- Joined
- Feb 24, 2001
- Messages
- 1,308
Here is a testimonial to the efficacy of the "color your edge with magic marker and then grind that off to get your angle" technique.
I had read this before in the BF sharpening tutorial, but never had a need for it. I had long since discovered the angle I needed to sharpen my knives, which were mostly Spyderco Delicas, and a Benchmade Mini Griptilian. A few others were easy to get right also.
When my Timberline Mini Pit Bull arrived yesterday, I immediately fell in love with the knife. Its design is great, it's strong, and it's a manageable size. It's now my favorite knife. But the problem was, it had the typical not-so-sharp "factory edge" and I wasn't satisfied to leave it that way.
Concerned about messing up the edge upon starting to sharpen it, I decided to try the magic-marker thing. (I had to overcome the fear that the marker ink would clog my stone, but it did not.) After a stroke or two, I looked at the edge and saw where I needed to adjust my angle, and the next few strokes -- SPIFFO! The marker was coming off and I was grinding the edge along my Spyderco Profile at just the right angle. A little while later, I had a razor-sharp knife that, as they say, scares the hair off my arm. No trace of burr on the edge. (THAT took some patience and a VERY gentle touch.)
Anyone who's having difficulty sharpening should definitely try the magic marker technique. It worked for me.
I had read this before in the BF sharpening tutorial, but never had a need for it. I had long since discovered the angle I needed to sharpen my knives, which were mostly Spyderco Delicas, and a Benchmade Mini Griptilian. A few others were easy to get right also.
When my Timberline Mini Pit Bull arrived yesterday, I immediately fell in love with the knife. Its design is great, it's strong, and it's a manageable size. It's now my favorite knife. But the problem was, it had the typical not-so-sharp "factory edge" and I wasn't satisfied to leave it that way.
Concerned about messing up the edge upon starting to sharpen it, I decided to try the magic-marker thing. (I had to overcome the fear that the marker ink would clog my stone, but it did not.) After a stroke or two, I looked at the edge and saw where I needed to adjust my angle, and the next few strokes -- SPIFFO! The marker was coming off and I was grinding the edge along my Spyderco Profile at just the right angle. A little while later, I had a razor-sharp knife that, as they say, scares the hair off my arm. No trace of burr on the edge. (THAT took some patience and a VERY gentle touch.)
Anyone who's having difficulty sharpening should definitely try the magic marker technique. It worked for me.