Getting A Good Edge With a Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener

D

ddcronk

Joined
Apr 7, 2005
Messages
21
Wow, it's been a long time since I've been active at BladeForums.

I recently bought a Work Sharp WSKTS knife and tool sharpener (not the Ken Onion edition). I'm guessing many on the forums here have one too. My issue relates to using the sharpener with different types of steel. I sharpened a custom knife I have, which is 1095 carbon steel, and it took a really nice edge really quickly. Just following the method shown in the manual, I could easily cut paper and shave a few hairs with the right pressure. Not razor sharp, but a great working edge.

I tried the exact same procedure on my old Blade Tech Pro Hunter, which is S30V steel, and I can't get a really nice edge on it for love or money. I've always thought that S30V was pretty good steel, but I just can't get it to take a nice edge.

What techniques do you use with the Work Sharp sharpener? There are plenty of videos online of people slicing paper and shaving hair after using this sharpener, and it worked quite well on my 1095 knife. What am I missing?

Thanks.
 
S30V takes a little more work than 1095. Also, not sure what angle you are using 40 or 50 inclusive are your only options. Perhaps the knife you are trying to sharpen is a different angle. If so, you first have to reprofile the cutting edge to either of the 2 optional angles. I would recommend spending a little more time on it. Start with the coarse belt until you get a bur on both sides. Try to make the same number of swipes on each side. Then a few with the medium and finish with the fine belt. Be careful though, you are removing a good but of steel. Nice even consistent pulls. Don't start the belt in motion until the knife is in place. And watch the tip. Stop the belt with the tip still touching it. You should be able to get a very keen edge, hair popping even with it. This I learned through trial and error and a few rounded tips and unintentional recurves. There will be others with much more wisdom than I that will come in soon I'm sure.
 
I have the same tool, and I have sharpened some S30V blades with it. The above about the same angles is critical. Use a marker to mark the blade to see if you are following the same existing angle. I also quit using the guides and use it freehand, holding the knife blade up near the top pulley where there is little give in the belts. Also as stated, use light pressure and let the grit do the work. Just keep at it and practice and it will work for you.

Omar
 
Haven't tried it freehand yet. Time to pull out the crap knives fit some practice. Thanks for the idea Omar.
 
The fundamentals still apply.... are you getting a burr? If not.. you are not on the edge so cannot get the knife sharp.. that would be my guess.
 
For those who are interested, I did it. I got a hair-popping edge on my Blade Tech Pro Hunter, using only the WSKTS, and I have the bald spot on my wrist to prove it.

Thanks to all who replied. I ended up going to the green belt (shovel/axe/tool belt) for just 2-3 strokes on each side. It takes off too much material to do more than that, but I needed to re-shape the edge profile. Then to the red belt, got a nice burr there, and finally to the blue belt for a polish.

While I was at it I used the same procedure to put a hair-popping edge on an old Ka-Bar USMC knife I had laying around. Really pleased with this little sharpener.
 
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