Getting the Burr?

L

leedesert

Joined
Apr 18, 2000
Messages
6
I practiced last night on a kitchen carving knife using my lansky system. I started with the coarse stone in order to change the edge to 20 degree. (was higher) I worked on one side for a while and no burr on the other side. I use smooth stroke going toward blade while sweeping towards the handle side of blade. I finally switched sides so I woulden't wear out one side un even a went for about 20-30 strokes there. Still no burr however the edge was now 20 degree on both side. I changed to medium and then finally fine stone using the same process. The blade ended up sharp but not enough to shave.
What am I doing wrong?
I want to practice on cheap blade before I mess with my $100+ blades.
 
You might simply not be reaching the very edge with the honing. Try using more strokes and stay with the coarse stone until you form a burr.

-Cliff
 
Cliff is right your not reaching the very edge. When you use the naked eye it look's good but put a lighted magnify glass (radioshack) on the edge and see exactly where you are. This work's for me every time.

 
Another vote for not reaching the edge. If a burr doesn't form, you're not done, period. Using a magic marker can help a little bit. Put magic marker on the edge bevel, and as you get closer and closer the magic marker will disappear. Typically, when the magic marker is totally gone, that means you're just about at the very edge -- now you still have a few more strokes before a burr starts forming. But the magic marker will give you a general guide on how close you are.

Joe
 
If you have a coarse bench stone, you may try improving the relief behind the edge. Relief is the amount of metal backing the edge. If it is too thick, the edge will take longer to sharpen and won't cut as well. (Am I sounding like Joe T yet?) When I use different equipment than you, but even when I'm going to use my sharpmaker and I have a knife that has poor relief, I take it to my coarse bench hone. Either mount the sone or hold it and scrob the knife at a relatively shallow angle (less than 20 degrees). I like the word scrub, because that is what it looks like. You don't have to worry really about keeping the angle exactly perfect here. Just keep it as well as you can, but bear down on the stone and scrub your knife back and forth. It looks like the way I, er, kids scribble with a crayon all back and forth like. Scrub scrub scrub away and you'll get a burr for sure! Flip it over and do the same on the other side. When you get a burr again, get your Lansky rig out and sharpen the blade. You'll still have to sharpen with the coarse stone until you get a burr but it will come up much faster this time!



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"Come What May..."
 
Want to get a burr up FAST? My suggestion: buy an Xtra Coarse DMT 6" benchstone
smile.gif
Works wonders. Then you can finish nicely on the Lanksy if you so desire.

 
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