it was as dull as before I started!

It was not until I logged onto this BLADE FORUM that I had a chance to learn about how very important getting a wire burr is to the goal of a sharp knife.

My advice, Go ahead and use whatever jig or power sharpener you want, they all work great and they all save time,,,BUT ...

BUT, before you do, you got to learn the way of the wire burr .

Once you understand the place of the burr, this knowledge will stay with you in the back of your mind as you use the Lansky or EverSharp or whatever,,,and it will make all such tools work better in your hands...

My co-workers are always asking me, "Whats the best sharpener?"

But the best answer to that question, (that also pops up on the forum too) is - "It does not matter"
Once you understand the position of the burr in this story, then ANY SHARPENER will be a tool that you can grab and use. because you wont just be rigging it up to your knife with the hope it works...
rather you...YOU will be useing "it" to sharpen your knife...You will understand what you want the tool to do....
 
SpookyPistolero said:
That was helpful Allan, thanks.

Isn't it impressive how complicated something as simple as sharpening your knife can be?
Click to expand...

Man this stuff is frying my brain! I just started reading the Razor Edge book of Sharpening, I am looking for info on wire edge within its pages but I think the section on the burr covers it.This guy also seems to swear by primary and secondary edges - Is that what you guys do?
 
Excellent link - thanks. I will take the time to read it thoroughly. Looks like a magnifying glass or even microscope would be good to really see whats going on. Knife sharpening - is it an art or a science?????

I kinda wanted it to be an art but now I am not so sure!
 
My Gatco has just arrived. I will practice on a couple of old Frost Clippers. I am thinking about 19 degree secondary bevel with coarse hone then 22 or 25 with the set. Does this sound right?
The other will get a straight 25 degrees as per instructions.
 
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