Pretty cool. How do you create and prepare the flat surface, guessing rocks don't just lie around like that?
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Do you sharpen your knives?
- Thread starter nevertakeadayoff
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Pretty cool. How do you create and prepare the flat surface, guessing rocks don't just lie around like that?
scdub
Basic Member
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- May 29, 2004
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T
TC
Thanks. I’ve been playing around with found rocks for several years now and while it’s certainly possible to sharpen on some stones without additional flattening, it’s definitely less effective/efficient than with very flat surfaces.
This particular rock is unusual and is by far my most prized stone as it’s suitable for razor finishing. Due to its density and hardness it was much more time consuming than anything else I’ve tackled. The whole process is described below if you’re interested.
www.bladeforums.com
Thanks. I’ve been playing around with found rocks for several years now and while it’s certainly possible to sharpen on some stones without additional flattening, it’s definitely less effective/efficient than with very flat surfaces.
This particular rock is unusual and is by far my most prized stone as it’s suitable for razor finishing. Due to its density and hardness it was much more time consuming than anything else I’ve tackled. The whole process is described below if you’re interested.
Razor Rock *update: sharpening video*
Hi All, A few weeks ago I posted some pictures in an old thread of a large chert rock I found that I was hoping I could make into a straight-razor finishing stone. Thread 'Rocks' https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/rocks.1859813/ Well, after many hours of work, I finally got it essentially...
www.bladeforums.com
T TC
Thanks. I’ve been playing around with found rocks for several years now and while it’s certainly possible to sharpen on some stones without additional flattening, it’s definitely less effective/efficient than with very flat surfaces.
This particular rock is unusual and is by far my most prized stone as it’s suitable for razor finishing. Due to its density and hardness it was much more time consuming than anything else I’ve tackled. The whole process is described below if you’re interested.
Razor Rock *update: sharpening video*
Hi All, A few weeks ago I posted some pictures in an old thread of a large chert rock I found that I was hoping I could make into a straight-razor finishing stone. Thread 'Rocks' https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/rocks.1859813/ Well, after many hours of work, I finally got it essentially...
Thanks for the link (and the link in the link...) got some reading to do now.
I got a great deal on a DMT 120 mesh lapping plate (certified flat to less than 0.0005") a while ago, and while that's too coarse for regular knife sharpening (other than rough reprofiling, which I haven't done recently), I've played with some already fairly flat stones from the beach to get a flat section for sharpening... not there yet, though.
I also recall seeing some vids on YT some years ago where this guy from the West Coast or perhaps Hawaii was making very fine sharpening stones from some deep black rocks...can't find those now, but found it intriguing at the time.
Not 100% sure, the page I remember looked different back then, but it could've been this guy, similar vibe: naturalwhetstonesharpening.com (not posting live link because...rules perhaps).
This would be his YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NaturalWhetstoneSharpening/videos
Edit: Confirm that this was what I was thinking of. The first (chronologically) three videos from 5-4 years back.
Last edited:
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- Apr 25, 2007
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I first started my journey of learning to sharpen knives about 15 or 18 years ago I think. A bit stubbornly, I committed to learning freehand, though I did own a Sharpmaker for a while to help myself a bit. Mostly I use diamond stones because of their speed and I'm almost always sharpening steels with a healthy vanadium carbide content. I do also have a selection of other waterstones with ceramic abrasives which give a great sharpening experience with the appropriate steels. I finish on a strop with smooth leather and 1 micron diamond. Will never go back to traditional stropping compound, diamond is superior for my purposes.
Here's a couple of my favorite stones and steels to sharpen with them.
Here's a couple of my favorite stones and steels to sharpen with them.
Thanks so much for this - I just watched several bits of videos from the channel and I feel like I’m watching my “brother from another mother”!!
Absolutely. That's why your posts immediately brought to mind some vids I watched 4-5 years ago and had pretty much forgotten in the meantime. So - thank you!
Cheap Harbor Freight stones and diamond plates. Always by hand. Even my good kitchen knives. Don’t care about mirror edges, or splitting hairs into 10 different strands, ain’t nobody got time for that. My knives have work to do. I keep a small, cheap, pocket rod in my bag for touching up in the field.
They may not be perfect, but they are always sharp
They may not be perfect, but they are always sharp
eveled
Gold Member
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- Mar 11, 2016
- Messages
- 8,041
I agree. If my knives can thin cut a ripe tomato. Then I’m happy. I don’t need to shave arm hair.
