FREEHAND Adjustable Stone/strop holder

rpttrsn

rpttrsn

Joined
Nov 1, 2006
Messages
1,347
Yesterday I was going to make a holder to set my stones or strop on an 15 degree angle. Then what about 20 degrees or less then 15. So I was able to make up this holder from lexan, brass hinge, screws and support rods. Works great for stroping your knife at the same angle you have just sharpened it.
P1010004-vi.jpg
 
That is a great idea! I think it would work the best with stones because the strop will form to the edge and increase the angle.
 
Roger999 said:
That is a great idea! I think it would work the best with stones because the strop will form to the edge and increase the angle.
Click to expand...

Don't quite understand what you mean.:confused: Don't you want to strop the edge that you have just sharpened by staying as close to the angle you have created as possible?
 
He means, since the strop is soft (unlike a stone) it will roll around the edge and form a steeper, although convex) micro edge. If you push too hard and use the same angle it can roll all the way around the edge and ruin everything you did up to that point (make it dull). You need to experiment with pressure and angle using a marker (Sharpie) to see what angle you leather meets the edge and don't go any steeper or apply any more pressure.

You can also find the angle by starting out with the blade flat on the strop and stroke slowly and lightly into the edge (edge first) and increase the angle until the edge just starts to cut into the leather. That angle (or slightly less then that angle) is the stropping angle. It is best to do that near the edge of the strop so you don't have little cuts in the leather all over the strop.

You could still use the jig, you just need to set a different (more acute) angle when stropping.
 
you can strop lightly enough that it won't matter. it takes no pressure to strop, incidental contact will still polish the edge and give excellent results.
 
Aside from the stropping issue, I think it's a great little device. If you refined it a little I wouldn't be surprised if you could sell a few.
 
Nice work, but wouldn't it be easier just to lay the stone flat, and adjust the angle with the blade in your hand?
 
Bill DeShivs said:
Nice work, but wouldn't it be easier just to lay the stone flat, and adjust the angle with the blade in your hand?
Click to expand...


For many people that would be true, but there are also quite a few who are not confident about freehand sharpening. I think a device like this would be a good start for somebody a bit nervous about going straight into freehand. A sort of training wheels approach. :)
 
rpttrsn said:
Yesterday I was going to make a holder to set my stones or strop on an 15 degree angle. Then what about 20 degrees or less then 15. So I was able to make up this holder from lexan, brass hinge, screws and support rods. Works great for stroping your knife at the same angle you have just sharpened it.
P1010004-vi.jpg
Click to expand...

Great device! I was gonna make something similar, but your idea is much better. I need an 11 incher, though.
 
Great idea! This is one of this ideas which are so obvious when you see it, but it take great effort to came to it first.

My only concern that plex will not hold this screw in for long because of constant pressure you apply during the sharpening. I rather put something solid in between flats making some bumps or holes to hold it in place for different angles.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
If you rely on jigs, you will never learn to sharpen free hand.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
Nice work, but wouldn't it be easier just to lay the stone flat, and adjust the angle with the blade in your hand?
Click to expand...
Thanks Bill
That is true as far as some who have been sharpening for a long while freehand. Also it is to large to carry around in your pack and its good to work your angles without any fixture.
I do feel that it is easier for a larger percent of those who sharpen freehand to hold the blade parallel to the table each time and know its 12.5 degrees then to lay the stone flat and know that you are at 12.5 degrees with the blade. You are more likely to be off by a degree or more with the stone flat then with it on a fixture and you holding the blade parallel to the bench. I think many more can tell if they are parallel then if their at 12.5, 15 or 20 etc. degrees.
Convex edge?
I don't apply much pressure when using a strop and have not found convexing the edge an issue. It must be their but seems to be minute. Working with it today the strop polished the edge I sharpened very nicely.
Multiple angles possible:
I guess with enough holes you can have about 2-3 degrees increments thus setting the fixture at infinite angles.
Thanks for all the comments.
Ron
 
nozh2002 said:
Great idea! This is one of this ideas which are so obvious when you see it, but it take great effort to came to it first.

My only concern that plex will not hold this screw in for long because of constant pressure you apply during the sharpening. I rather put something solid in between flats making some bumps or holes to hold it in place for different angles.

Thanks, Vassili.
Click to expand...
Vassili,
It is not plexiglass but Lexan. It will hold up "much" better then plexiglass. Those screws are 1/2" long and will take some doing to loosen up. The material is 3/8" thick with 10-32 screws.
Thinking about you other comment you have a good idea there. How about round stock, under the lexan sitting in half moon cut outs in the bottom of the lexan screwed into the two side supports? New and improved model :D
Thanks
Ron
 
Bill DeShivs said:
If you rely on jigs, you will never learn to sharpen free hand.
Click to expand...
Bill. I agree.But I can also see Gajinoz's point of the training wheels approach.
It's important that a knife aficionado understand is knowledgable and competent in knife sharpening and many other aspects.But he/she needs to see incremental achievement along the way.Its a transitioning tool not meant to be a camp out tool.Bill do you remember how long it took you to become proficient at freehand sharpening w/o all the information on sites like this?
There were a lot of places you could have camped along the way.Thank you for staying the course to teach us.DM
 
rpttrsn said:
Vassili,
It is not plexiglass but Lexan. It will hold up "much" better then plexiglass. Those screws are 1/2" long and will take some doing to loosen up. The material is 3/8" thick with 10-32 screws.
Thinking about you other comment you have a good idea there. How about round stock, under the lexan sitting in half moon cut outs in the bottom of the lexan screwed into the two side supports? New and improved model :D
Thanks
Ron
Click to expand...

I am not saying it will fail right away, but after so much sharpening I can imagine it will lose in a few month or year. Especially when you change angle and screw/unscrew it a lot.

Yes this is what I was thinking, you put it in English much better then I.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
If you rely on jigs, you will never learn to sharpen free hand.
Click to expand...

I use jug and have pretty good results, so I do not need to learn free hand sharpening.

Also it is not really angle what is important with some base or stand, but the fact that hands has much more room to hold blade.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
David Martin said:
Bill. I agree.But I can also see Gajinoz's point of the training wheels approach.
It's important that a knife aficionado understand is knowledgable and competent in knife sharpening and many other aspects.But he/she needs to see incremental achievement along the way.Its a transitioning tool not meant to be a camp out tool.Bill do you remember how long it took you to become proficient at freehand sharpening w/o all the information on sites like this?
There were a lot of places you could have camped along the way.Thank you for staying the course to teach us.DM
Click to expand...

Actually, I think it took a couple of weeks. That's why I can't understand the jig thing. Of course, the more you do something, the better you get at it.
And- you're very welcome.
Bill
 
Think I saw that one when you made it, much better looking than my one.
To tell the truth I never use mine now that I have the right wheels for my buff.Thank you for the comments about my knives and sheaths.
Richard
 
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