FREEHAND Adjustable Stone/strop holder

I guess many are ahead of me.But my dad would'nt allow me my first knife until age 10,in the mid 60's.Then I didn't understand how to sharpen (teacher or student)until in the 70's, junior high.I could get it sharp just not shaving.There I camped until late 80's.Then
just teaching myself I could get it to shave some arm hair.Then 10yrs.later I began developing a technique that wasn't so hard to duplicate shaving results.Not so much trial and error.Much more consistant results.On the heels of that (maybe 1998) came method.A consistent patterned method which gave consistent results and knowledge of burrs. Other things as well that were happening at the knifes edge which could be a problem.But all along I was using my knives a lot,laying a foundation to build on.Learning how to process a deer,cut up hogs feed out a big steer and put him in the freezer.Things that most men writing about knives today have'nt done.
So,yes Bill it took me more than 2 weeks.Does that make me special ed? If so, then I have about a 800lb. steer in the corral now which I'm feeding out. To be processed this winter. Any takers care to come w/your knife and do the whole animal and I'll watch and learn. As I've probably been doing it wrong all these years.DM
 
Some freehand, some use devices like the Sharpmaker or Edge Pro. Some use jigs, and some use paper wheels. Some even use more than one method.

The objective is the same: a sharp, durable edge. How you get there is a matter of personal preference, IMO.
 
No, it doesn't make you "special ed." I thought your name was David.....
I was a student of the knife at a very young age. I read everything I could, I asked questions, and I experimented. Holding a consistent angle was no problem for me. Understanding the mechanics of sharpening took a longer. If I wanted a sharp knife, I simply had to learn to sharpen. There weren't any commercial jig sharpeners then.
 
Freehanding is an art. I'll do that with my users. For my SD knives and my "precision" cutting knives which I will rarely use, I want a perfect edge. In that case, I'll use a device. Freehanding is an art, a device can be seen as a "science."
 
The old ways of doing things are tried and true methods of reaching an end. There is nothing wrong with doing things that way. It is a great teaching method to help one understand the angles and how to repeat them over and over again.
The horse and buggy was a great way to cross the country in its day. Times have changed to make our lives easier. Doesn't mean its better. Jigs and fixtures make our jobs easier in as we can repeat the same thing with a better chance of success. I started work in a machine shop when I was 18 and I used fixtures at times to perform different milling or grinding. They held the piece in the same position every time. CONSISTENCY. I made the fixtures. but had to know how to make the part without using a fixture. BASICS
By making a holding device does not mean that you don't know how to do it the old way but for me it means that we can use other methods of reaching a sharp working edge a little more accurate then some of the older methods.
To this day I thank the old guy in the shop who made me sharpen a drill by hand, with different angles for different materials, over and over until I got it right. BASICS
I can sharpen the drill before you can put it in a fixture and turn the machine on. Put 5 drills done by hand and 5 done in a fixture side by side and the ones done in the fixture will look identical. Mine will be darn close but not identical. Use what you find works best for you. There is more then one way to skin a cat. :D
I learned to sharpen knives at a younger age "freehand" but was not as informed as I am today due to these forums. Thanks for ALL your comments in this thread. :thumbup:
 
Any decent freehand sharpener can control angles within 2-3 degrees, and 2-3 degrees doesn't matter on a knife. It's no more an art than signing your name. My edges are absolutely repeatable- without any setup. I don't scratch blades, and the edges look as good as a jig-sharpened knife. Practice the basics and you get consistency.
So- my "horse and buggy" gets me where I want to go, quicker and more comfortably than a Lamborghini!
 
2-3 degrees will require more passes, as you are not hitting the edge every time with a stone. Both the stone and the steel are inflexible, so any variation will add a little time. Of course, there is time saved in no setup/takedown, plus the convenience of doing it anywhere, even if you have to hold the stone in your hand or place on your leg.

I really don't enjoy using jigs or systems any longer.
 
