Does anyone freehand sharpen anymore?

I do, NOW anyway. My freehand training evolved in a roundabout way, starting with a ceramic pocket hone 20+ years ago, then eventually to guided systems like Lansky, Gatco and DMT Aligner, then coming back to freehand on anything I could try. The guided setups demonstrated to me what SHARP really was (and what burrs were all about), and gave me something to aim for in training my hands to produce similar, or sometimes even better edges on my own. Now I'm using diamond hones, SiC, AlOx and Arkansas stones, as well as sandpaper, all freehand; which type gets used depends mostly on the steel being sharpened (My Case, Victorinox & Old Timer knives respond beautifully to any type, including Arkansas).


David
 
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I freehand my carry knife but for everything else I use sharpmaker just to save time. I will freehand with a sharpmaker ceramic stone on my carry or my good knives as well.
 
Odd question since so many threads in this forum have to do with choices in different types and brands of sharpening stones.

I started freehand sharpening before any of the current sharpening system choices were available. Back then it was mostly Arkansas or manmade oilstones. Twenty-five years or so ago I bought a Sharpmaker and I've used one off and on ever since. It's still the system I recommend because of its simplicity. And I fell in love with ceramic for sharpening. But the Sharpmaker doesn't replace using stones freehand. In fact, the rods from the Sharpmaker get more use freehand than set up to use them as part of the system.

Also, I'm fond of DMT diamond plates and Spyderco ceramic bench stones. For mobility, I use the folding DMT diamond plates and the Spyderco Double Stuff medium/fine pocket stone. And I also use a Knives Plus Strop Block pretty often...freehand, of course.:)
 
I freehand on waterstones and/or diamond plates but I also own an Edge Pro Apex which I mainly use when I'm not in the mood to freehand sharpen. I have a feeling based on the amount of threads started about bench stones here that freehand sharpening isn't as uncommon as some may think.
 
I have many tools from worksharps to wicked edges and edge pros. But my favorite tools of all are my water stones.
 
Started about 55 years ago freehand. Then went to spyderco sharpmaker. Have multiple sharpening systems. Lansky Edge pro etc. Also have the paper wheels. Went back again to hand with water stones up to 6000. Hooked up with a Kalanazoo 1x42" and hardly ever touch the others since. I have used belt sanders for my job over 40 years so when it came to sharpening knives it was easy. Nothing better. IMO
 
Kalamazoo was my first grinder.
 
I've been freehand sharpening my blades for over 60 years. A good Norton double sided stone, a Smith's 1000 grit stone and sometimes various grades of emory 600 to 1500 on a wooden paint stirrer is all I use. Also have a set of Arkansas and Washita stones, but rarely use them. No special tools or talent, just practice and I think anyone can learn to sharpen freehand. It is just a skill to be learned, like riding a bike or driving a car. Folks need to realize that "sharpening gadgets" are very new in the scheme of things; if you couldn't sharpen a knife yourself only a few years ago, either you gave it to some one else who could or used a dull knife. IMHO, these sharpening gadgets are just gimmicks that fill a non-existent need.
Rich
 
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I have a tormek sharpening system and to be honest I am not a big fan if I use it to sharpen knives. I use an aluminium oxide stone with dish washing liquid and water. I finish off using various grade sharpening steels depending on the end use. I have a pre-world war two f-dick steel, a mirror polished smithfield (pipe) steel and an original smithfield with original rough grooved surface. The smithfield are potbelly shaped sharpening steels. Between all of these I achieve a suitable blade for a multitude of purposes. I have no problem achieving a razor sharp blade. I worked as a slaughterman in the meat processing industry for 13 years and it took me at least four years to achieve the desired sharpness of my blades through trial and error combines with advice from more experienced colleagues.
 
That's the only kind of sharpening I do. I use ceramic water stones (mostly Shapton Pros) for my 01, D2, A2, and the like, and my DMT Dia-Sharp's for more wear resistant steels (primarily my folders). Having a day job that requires a lot of strategical thinking and politics (which often times ends with my butt getting kicked by management), free hand sharpening to me is all about the feel and it's quite the stress reliever.

