Does anyone freehand sharpen anymore?

Ferahgo

Ferahgo

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Mar 6, 2014
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It seems that the Sharpmaker and other such sharpening systems have taken the sharpening world by storm. Not dissing at all! If you get a working edge, thats all that matters. So, back to the question. Does anyone else out here freehand sharpen on Arkansas and other type stones?
 
I do, and I am trying to improve my skills at it. I have a Sharpmaker, but only with the standard medium and fine stones. I've got some basic diamond and oil stones that I use and just this week ordered some better oil stones, including some nice Arkansas stones.
 
I have 3 bench stones. That's all I use. I've never done anything but freehand. I have no doubt that I don't get the most incredible sharpest edge ever that some people get. But I get my knives sharp enough for me to use and maintain. That's all that matters to me.
 
Ferahgo said:
It seems that the Sharpmaker and other such sharpening systems have taken the sharpening world by storm. Not dissing at all! If you get a working edge, thats all that matters. So, back to the question. Does anyone else out here freehand sharpen on Arkansas and other type stones?
Click to expand...

The really sad part, people are starting to think sharpening systems are the only way and that only the highly skilled can freehand.
 
I would say that if you hang around this forum for a while, you'll see TONS of people recommending freehand sharpening over "systems".

I use both. But Arkansas stones? No way, no how. I'll NEVER go back. Give me synthetic Crystolon (Silicon Carbide), India (Aluminum Oxide), or diamond plates any day.

Freehand is alive and well here at MT&E!

Brian.
 
Not so much on Arkansas stones anymore (though I will never part with the ones I own), but freehand all the way. I might even have trouble learning guided systems at this point...
 
I free hand everything right now...Arkansas stones are a bit slow though;)
 
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Im Not very good with this old stone right now.But I continue to give it a go.
 
Not Stones but Dia-Sharp hones.

The real revelation for me was stroking free-hand parallel to the edge, to prevent rocking, and using coarser grades to get a truly flat side V re-profile, but then cancelling the parallel striations with slightly less coarse grit at a perpendicular finish. Going below 15 degrees per side was also an eye-opener.

Gaston
 
Ferahgo said:
It seems that the Sharpmaker and other such sharpening systems have taken the sharpening world by storm. Not dissing at all! If you get a working edge, thats all that matters. So, back to the question. Does anyone else out here freehand sharpen on Arkansas and other type stones?
Click to expand...


hmmm, this year, dollar tree sold 6 inch sharpening stones for $1 each, it has 4000 stores,
I've seen at least 100 stones in my local store,
if each store had at least 100,
that is at least 400 thousand stones ...
the store has high turnover so it could have sold more

you can bet none of those people even heard of the sharpmaker

homedepot, lowes, harbor freight, ace hardware, your local hardware store, asian/chinese grocery store (mitsuwa, lion ) ... all stock/carry sharpening stones

none of these stores carry the sharpmaker


:) I would call this bench stone sharmaker
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I free hand with Arkansas stones and love it. I have some new bench stones under the Christmas tree and can't wait to get to use them. One of the stones is an 8" x 2" Black Arkansas that I am really looking forward to using!!!!
 
I've never done anything else but free hand. Been at it about 60 years now, and I've never been tempted by the gizmos and gadgets they sell. Give me a old style Carborundum stone and a leather strop, and i'm as happy as a clam in the mud. ONce you earn how to sharpen free hand, you can utilize almost anything you find to touch up your nice edge. Bottom of a coffee mug, car window, smooth rock out of a stream.

Too many people have made it seem like it's way more complicated than it really is to put a sharp edge on your knife.
 
Jack, yep. I've always done freehand sharpening. Mostly on Norton India and crystalline stones. Some diamond and Arkansas stones. But both of these are getting pricey. DM
 
Started out free handing, tried some other methods but always seem to come back to freehand. As Jack mentioned, you can touch up your knife on a variety of things. I had to put a working edge on a meat cleaver at a friend's place. Too dull for the bottom of the mug or plate method. Ended up using the cement curb. Not my best sharpening job, but it was an improvement.

Ric
 
My guess is way more people freehand than use a sharpmaker. Seems like there is a fair amount of people that start with a sharpmaker/kmt/dmt aligner end up with bench stones eventually.
 
yes, I use mostly natural stones though, dmt's when needed.i have many stones from coticules to arkies including a few jnats.
 
I do... on a 1/3hp 1x42.

[video=youtube;ZGGH99CytV8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGGH99CytV8[/video]
 
Jason B. said:
The really sad part, people are starting to think sharpening systems are the only way and that only the highly skilled can freehand.
Click to expand...

I think anybody can do either but there are skilled individuals that are simply more proficient at it than others whether that be practice, mind, or nature.
 
I use both methods. Prefer freehand but as my free time has become more limited, I'm currently using systems more often.
 
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