I think Bill was being moderate stating 2-3 degrees.I believe 1-2*variance is easily possible w/ a seasoned freehand sharpener.I've seen the good ones (meat cutters)take a knife from dull to shaving sharp in no more than 5-6min..They also wear a knife out every 3-4mos. just using it.Hence,much more experience gained in knife use.
DM
 
Bill DeShivs said:
Any decent freehand sharpener can control angles within 2-3 degrees, and 2-3 degrees doesn't matter on a knife. It's no more an art than signing your name. My edges are absolutely repeatable- without any setup. I don't scratch blades, and the edges look as good as a jig-sharpened knife. Practice the basics and you get consistency.
So- my "horse and buggy" gets me where I want to go, quicker and more comfortably than a Lamborghini!
Click to expand...

I do not see any difference with horizontal free hand sharpening and what I am doing with same stone being lifted a bit under some angle. I can do this putting stone horizontally on the table as well - I just do not see any reason to do this and my results are pretty good - I can make any knife whittle hair in no time.

This is what I am doing - how it is different then what you are doing? I can put any angle as well with this stand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TscN9h-1xQ

And why this is called Lamdorghini? Just a simle improvement for freehand sharpening, to me.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
Vassilli
There is nothing wrong with your setup, and there is no difference in the result. I was referring to the statement the jig-type sharpeners are state-of-the-art. It IS more convenient to just use a stone.
 
About free handing and using a jig.
Seeing the jig in the OP post, it seems to rely on holding the stone at a fixed angel (around 15 degree I think), kind of like the sharp maker holds the rods at a fixed angel (around 20 degree I think).

Looking at nozh2002's device it also holds the stone at a fixed angle (around 30 degree I think).

This seems to referred to as sharpening with a jig.

when I hear most people speak of free handing, they say they start by laying the the stone on a table or other flat surface.
How is that not using a jig (Called a table ) to hold the stone at a fixed angel(around 0 degree I think).

Should you not be using both hands, 1 holding the knife and 1 holding the stone, before it's freehand sharpening ???

or

Should the jig hold both the stone and knife before your sharpening with a jig ???
 
Hawkings said:
About free handing and using a jig.
Seeing the jig in the OP post, it seems to rely on holding the stone at a fixed angel (around 15 degree I think), kind of like the sharp maker holds the rods at a fixed angel (around 20 degree I think).

Looking at nozh2002's device it also holds the stone at a fixed angle (around 30 degree I think).

This seems to referred to as sharpening with a jig.

when I hear most people speak of free handing, they say they start by laying the the stone on a table or other flat surface.
How is that not using a jig (Called a table ) to hold the stone at a fixed angel(around 0 degree I think).

Should you not be using both hands, 1 holding the knife and 1 holding the stone, before it's freehand sharpening ???

or

Should the jig hold both the stone and knife before your sharpening with a jig ???
Click to expand...

Good point. That means the only difference between this "jig" and a table is how you hold the knife in relationship to the stone. If you're on a "jig," you're adjusting the "table." If you're on a table, you adjust your hand.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
Vassilli
There is nothing wrong with your setup, and there is no difference in the result. I was referring to the statement the jig-type sharpeners are state-of-the-art. It IS more convenient to just use a stone.
Click to expand...

I am using same stone as you do. I do not see difference. If you see any - tell me what it is and why having less room for hands to hold knife is less convenient?

I agree that Lansky type of sharpeners is less convenient and everybody can develop skills to do sharpening without it pretty fast. But I do not see how putting same stone on stand may make sharpening inconvenient.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
This is the new and improved Lamborghini with training wheels.:D Thanks to the imput from Vassili, Nozh2002 and others here. I also respect those who would rather hold the knife at the angle they want, with the stone flat, and value their comments as well.
With this model you just move the lexan between the upper and lower plate and insert in any of the slots for the angles listed. Other angles could be cut as needed.
P1010002-vi.jpg
 
That's almost exactly what I was going to make! Except I had wood in mind...
 
hmmm excellent idea... now have another project to fiddle around with. :D
would you mind posting a few more shots or maybe a tutorial? that is if you are not planning to sell this... I would appreciate it.:D
 
rpttrsn,

Love the Lambroghinis and have an unsolicited suggestion for you:

Get an angle-measuring device. They're $7 or less at most hardware stores or you can be pointlessly extravagant and get a Wixey Digital Angle Finder (it's $7 for the angle finder and $33 for the OCD medicine, shipping, and first batteries). When flattening waterstones, all sorts of things happen and the bottom of the stone could be 12.5 degrees while the top is higher or lower.
 
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