Fix it or kill it (A Becker sharpening guide for the challenged)

I use my belt sander only and go from 400 to 600 to 15Micron then to leather. My knives are sharper than my shaving razor.
 
flivver said:
What's a scandi?
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The scandi grind is about as simple as there is to understand. In the world of primary and secondary grinds, things and terminology can get confusing real quick. A scandi grind is simple, because there is only one grind, and you are looking at it. It is typically in the range of 12.5 degrees per side, or 25 degrees inclusive. With this being the only grind on the blade, the bevel created is wide and flat.

scandi.jpg
 
flivver said:
What's a scandi?
Click to expand...
perhaps someone can do a better job of explaining it, but think of a wall that has a "V" at the bottom: allegedly, it leaves a lot of metal behind the edge. But, personally, I'm sold on convex
I I
I I
V

Edit: JM, you beat me to the punch :)
 
LiveitLoud sorry missed your question. It had a workable woods edge but it wouldnt shave or slice paper. I was chopping through logs looking for fatwood today so it had its dings. Since you cant "see" the pressure it doesnt look like much but there is a good amount of pressure through the first few strokes and gradually putting less pressure after each set of passes (1 on each side).
 
I have been convexing all my knives for a while,as I like the ease of maintenance, but learned to sharpen on a stone.
You don't have to use an expensive stone to get a sharp knife, it is all about the basic principal.
Some say to match strokes one to one per side, which is what I did for a while.
It is much easier to work up a burr on one side, so that you know you are bringing stone to the direct apex of the edge.
Once you have worked up a burr, switch sides until you have worked up another burr, then switch stones and repeat, keeping a consistent angle the whole time. Slow and steady wins the race, because if you go too fast it is impossible to keep an angle.
After that strop to smooth out the teeth a little.

Like I said, I much prefer convex edges.

Hope that helps, but take that advice with a grain of salt because I am just a dumb college student.
 
I will check out the link Dallas provided as well. Never can soak up too much information. Clich got your PM and picked up the stone. Well give it a try and see how it goes. As far as the machete goes, I took quite a bit off of it because it has the shape of an edge but that was about it. It really did seem to make a big difference. I already messed up I guess if I wasn't supposed to try to start and finish the edge on the sander but I couldn't imagine trying to finish that long curved blade on a stone. Live and learn. At least know it bites and throws chunks of wood. It didn't do that before. Not like I was expecting a razor for 15.99. :)

Clich thanks for the response on the sharpness of the knife. I was wondering what stage you were at when you started. Actually, I think the video gave me a fair idea of how much pressure you were putting. Couldn't really see it but I could hear it from the grit sound (if that makes sense) on the stone itself.

Really wanting to break out this work sharp as well and see what it can do. I have (don't tell anyone) a rough rider fixed blade and a no name Damascus from when I started collecting that I will play around with. Not exactly quality cutlery so I don't care if I mess em up. Might be a fun project for the weekend.
 
I am sharpening challenged, I have been reading and watching this video as well as Clich's. And for the first time today I actually put a real decent edge on a knife! I am thrilled , I sharpened every damn thing in the garage! Thanks everyone and great post Liveitloud.
 
Spider I'm just glad I'm not alone. Makes me feel a bit better. Clich again, thank you for the video. As simple as it was it was very informative. It was just hard to stay awake due to your soothing monotone voice haha.
 
clich said:
There ya go. There are plenty of other methods and im sure some others will come along and say what im doing wrong and which other things work better but mine are sharp and thats all that matters right? :D anyways hope it helps and my monotone voice doesnt put you to sleep


http://youtu.be/7y4C_7dDz6s
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Simple, straight to the point and very informative!
It took me a long time to learn what you demonstrated on this video.
We should make a thread or a database exclusive for care and maintenance of the bk2!
 
clich said:
There ya go. There are plenty of other methods and im sure some others will come along and say what im doing wrong and which other things work better but mine are sharp and thats all that matters right? :D anyways hope it helps and my monotone voice doesnt put you to sleep


http://youtu.be/7y4C_7dDz6s
Click to expand...

Great video. I reprofiled my BK2 a while back on my Arkansas stones and had trouble for a while getting that fine edge back on. Then i figured out the pressure technique. Wish I would have had this video to help. It's good and shaving now though.
 
flivver said:
What's a scandi?
Click to expand...

a scandi usually refers to an edge type. Its when the edge is made up of only one bevel. There is no other grind on the blade. Look up Helle knives and look at the edges. That is waht people mean when they refer to scandi.
 
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