Getting a good bevel back

B

Brianbanjos

Joined
Mar 12, 2016
Messages
9
In my ignorance of such things I have been using a pull sharpener to put an edge on my Sodbuster Jr. While I can get it shaving sharp with the pull I failed to notice the larger damage it was causing. I read some posts here and took a close look at the blade. What a mess!

Last night I spent some time with my new sharpening stones. I am somewhere between novice and artist. I experimented with a knife that had a good bevel. I can feel the bevel and I got it crazy sharp. Next I took a garage sale Imperial pen knife that someone had attacked with God knows what. The cutting edge was wavy and chipped. I evened out the edge with a flat file and created something of a bevel by hand. I was able to get it sharp with the stones.

Next was the Soddie. The pull sharpener had more or less chewed it up. I am able to get it paper and hair shaving sharp and the visible damage to the blade is gone. However I do not have a consistent bevel so I doubt it will hold it's edge for long.

I am reluctantly willing to sacrifice this blade in the name of education. Is it just a matter of practice or am I really better off getting it professionally gone over and maintaining it from there? Thoughts and pointers welcomed.
 
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You sound like you have a decent understanding of what you're doing... I'd say just practice.
 
Like cbw said. Just keep practicing and you will notice yourself getting better and better. If the knife in question is as beat up as I'm imagining it sounds like it's going to take some time to reprofile the edge the way you want it. What are your stones?
 
Megabassx7 said:
Like cbw said. Just keep practicing and you will notice yourself getting better and better. If the knife in question is as beat up as I'm imagining it sounds like it's going to take some time to reprofile the edge the way you want it. What are your stones?
Click to expand...

Norton combo india stone, smith combo stone, an old shrade arkansas stone, and an old combo stone of my late fathers of unknown providence. It was all he used and it seems to be a great stone but I have no idea what it's composition is.
 
You shouldn't have any issue establishing a good bevel with the Norton. ..just keep at it. You can mark it with a sharpie toon for good measure
 
I spent some more time with the stones. First I touched up an unmolested CRKT Drifter which I'd used to trim insulation off of some service entrance cable. Again..factory bevel and a satisfactory outcome. Could be sharper but it's a decent working edge.

Next I took my sweet old time with the soddie. It's a lot better. The bevel doesnt quote look machined but it is fairly even and the blade is razor sharp after stropping with a wine cork. If I had some paste and a real strop I might be closing in on scalpel territory but I suspect that has much to do with the CV that Case uses rather than my suddenly becoming an expert.. I used it quite a bit at work today and the edge held up.

I write this update to let other novices know you can get a decent result with patience , a decent stone, and some common sense.
 
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