GATCO Ultimate Finishing Hone?

[Hawk45]

I recently got the Gatco Diamond Hone kit from Cabelas and have done a few knives, but just can't get a super fine edge. Would it be worth getting the ceramic Ultimate Finishing Hone to do a few finishing passes? Or should I invest in a strop and compound instead? Right now I'm using a piece of scrap leather and some JB compound.

Thanks,
Hawk

 

[jimmyh]

Try putting the compound on paper and holding that on one of your stones. That way you can strop at the right angle without worrying about rounding the tip.

 

[rifon2]

Try putting the compound on paper and holding that on one of your stones. That way you can strop at the right angle without worrying about rounding the tip.

That's an interesting idea; never tried it.

For years, I've been finishing my knife sharpening using a leather strop with green compound.
Nothing has worked as well to give me that final, hair-splitting edge.

And, in fact, if I don't let my knives too dull, I can sharpen them up again using only the strop and compound without needing to use a stone at all.

 

[Hawk45]

Try putting the compound on paper and holding that on one of your stones. That way you can strop at the right angle without worrying about rounding the tip.

I'll have to give that a try!

But as far as strops...What is a decent strop or what do you prefer?

 

[eKretz]

I like to use thin cardboard loaded with compound on top of the stone personally. Works beautifully.

 

[zephy5]

I bought both the extra fine and ultimate and have found them well worth it. I spend some time with each of them and then strop with some green compound on leather and it works great.

 

[rifon2]

But as far as strops...What is a decent strop or what do you prefer?

There are a whole bunch of good strops available.
They are basically leather glued to a piece of wood.

But the type of leather, and the way it's treated, can make some difference.

I use the Bark River strop, available at a very reasonable price from www.knivesshipfree.com
http://www.knivesshipfree.com/Double-Sided-Leather-Strop-Hone-for-Maintaining-Convex-Grind-Knives

I got the green compound from some jewelry makers' supply house, I don't recall which. There are several sources for it. (Not to mention other compounds as well. )

 

[jimmyh]

I'll have to give that a try!

But as far as strops...What is a decent strop or what do you prefer?

The only leather strop I have is a cheapo ebay one that I loaded with Dico brand stainless steel polish. I could maintain my edges pretty easily on it, but honestly I find it easier to clamp the blade up and give it a few quick strokes on the lansky with the paper. I find that it gives me a sharper edge than the equivalent amount of time being careful with the leather strop.

Another thing I do now is to slightly lower the angle for the last few strokes, so that the pressure is extremely low on the edge. If you aren't using a really tiny microbevel (which you should be ), then this might not help.

I use diamond past from this guy now, and it works real well

I also put some on balsa wood for stropping my straight razor, but again with my level of skill, it's easier to use the lansky for knives.

 

[Hard H2O]

I bought both the extra fine and ultimate and have found them well worth it. I spend some time with each of them and then strop with some green compound on leather and it works great.

I agree. I have the GATCO Professional. I have the standard stones.

The extra fine and ultimate finishing hones refine the edge quite nicely.

I finish on strops loaded with white and red polishing compound. I see a nice refinement and polishing after each of the strops.

The nice thing about the extra fine, ultimate finishing, and the strops is that i can use them for maintenance. If you do not let your edge get really dull you should only have to go as far back as your fine hone.