Never tried Arkansas stones...never had any inclination as I didn't want to deal with using oil and stuff.

Couple times during the past couple of years I was tempted in getting a set of Edge Pro primarily for my folders. But I don't know, for me, it sounded like too much setup work/tedious. It probably isn't, but I'm like, why fix it if it's not broken.
 
my son uses a Sharpmaker, I've made about 25 knives and I use Japanese waterstones to put and egde on, 1000 and 6000, sometimes a leather strop loaded with Tormek compound
 
I have lansky but also some whetstones and ceramic stones so I do free hand with them some times and then finish it with a lansky
 
I freehand too.90% of the time. I believe its faster than sharpening systems, although I do have an Edge Pro, Sharp Maker, and a Lansky. As the saying goes, "Variety is the spice of life"
 
DMT and Shaptons. DMT Course, Fine Extra fine. Shapton 5k and 12k. I used to use the sharpmaker exclusively. As someone else said, that showed me what sharp was. It also showed me what frustration was with some of the harder steels as the rods "dirty" quickly.
 
Rich S said:
I've been freehand sharpening my blades for over 60 years. A good Norton double sided stone, a Smith's 1000 grit stone and sometimes various grades of emory 600 to 1500 on a wooden paint stirrer is all I use. Also have a set of Arkansas and Washita stones, but rarely use them. No special tools or talent, just practice and I think anyone can learn to sharpen freehand. It is just a skill to be learned, like riding a bike or driving a car. Folks need to realize that "sharpening gadgets" are very new in the scheme of things; if you couldn't sharpen a knife yourself only a few years ago, either you gave it to some one else who could or used a dull knife. IMHO, these sharpening gadgets are just gimmicks that fill a non-existent need.
Rich
Click to expand...

This plus a zillion!:thumb up:

Especially the last line.
:)
 
I learned the use of a bastard file and a kitchen steel from my grandpa some sixty years ago and as my knives are for work and kitchen I've never felt the need for anything more. When my edge is nicked, I drawfile the nicks down until the edge is smooth then reset the edge with the file if it needs it and finish off with the steel. I prefer the steel to any stone because it puts me into a relaxed zen state of mind.
 
The only guided system I use, or own, are the clamp on guides by Razor Edge Systems. And I only use them on new knives, or customer's more expensive knives, to establish a perfect edge bevel...for cosmetic reasons only. Once the knife is used, or I receive a cheaper factory knife to sharpen, it's strictly freehand. True free-hand is faster for me, and more rewarding, and cosmetically "good enough", as they usually turn out very nice looking. One caveat about the clamp on guides from RES, you can't get lower than around 12° per side on most knives. That's OK for me, as 12°-15° per side is where I sharpen most knives anyway. I cannot recommend these guides enough to people. Whether you are a beginner, or have been sharpening for years, they work very well. There is not angle chart, you'll need to dust off the trigonometry and use sine to figure your angles...but that is trivial.

Big fan of Atoma plates, DiaSharp plates, Ceramic Waterstones, but lately have REALLY been enjoying using a new India and a new Crystolon. Those two "cheap" stones...I am VERY pleased with. Sigma Power Select II 120.....awesome stone. I use that one under running water, as loading is an issue with that stone. Super hard, cuts like a demon. Suehiro 8000 grit is my finest stone (besides the 12k chinese stone)...and I love it...a velvety feel to it. Sometimes I'll finish a blade on .5 micron lapping film.

The Edge Pro and other systems work, obviously, and work very well. But for me, there's nothing like the feel of bench stones, and sharpening by hand.
 
I freehand sharpen on all of my knives, starting with my work knives(how I got into this hobby).

I plan to get a wicked edge pro soon though, free handing a 33 oz knife is a huge pain in the wrists! It will literally be for that knife only.
 
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