Do I need better sharpening tools or just better sharpening skills?

Since you are using diamond stones, I'd say it's a skill issue. I found that with diamond stones, the feedback loop is shortened. One or two strokes will show you exactly where you are removing steel. Thus you can adjust quickly. I started to get good at shapening with my set of diamond stones because of that feedback loop. The speed with which the thing cuts steel allows you to learn a good technique faster.
 
Keep practicing, I've seen chefs get extreme edges with only a cheap 1000 grit king stone (cheap $30 stone). Edges I could barely make skin contact with.

us sushi guys are a bit OCD with edges too.
 
Nah. My other hobby is all types of skateboarding and there's a saying, "90% rider, 10% gear"
In this case the rider being substituted for your sharpening skills.
I can get an excellent working edge that can split a hair on a 25$ Arkansas coarse with a fine hone and some light stropping.
 
Chris "Anagarika";13020889 said:
Anyone hanging around MT&E subforum is OCD.
Click to expand...

....no comment, and I am new to MT&E.

On the plus side I find a ultrasonic cleaner makes the OCD cleaning procedure very quick and easy. I am about to start a new saying "It's not clean till it's ultrasonic clean.". Doesn't show too much knives (unless it's very dirty), but on clogged up stones it's a lifesaver, and used it on airsoft parts where I've been able to clean it up the grease and gunk and make the things look better than new made me really appreciate it.

That wasn't a complete waste of me rambling too. If your worried about your equipment not being up to par I find a cheap ultrasonic really took the cleaning of the stones up far better than what I could ever do and made them perform even better. Granted these were all clogged up and despite my best efforts of cleaning by hand I got what I thought was good results till I tossed it into one, and than noticed a very big difference as it felt better than new. This was before I got really into knives. Best $20 I've spent.

Figure I chime in about that even though I am a beginner by most standards for sharpening but it sure does make the cleaning process easy and painless while seemingly bring out new life in stones I would have given up on otherwise.
 
I like the ultrasonic cleaner idea... I've been thinking about getting one anyways so clean gun parts, jewelry and what ever else :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top