edges

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vaquero57

Joined
Nov 12, 2000
Messages
131
I know that a steeper edge is stronger but a less steep one gets sharper but what is ideal? 30 degrees. Does anyone here sharpen off of a wetstone or does everyone use belts? If so on wetstones what is a top quality but not most expensive starting and finishing set for a razors edge?

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" I am a shootist."
Clay Allison
" Does this mean we are bladists?"
Vaquero57
McAlpin Bladesmithing
 
well i usuall use my disc sander but i used to use stone , and actually i just bought a new stone last week. a 8 inch arkansa soft with the white fine stone combination i have acheived razor with that set up you just have to teach yourself to keep the same angle...i think i use around the 20 degree angle for most hunting blades.
i start all my edges with the disc and the touch ups are done on the stones , unless i`m in a hurry or something.

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i keep grinding and grinding and it is still too short!!
 
I'm just a newbie, so my experience with belt grinders is limited. I never had a belt grinder till this xmas and I only used a wet-stone to sharpen my knives. Well, I tried the belt grinder on my knives and dang, I'm sold on using my grinding belts to sharpen my knives. To get the initial edge, I use a dull 120, then a 220. It has a bit of a wire edge, so I take it to the steel for a few strokes, then the strop. It is scary sharp
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I try to grind to a pretty thin edge before finishing, but aleways put the final edge on with stones. Just the way I've learned to do it I guess. I find the best stone for the firststage of establishing the secondary bevel is a BIG cheap silicon carbide bench stone and light oil. They wear hollow pretty quick, but cut fast. I have an aluminum Oxide stone, but it loads up very quickly, no matter what I use with it. If I have a blade that is particularly hard then I have to use the AlO stone. Then on to good old medium Arkansas stone, and a light strop of red oxide on leather. Whenever I try ands set the edge up on a belt I just mess it up. Way too fast for me. Kind of like shooting. "you can't miss fast enough to make up for not hitting the target."
 
Fox, I learned the hard way with my first knife I made. My first knife was made from ATS34 and simple hand tools (file, drill, hacksaw, dremel). Took a long time, but it looked real nice. I sharpened the master edge on the belt and it was sharp! I then decided to try and sharpen the "false" edge. Grind lines got all messed up, tried to fix it, got worse
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I just finished my second knife and placed an edge with the grinder. Worked great this time.
 
Sorry it took so long to get back guys. Had alot of rabbit hunting with the in laws this weekend. Got 35 bunnies. Anyways, what about the diamond stones. I have a big cheap silicone carbide stone but if not careful can scratch a blade. I have a cheap arkansa set I have had for 20 years but it is too small for anything over 3 inches. I have been using my belts because with my small set I have been having a hard time with my hunting blades. I did try a broadhead sharpener to set my initial bevels then polished (difficultly) on my little 4" long arkansas fine stone. I can achieve a slight razors edge but you have to try to get it to shave. This last knife I had a hell of a time for some reason. I finished the edge grinding to about 1/64" thickness(is this enough). I had a harder time than usual but being a newbie each one I do the heat treat gets better. This one I had the hard time sharpening was the most succesful knife I have made in terms of grinding and heat treating. I am very confident in the heat treat as I followed the steels package directions and got a proper quench. I do noit know why I had so much trouble getting the edge but short of using my belt I figured having a good quality properly sized set would help me out alot. I mean if you are gonna use a wetstone then having a good one is like having the proper tools. After all it should be considered one of your tools. No sense in putting forth alot of effort into a fine knife just to sharpen it on a poor wetstone. Any comments. Thanks.

------------------
" I am a shootist."
Clay Allison
" Does this mean we are bladists?"
Vaquero57
McAlpin Bladesmithing
 
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