First free-hand sharpening attempt

[daverave999]

Been too scared to attempt this before now as I couldn't be bothered to invest the time in trying it properly, and I didn't want to damage a knife I had paid £30+ for.
My CRKT M16 EDC came from the factory with the most rubbish edge I have ever seen and my Fiskars crockstick (the only way I have sharpened til today) seemed unable to put an edge on it.
Using sheets of waterproof silicon carbide paper (emery paper) in progressively finer grits: 180, 240, 400 then 1200 (last one pointless?) I followed The General's instructions about getting the wire edge and feeling it with your fingernail (first time I have felt a wire edge), then removing this burr.
I am astounded at the results I have attained. Whereas before this knife struggled to cut paper, card, crisp packets etc (from the box!) I now want this NOWHERE near my fingers. Shaving ability is lacking (push cutting), yet it's slicing ability surprised me.
I have been testing it on a sock-before sharpening I had trouble cutting it with force. After, light pressure cleanly slices through both layers of the sock.
I only wish I'd bought the plain edge rather than the combo edged one now...

 

[VampyreWolf]

nicely done

few tips and suggestions.

get a strop, and get em sharper!

when I sharpen with sandpaper, I use plain old dry, wood paper... nice and cheap.

80-120-220a-320-400-600-800-1200-1500 so far...

I go all the way up the grits(start depends how bad the edge is, maybe even the alumina oxide stones for a bit) to 1500 freehand, about 25-30deg inclusive. I strop to a shaving edge(polish out the minor imperfections in my edge and the micro serrations put in by the paper, still have em with the 0.5micron paste)... and I increase the angle by about 5degs inclusive(so a 25 before is a 30 now) and do 2 strokes on each side with 1200, alternating, and then 2-3 light ones at the original angle, with the 1500.

it may not shave hair clean off your arm, but it does leg hair... and if my spydie dragonfly is any indication, 5months of daily use/abuse later it still cuts great, you'll be using that edge a long time.

been sharpening freehand for just shy of 15yrs, and I only started using sandpaper about 15-18months ago. Only got my strop last december. That 15yrs of sharpening has given me enough patience and touch to get a shaving edge off an 800grit alumina oxide whet stone, used dry.